Diocese of GalwayKilmacduagh & Kilfenora

Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven & St Nicholas

There is no doubt: we are all in need of deepening our faith, along with those who feel called to join the Catholic Church.
This programme is designed to cater for both.

Sunday 27 September 2020

The Church has been celebrating the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (WDMR) since 1914. It is always an occasion to express concern for different vulnerable people on the move; to pray for them as they face many challenges; and to increase awareness about the opportunities that migration offers.

The theme chosen by the Holy Father for the 106th World Day of Migrants and Refugees is “Forced like Jesus Christ to flee”. In his message the Holy Father says:

Parish resources for the Season of Creation are available here.

In his prayer intention for September, Pope Francis asks everyone to pray that we learn to respect the planet’s resources. The full text of his prayer intention for September 2020 is:

We are squeezing out the planet’s goods. Squeezing them out, as if the earth were an orange.

Peace and Justice for Belarus

Following the Presidential election in Belarus held on 9 August 2020, thousands of protesters took to the streets to reject the election results as manipulated, leading to violent clashes with the country’s security forces. According to reports, the disproportionate violence deployed by Belarusian authorities has cost at least two lives and caused hundreds of injuries. About 6,000 demonstrators have been detained and many of those subsequently released bear the marks of torture.

Pope Francis calls for prayers for the people of Beirut and a united effort to help Lebanon overcome “this serious crisis”.”

“Let us pray for the victims and their family members, and let us pray for Lebanon so that with the effort of everyone in society – political and religious – it may face this tragic and painful moment and, with the help of the international community, overcome the serious crisis it is experiencing,” the Pope said at the end of his general audience on August 5.

The cap of 50 attendees at indoor church services remains in place for Phase 3 of the national roadmap, which begins on Monday 29 June.

Following representations made to government by the Catholic Bishops, the Chief Medical Officer and the public health authorities were strongly against making any exception for churches from the maximum number of 50 at indoor gatherings.

Click here for a video message from Bishop Brendan and a description of the practicalities to expect in the return to public pastoral life.

Also available on the Diocese of Galway YouTube channel here.