Gettingwww.veritas.ie Married? Book your SHARING THE GOOD NEWS marriage preparation course on Monthly newsletter for Dioceses and Parishes Issue 4 February 2014 www.accord.ie Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference Columba Centre, Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Co Kildare Journeying Together - Challenges Facing the Migrant Today NEWS SNIPPETS „Journeying Together - Challenges Facing the Migrant Today‟, Sunday 2 February was the is the theme of a conference which will be jointly hosted by World Day of Consecrated the Bishops‟ Councils for Immigrants and Emigrants on Life. Speaking at the Vatican Pope Francis said: “Let us Wednesday 19 February in Dublin city centre. imagine a moment what The conference will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Erga would happen if there were no Migrantes Caritas Christi. It will also provide a unique opportunity to explore both nuns in hospitals, no nuns in emigration and immigration in an Irish, European and global context. The conference missions, no nuns in schools. Imagine a church without workshops will offer forums to discuss the effects of migration on the nuns! It is unimaginable.” undocumented, families, prisoners and trafficking. Lent begins on Speakers at the conference will include Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, 5 March - Ash Archbishop of Dublin, who will deliver the keynote address; Mr Wednesday. Stefan Kessler, Policy and Advocacy Officer for the Jesuit Refugee The message Service, Europe; and, Ms Cecilia Taylor-Camara, Senior Policy of Pope Adviser, Office for Migration Policy of the Catholic Church in England Francis for and Wales. The conference will be held at Jury‟s Inn Hotel, Custom House Quay, Lent 2014 is on the theme: “He became Dublin. For bookings please phone + 353 (0) 1 5053155 or email [email protected]. poor so that by his poverty you might become rich”. Read Archbishop E Martin encourages World Day of the Sick 2014 the text of his message on ‘Covenant of Friendship’ www.catholicbishops.ie. The 22nd World Day of the Sick will be Friday Penance during Lent: Archbishop Eamon Martin addressed the celebrated on Tuesday 11 February - the Ballymena Borough Church Members‟ memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes. This (i) Make a special effort at Forum with Dr Heather Morris, President year‟s message from Pope Francis is on family prayer (ii) Make the of the Methodist Church in Ireland on 4 the theme „Faith and Charity: “We Ought Stations of the Cross (iii) Do February last. He said: “I think we in the to Lay Down Our Lives for One something to help the poor, Churches have a particular responsibility Another” (1 Jn 3:16).‟ sick or lonely (iv) Make a to lead the way in transforming In his message Pope Francis says: “I turn special effort to avail of the relationships and in healing the pain of the in a special way to the sick and all those Sacrament of Reconciliation past. Perhaps one way in which we could who provide them with assistance and (v) Abstain from meat or do this would be to develop a „covenant of care. The Church recognises in you, the some other food. Read the friendship‟ between our Churches at sick, a special presence of the suffering background to leadership level and offer support to our Christ. It is true. At the side of - and local congregations and parishes in Friday indeed within - our suffering, is the developing similar „covenants‟ at local Penance by suffering of Christ; he bears its burden level.” - Full address on catholicbishops.ie. scanning this with us and he reveals its QR Code. meaning.” The Creed Video Series See www.vatican.va or scan the QR code on the Bishop Brendan Leahy has recorded a new left for the full text of this Produced by four-part video series on the Creed. See year‟s message. the Catholic www.catholicbishops.ie/creed. Communications Office. For New Truth and Life Dramatised Audio Bible APP - see www.truthandlifeapp.com. further information and Produced by the Catholic Communications Office of the contact details see Pope Francis Prayer Intention for February: “That the www.catholicbishops.ie Irish Catholic Bishops‟ Conference Church and society may respect the wisdom and experience of Also on Facebook, Twitter, older people.” (Follow Pope Francis on Twitter: @Pontifex) YouTube and Audioboo. .