ST PATRICK'S DAY: Catholic bishops have prayed through the intercession of St Patrick, for the faith and well-being of the people of Ireland.
Following their spring meeting in Maynooth this month, the bishops said Patrick was called to serve and bring God to a people far from his homeland.
"As St Patrick's Day is a holy day of obligation for Catholics in Ireland the best way to remember our patron is to attend Mass," they said.
"Bishops at this time particularly encourage the faithful to pray for migrants, and to reflect upon the plight of Patrick - himself a migrant - especially as many people struggle to live and integrate into new cultures, at home and abroad, arising from displacement and poverty."
IRISH LANGUAGE MISSAL: To coincide with Seachtain na Gaeilge, Ireland's bishops have announced the publication later in the year by Veritas, Ireland's leading publisher of liturgical and Church resources, of an altar edition of the new Roman Missal in Irish - An Leabhar Aifrinn Rómhánach.
This is a unique publication, and is hugely significant not only for the Church in Ireland, bishops said, "but for all who cherish our culture and heritage, particularly the Irish language".
"An Leabhar Aifrinn Rómhánach will serve those who celebrate the liturgy in Irish and will help to preserve the Irish language as a living language for worship."
Bishops encouraged priests to purchase a copy for use in their parishes.
WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES: The ninth World Meeting of Families will take place primarily in Dublin, but also throughout Ireland, in 2018.
Held every three years, and coordinated by the Pontifical Council for the Family, the World Meeting of Families is the largest gathering of Catholic families and it celebrates family life and the Church's commitment to support families.
In preparation for the World Meeting of Families, bishops have decided to establish, in each diocese, a team of people to assist with planning for this international event.
