50 year anniversary of Knock Basilica

Knock Shire is holding a celebration to mark 50 years since the opening of their Basilica.

Date:  Saturday 18 July, 2026

The day will include

• A morning gathering in St John's centre, 10:30am - 1pm:  showing a commemorative film and interview with Fr Richard Gibbons and Tommy Maren.
• Guided tours of the basilica at 10am, 10:30am and 1pm.
• Anointing of the sick at 2:30pm
• Mass of Thanksgiving at 3pm.

RCIA season 2026/27 - programme for people who want to become a Catholic

The Galway and Clonfert diocese formation centre is offering an RCIA programme for adults who are interested in joining the Catholic church, starting in Autumn 2026.

RCIA stands for "Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults" - and this sometimes called Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA).

The programme has four steps:

• Inquiry - asking initial questions
• Catechumenate - deep study of Catholic teaching, the Bible and and church traditions.
• Purification and Enlightenment - deep prayer and reflection, usually during Lent - which ends with Baptism, Confirmation and reception into the church
• Mystagogy - a time after Easter when new church members think about what has happened, and fit into a local parish or other community.

You can find out more on their website.

For more information:

• Contact your local priest (see our list of churches if you aren't sure where to find them)
• Email   rcia@anghailil.ie
• Phone 091 563 566  or  091 841 560

Q&A about religious life with the Poor Clares - July 2026

The Poor Clare sisters are running an online questions-and-answers session for women aged 18-35 who may be wondering if they have a vocation to religious.

Date:   Wednesday 22 July, 2026

Time:   7 - 8:30pm

For information, email events@poorclares.ie

Abide In His Love - Women's Conference

The Abide in His Love Women's Conference 2026 is on:  

• From 5:30pm, Friday, November 20
• To 2pm, Sunday, November 22 

The Great Northern Hotel Bundoran, County Donegal.

This event "brings together women aged 18+ from across Ireland to explore and celebrate the beauty and gift of their feminine identity in Christ. The program includes:

• Speakers, including
  
  • Sarah Swafford - from the USA, founder of Emotional Virtue Ministries, international speaker and contributor to Ascension’s Chosen. She
  • Bishop Fintan Gavin (Cork and Ross), celebrateing Holy Mass on Sunday, 22 November, the Feast of Christ the King.
  • Fr. Barry Braum,
  • the Nashville Dominican Sisters,
  • Fr. Mark Wharton,
  • Danielle Noonan,
  • Fr. Oisin Martin,
  • Fr. David Nugent.

• Spiritual Events: Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, healing services, and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
• Fellowship.

It is organised by speaker Angela McMorrow, alongside Franciscan Friar of the resurrection  Father Joseph Mary Deane, CFR

Book on Eventbrite:   tickets   €70 + Eventbtite fees, or €50 for students.

 

One year Certificate course: Religious Education for Primary School children

This is a one-year part-time, certificate-level course for people who are providing religious education to primary-school aged children.

Originally the course was for:

• Qualified primary school teachers;
• Qualified post-primary school teachers who wish to transfer to primary school teaching.

and the description says it "aims to contribute to the theological and pedagogical development of qualified primary school teachers and other teachers of children of primary school age and to equip them with the necessary knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes to teach Religious Education within Irish primary schools and for sacramental preparation."    

However as changing models of church and school are being adopted, the course  may also be open to parents, sacramental preparation teams and parish catechists with a specific interest in the area of primary religious education.

 The course is mainly on-line, with two days of face-to-face lectures in the year.  Examinations may also be face-to-face.

More information is available from  https://www.atu.ie/courses/certificate-religious-education-for-primary-school.

St Benedict Week events at Kylemore Abbey

Kylemore Abbey is hosting a number special events from July 11 to July 19 to celebrate St. Benedict Week.

Saturday, July 11: 

Mass for the Feast Day of St. Benedict will include the blessing of St. Benedict medals.

Sunday, July 12, 4PM: 

Brother Colmán Ó Clabaigh, a medievalist from Glenstal Abbey speaks on Women in the Wall: The Anchorites and Recluses of Medieval Ireland.” Register to attend this presentation at Eventbrite.

Monday, July 13: Oblate Day:

• Enquiry sessions at 11:00 and 3:00 for people interested in exploring the vocation of being a Benedictine Oblate.  More information about this here.
• Mass at 12:15 will welcome a new Oblate into the community.

Wednesday, July 15

USA-based Metropolitan Flute Orchestra performs in Ostyn Hall at 3:00 PM.

Talk by the The Knights of Saint Michael the Archangel

The Holy Family Prayer Group in Moycullen are hosing a talk by the The Knights of Saint Michael the Archangel.

Attendees will receive a St Michael sword, the opportunity to become a Knights of Saint Michael the Archangel, and a blessing with the relics of St John Paul II and St Faustina.

Date:  Sunday 12 July 2026

2pm - talk about Saint Michael the Archangel

3pm - Divine Mercy Chaplet and talk about St Faustina

5pm  - Mass celebrated by Fr Martin Whelan

Venue:   Moycullen - H91F38E

Contact:   Don  phone 085 724 7188

Reek Sunday pilgrimage, 2006

The annual national pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick (known as "Reek Sunday")  is on  Sunday 26 July 2026.

Mass will be celebrated at the summit hourly between 8am and 2pm.

Confessions will be available between 7:30am and 2pm.

See Westport parish's website for more details.

Book launch: Challenge Courage and Call

The book Challenge Courage and Call:  The Word of God and Priestly Ministry by Archbishop Emeritus Michael Neary is being launched.

Host:  Archbishop Francis Duffy, Tuam / Killala

Date:  Saturday 11 July,  11:30am

Venue:  Knock Bookshop

The book can be ordered from ACN Church Resources

Logos scripture summer school, 2026

Logos scripture summer school is a four-day intensive study opportunity presented by Dominican friar and scripture scholar, Fr Terence Crotty OP.

It aims to give students the opportunity to "learn about the stories of genius found in the Bible, to savour the brilliance of both God and the human authors and so to understand and love the Scripture all the more."

Date:    

Course 1:   Friday 3  - Tuesday 7 July, 2026.    Old Testament Heros

Course 2:   Friday 17 - Tuesday 21 July 2026.   St John the Evangelist 

Location:   Our Lady of Silence Cistercian Abbey, Roscrea, Co Tipperary

Cost:     Enquire at enrolment

Presented by Fr Terence Crotty OP this is an opportunity over four intensive days to learn about the stories of genius found in the Bible, to savour the brilliance of both God and the human authors and so to understand and love the Scripture all the more.

Forming the Catholic Imagination - retreat for university students

An An Intellectual Retreat for current university students is being organised by the Thomistic Institute in Ireland.

Date:    12-noon on July 18 to 1:30pm on July 20, 2026 

Venue:  Glencomeragh House Retreat Centre,  Clonmel, Co. Tipperary E91H584

Cost:     Meals and housing will be free for accepted applicants. 

              Limited travel scholarships are available upon request.

The programme will include talks with theologians and scholars, praying the Liturgy of the Hours, attend Mass, personal prayer, and meals and times of fraternity with the Dominican friars and other students.

Speakers:    

• Fr Stephen Fields SJ
• Fr. Chris Vincent Gault OP,    
• Fr. Alan O’ Sullivan OP
• Fr. Irenaeus Dunlevy, OP

Apply to attend on their website.

Youth 2000 Summer Festival

The Youth 2000 Ireland Summer Festival is being held at Dominican College, Newbridge, Co Kildare.

Date:  13th to 16th August!

For:  Young people ages 16-35

Cost:  Donation only, and free buses are available from various locations   (Galway pickup is Oranmore Town Centre, or Oranmore Railway Station)
Suggested donation is €80, but we ask attendees to only give what they can afford. People who are in a position to donate to cover the cost for those who cannot will make a huge difference for the young people who could not otherwise attend.

The programme includes  "great activities each day as well as excellent speakers, inspiring talks and fantastic workshops ... lots of time for prayer and time to chill out, meet new people and experience the best of what it means to be young and Catholic today"

This is a live-in event:  you need to take a sleeping bag as well as the usual necessities for an overnight.

Attendees must register in advance on their website - and show an original photo ID when you arrive.

Patristic Summer School with icon painting

A patristic summer school, with icon painting is being organised by the St Ephrem Academic Centre for Oriental and Occidental Studies (STEP)  in co-operation with  ITI Catholic University,  Trumau (Austria).

Date:   6-11 July 2026

Venue:   Newman Insittue, Ballina, Co Mayo

Fee: €100 for the morning sessions only

Leaders: Pd. Dr. Fr. Ephram G. Lomidze and Prof. Dr. Michaela C. Hastetter.

The programme incudes readings from the the church-fathers in the morning, and icon painting in the afternoon.

Registrations by email to     info@step_wien.au

Fr Bill retreat in Bundoran, Sept 2026

A 5-day silent faith-renewal and healing Fr Bill Retreat, given by Fr Anthony Saji VC,  is being held:

Date:  Mon 28 Sept to Friday 2 October 2026

Venue:   Allingham Arms Hotel, Bundoran, Co Donegal.

People of all ages, and from all walks of life are invited.  Priests and religious are warmly welcomed.

For more information, call

• Róisín +353 (0)86 893 7399, or
• Maeve +353 (0) 866 6199