A Prayer Service and Mass celebrating the life and influence of St. Francis of Assisi is being held:
Chief celebrant is Bishop Francis Duffy of Tuam.
The Franciscan Abbey in Galway city are hosting a special Triduum of Masses to celebrate the 800th Jubilee of St Francis
A new devotional shrine to Our Lady of Győr, Consoler of the Afflicted has been installed in Galway Cathedral.
There will be solemn Enshrinement of the Image of Our Lady of Győr and the Blessing of the Devotional Shrine during the regular Mass on Sunday on 4 October 2026, at 6.00pm.
In the 17th century. Bishop Walter Lynch of Clonfert, a Galway native who was forced into exile, found refuge in Győr in Hungary. He took with him an image of the Madonna and Child, and when he died in 1663, it was placed in Győr Cathedral.
While Mass was being said there on Saint Patrick’s Day, 1697, witnesses saw the image began shedding tears of blood: This continued for several hours. Following this event, the image became known as Our Lady of Győr, Consoler of the Afflicted, and a strong popular devotion arose. This includes a particular bond between the Church in Győr and the west of Ireland.
On the feast of our Lady of the Rosary, 7 October 2026, the Rosary will be recited continuously from after the 10am Mass until 6pm. Everyone is welcome to join in at any time during the day.
The Dominicans at St Mary's parish in the Claddagh are offering Sunday school for children aged 6-12 years.
This is not a children's liturgy: rather it is a time of faith-formation, fun, and friendship.
Classes include Bible study, prayer, song and crafts, and run during the school on Sundays between 10:45 and 11:45am, ie after the 10am Mass and before the 12-noon Mass.
If you are interesting, contact the Dominican priory on (091) 852884.
Irish Dominican priest Fr. Alan O Sullivan O.P. is leading a retreat for young people (age 18-35), about The Human Person, Technology and AI.
The weekend will include prayer, talks, adoration, confession, Mass, free-time and community.
Venue is the Holy Family Mission: Described by some as being in Co Tipperary, this is located in Glen Upper, Co. Waterford, E91 H584, Ireland (very close to the Tipperary border - the nearest town in Clonmel).
Date/time: 23 October 6pm to 25 October, 2pm
Cost €150: includes food and accommodation
Bookings: emailalan.osullivan@dominicans.ie or phone 018961260
Enquiries: Emmanuele and Benedetta - 086 219 8186 or Fr Fernando 083 1268126
Clonfert and Galway Dioceses have announced a series of gatherings for friends on the Lourdes pilgrimage in 2026/27.
The first is a Mass of Thanksgiving,
Date: Tuesday 13 October, 8pm
Venue: Loughrea Cathedral (see churches in east Galway for map links)
Youth 2000 is a world-wide Catholic youth organisation that runs local prayer-groups, faith-sharing and fellowship meetings for young people aged 16 to 35, as well as larger events like faith festivals and retreats. They aim to be a welcoming place to be together in faith and deepen friendship with Jesus.
On the first evening for September 2026, Bishop Michael will lead the gathering in prayer.
For questions, email youth@galwaycathedral.ie
American priest Fr. Lawrence Carney, author of The Secret of the Holy Face and founder of the League of St. Martin, is doing a speaking tour of Ireland in 2027, sponsored by Human Life International.
He will be at Knock Shrine on Friday 25 September, from 6:45pm.
The evening will include
Attendance is free, and no booking is required. There will be a request for donations on the evening.
World Youth Day is a faith-festival for young people, hosted by the Pope and running approximately every 3 or 4 years.
The 2027 World Youth Day, which is the first one with Pope Leo XIV, is being held on 3-8 August 3rd Seoul, which is the capital-city of Korea.
It is planned that a group of young people from the dioceses of Clonfert, Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora, Achonry and Elphin will travel and attend the event together. Travel dates will be approximately 27 July - 12 August, 2027.
Young adults (ages 19-30) who are interested should make contact with:
St Ignatius of Loyola (founder of the Jesuit order) developed an in-depth retreat called "The Exercises", which involve withdrawing into solitude and concentrated prayer for a month.
But Ignatius knew that many people could not retreat for 30 days, so he developed devised an alternative way to making the Exercises, spread out over a longer time and remaining in ordinary life situations.
Eoin Garrett from the Dublin-based Manresa Spirituality Centre is running an (on-line?) information morning about the Exercises in Daily Life. To attend, email reception@manresa.ie
Date: Saturday 5 September 2026, 10am - 12:30pm.
