The A.C.I. (Association of Catholics in Ireland) have published the programme for their meeting on Saturday next in Dublin. Details may be found in the EVENTS section at the top of this page.
While registration will be available on the day it would be very helpful for planning purposes if those proposing to attend registered online here
Máire Mulcahy reports on the recent meeting in Dennehy’s Cross parish in Cork as a follow up to the Assembly for the South.
Notice from the Association of Catholics in Ireland
In Fr Brendan Hoban’s latest article for the Western People, he writes that we in the ACP are at the heart of the Church. We are insulted to be called dissidents. Church leaders need to engage respectfully and realistically with us.
Seamus Ahearne writes about the necessity of the ACP.
“I think the ACP exists not just to make noise or to be prophetic but to add ballast and communion to the collective in ministry. We are at breaking point as priests. We will fall apart if we stay apart.”
” the ACP is to reach out and call attention to the tiredness and to the ageing of the diocesan priests. What is the support structure for them? Creating clusters and adding on more work to do cannot be the answer. Creative and imaginative ideas are necessary (as Francis said). We cannot go on as we are.”
“The ACP isn’t just a vehicle for the journalists to use or an association of renegades. The ACP cannot be about the big noisy issues – nor can we forever be fighting big causes. It is the essentials of faith that are our interests and the ordinary issues of day to day life.”
A meeting of the Clonfert group of priests members of ACP was held in Gullane’s Hotel, Ballinasloe on Monday 24th. There were eighteen present – among them P.J. Madden from…
A participant reports on the meeting of ‘Concerned Catholics’ which took place in Tuam on 12 October. It was organised by a few people who described themselves as ‘concerned Catholics’: from it may come a local branch of the Association of Catholics in Ireland (ACI).
The election of Pope Francis, with his very refreshing vision of Church,gives hope that we are entering into a new era where the lay followers of Christ will have a voice and a more participatory role in church matters, particularly in the light of a declining clerical population.
It is in this context that the emergence of the Association of Catholics in Ireland (ACI) can be seen as an important first step and it is hoped that all who care about the future of the Church of Christ will support it with their prayers and their active support. Never more in Ireland has the word of God needed witness. Let’s hope this witness will be on show with a good turnout on Saturday at the Clarion Hotel at Citywest.
Following my previous mail with its erroneous Clarion Hotel location, my apologies to all those driving down the Naas Road N7 and around Citywest looking for the Clarion Hotel and the ACI brainstormer i.e. AGM and Website Launch.
The Clarion is, of course, on the N4, the road to the West at Liffey Valley and very close to the N4/M50 junction. Follow signs for Liffey Valley Shopping Centre. Take left exit at first roundabout; take left exit at 2nd roundabout. At third roundabout (Renault Garage) take left exit and the hotel comes into sight.
Hopefully, a significant day for future lay involvement in our Church.