Archbishop’s Homilies

Archbishop Dermot Farrell Letter to the Order of Preachers on the 800th anniversary of their arrival in Ireland   As the Dominicans in Ireland mark the eight hundredth anniversary, both of their arrival among us, and of the birth of Saint Thomas Aquinas, I write to reflect on the Dominican […]

Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola Homily of Archbishop Dermot Farrell Church of St Francis Xavier, Gardiner Street Wednesday, July 31, 2024   I come here this evening to celebrate Mass on the Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola, a soldier dedicated to advancing his own glory who became, under […]

Mass for Families of “Justice for the Forgotten” 50th Anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings May 17, 2023 St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral Patrick Askin; Josie Bradley; Marie Butler; Anne Byrne; Thomas Campbell; Simone Chetrit; Thomas Croarkin; John Dargle; Concepta Dempsey; Colette Doherty; Baby Doherty; Patrick Fay; Elizabeth Fitzgerald; Breda Bernadette […]

St Patrick’s Day 2024 Homily of Archbishop Dermot Farrell St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin National celebrations can be occasions for a great deal of rhetoric. Today’s celebration is no exception. Many legends have grown up around our national apostle. It is therefore important to balance our national narratives by Patrick’s own […]

The Family (39th) and Care (40th) Amendments to the Constitution Statement of Archbishop Dermot Farrell Voting is a way to show that we care about making society better. In Catholic social teaching, it’s important to take part in the democratic process. The Catholic Church says that everyone should vote responsibly […]

Homily of Archbishop Dermot Farrell at the diaconal ordination of Brother Antony Kurian OFM Cap Capuchin Friary, Church Street, Dublin 7 Sunday, January 28, 2024   Diaconate—Call to Prophetic Service It is a great joy for me to be with you today to ordain Brother Antony Kurian to the Diaconate. […]

Homily of Archbishop Dermot Farrell Mass at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Christmas Eve 2023   The chorus of Handel’s Messiah begins with a delicate “For unto us a child is born”, and builds to a thunderous “And his name shall be called Wonderful…” In similar manner St Luke’s account of the […]

Archbishop Dermot Farrell Address to Mark the 800th Anniversary of the Confirmation of the Franciscan Rule College Chapel, Maynooth College, November 26, 2023 My friends, as we celebrate the 800th anniversary of the approval of the Franciscan Rule by Pope Honorius III in late November 1223, I would like to give […]

Feast of St Laurence O’Toole Homily of Archbishop Dermot Farrell Tuesday, November 14, 2023 St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, 10.30 am In celebrating the feast of the patron of our diocese, we give thanks to God for the graces bestowed on St Laurence O’Toole in his life, and for the gift of […]

Mass for the Priests of the Archdiocese deceased since November 2022 Homily of Archbishop Dermot Farrell St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin, November 11, 2023   Wanting to See Jesus In today’s Gospel some Greeks who have come up to Jerusalem for the Passover seek out Jesus. They ask an interesting question: […]

Day for Consecrated Life Holy Cross Church, Dundrum, March 25, 2023 Homily of Archbishop Dermot Farrell I welcome you all—in person and virtually—to today’s celebration of consecrated life, religious women and men, as well those who have embraced a consecrated life, in other forms. We haven’t gathered since 2020, so […]

Introductory remarks: Episcopal ordination of Fr Niall Coll, Ossory St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny January 22, 2023 It is a great honour for me, in the name of Saint Laurence O’Toole and St Kevin, to come here this afternoon to ordain Father Niall Coll as Bishop of Ossory, the next successor […]

Christmas 2022 – Homily of Archbishop Dermot Farrell at 9pm Mass at St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin The response of the world in which we live, the reaction of our culture, is to make the story of Christmas into a fairy story: “…and they all lived happily ever after.” However, the […]

Mass of the Holy Spirit on the Occasion of the Commencement of the Michaelmas Law Term St Michan’s Church, Halston Street, Dublin: October 3, 2022 I am very happy to be with you today to celebrate this Mass at the commencement of the new Law Term. In doing so, I […]

Opening of the Academic Year Mass at DCU St Patrick’s Campus September 22, 2022 I welcome all who have joined us for this Mass for the opening of the academic year. The world around us always faces many challenges, but it is a long time since we have lived in […]