Archbishop’s Homilies

Ad Limina Visit 2017 MASS AT THE BASILICA OF SAINT JOHN LATERAN Homily notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin Basilica of Saint John Lateran, Wednesday January 18th 2017   “We have heard a very interesting Gospel reading.  Let us look a little closer at it and at what […]

World Day of Peace 2017   NON VIOLENCE – A STYLE OF POLITICS FOR PEACE Homily notes of   Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin        “This morning the Church celebrates for the 50th time the World Day of Peace.  The idea of this celebration came from Pope Paul VI […]

CHRISTMAS NIGHT 2016 Homily notes of  Most Rev, Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin Pro-Cathedral, 24th December 2016 “Saint Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus begins with a clear affirmation.  Luke boldly places the story of the birth of Jesus into terms of the real world.  He identifies who the […]

Third Sunday of Advent 2016 MASS FOR THE WORKERS OF ACCORD DUBLIN Homily notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin   ———————————-   Holy Cross  Pastoral Centre, Dublin, 9th December 2016 “The Gospel of this afternoon’s Mass recalls once again that great figure John the Baptist.  John’s task […]

  Second Sunday of Advent 2016 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PARISH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT KIMMAGE MANOR Homily notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin   Church of the Holy Spirit, Kimmage Manor, 3rd December 2016 Over the past year I have celebrated many anniversaries of the opening […]

  Our Lady’s Children Hospital Foundation Day 2016 “PROUD OF OUR HISTORY WITH AN EYE ON THE FUTURE”   Speaking notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin and Chairman of the Board   Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, 25th November 2016   “Proud of our history with an […]

FEAST OF SAINT LAURENCE O’TOOLE 2016 Homily notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin   Pro Cathedral, 14th November 2016 Those years in the middle of the eleven hundreds when Laurence O’Toole lived were turbulent times. It was a period of great political upheaval among the Irish princes […]

  Eve of the Feast of Saint Laurence O’Toole 2016 SERMON AT THE ECUMENICAL FESTAL CHORAL EVENSONG   Sermon notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin  Archbishop of Dublin   Christ Church, Dublin, 13th November 2016   “In an increasingly secularised Ireland, how can faith contribute today to the process of […]

  Thirty Third Sunday of the Year 2016  CLOSING OF THE YEAR OF MERCY IN THE LOCAL CHURCHES Homily Notes of   Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin Pro-Cathedral, 13th November 2016   “We gather at the end of the celebrations in the local Churches of the Jubilee Year of Mercy […]

ORDINATION TO THE DIACONATE OF BROTHER PHILIP MULRYNE O.P. Homily Notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin ———– Saint Saviour’s Church, Dominick Street, 29th October 2016 “One of significant fruits of the Second Vatican Council was the restoration of the permanent deaconate in the Latin Church. This decision […]

SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE TO COMMEMORATE THE SACRIFICE OF HUNGARIAN REVOLUTIONARIES 1956 Reflections of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin,  Archbishop of Dublin St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, 25th October 2016 In 1956 I was eleven years old.  I had one great passion in life: television news.  Many here today will not remember that in […]

  30th Sunday of the Year 2016 EUCHARISTIC COMMEMORATION OF 1916 Homily Notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin   Kilmainham Jail, 23rd October 2016   Last Sunday’s Gospel reminded us that we must pray often without tiring.  In today’s Gospel, Saint Luke places the emphasis on how we […]

Launch of World Meeting of Families Process PASTORAL REFLECTIONS ON AMORIS LAETITIA   Speaking notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin   ———————————————–   DCU Saint Patrick’s Campus, 22nd October 2016     Amoris Laetitia is a document which addresses an extraordinarily wide and varied scenario.  It is […]

Votive Mass of the Holy Spirit  COMMENCEMENT OF THE MICHAELMAS LAW TERM 2016  Homily notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin  Archbishop of Dublin   Saint Michan’s Church, Halston Street, 3rd October 2016 ”     We come to invoke the gift, the protection and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit […]

27th Sunday 2017 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CHURCH OF SAINT THERESE MOUNT MERRION  Homily notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin Church of Saint Therese, Mount Merrion, 1st October 2016             “Lord increase our faith” the Apostles ask Jesus.  Is it harder to believe today than it was in […]

Irish Kidney Association SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE AND THANKSGIVING Homily Notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin   Corpus Christi Church, Drumcondra, 1st October 2016 “In the midst of daily discussions, at times filled with pessimism and anger, we gather here today for a unique event. It is the story […]

Departure of Missionary Society of St Columban MASS OF FAREWELL AND THANKSGIVING Homily notes  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin,  Archbishop of Dublin   Saint Joseph’s Church, Ballymun, 30th September 2016   “Farewells are sad occasions.  Friendships are interrupted.  Happy memories fade back into the distance.  High hopes that we had, may […]

Farewell and Thanksgiving for the Ministry of Father Derek Farrell MASS WITH THE PARISH OF THE TRAVELLING PEOPLE Homily notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin ————————————- Saint Peter’s Church, Phibsborough, 29th September 2016 “We celebrate the Feast of the Archangels, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Our modern society […]

SCHOOLS MASS 2016 Homily notes  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin Holy Cross College, Clonliffe, 27th September 2016 “Once again we gather at the beginning of the school year to invoke the protection of God on one of the most important enterprises within any society:  the education of our […]

 Launch of 1916 Exhibition MINISTRY, ADVOCACY AND COMPASSION  Speaking notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin Saint Kevin’s Chapel, Pro-Cathedral, 23rd September 2016   I am grateful to Minister Richard Bruton for being here this evening at the launch of this exhibition Ministry, Advocacy and Compassion which looks […]

Dublin Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2016 OPENING MASS AT THE GROTTO OF OUR LADY Homily notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin Grotto of Massabielle, Lourdes, 8th September 2016 “We gather here in Lourdes on this Feast of the Birthday of Mary and we gather to celebrate our 2016 […]

  WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE CARE OF CREATION 2016   Reflection of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dubbin Holy Cross  College , Clonliffe, 1st September 2016 This World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation is something quite unique.  It is an appeal to all men […]

Fifteenth Sunday of the Year 2016 BICENTENARY OF THE CHURCH OF SAINT KEVIN BALLYCOOG Homily Notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin,  Archbishop of Dublin Church of Saint Kevin, Ballycoog, 10th July 2016 “I have a great interest in history and there is no doubt that has over many centuries this […]

13th Sunday of the Year 2016   MASS ON THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE  MURDER OF VERONICA GUERIN RIP   Homily notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin Church of Saint Nicholas of Myra, Kinsealy, 26th June 2016 “Michael Francis was the Catholic Archbishop of Monrovia in Liberia from […]

  MASS WITH THE CHARISMATIC RENEWAL CONFERENCE 2016  Homily notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin  Archbishop of Dublin RDS, Dublin, 25th June 2016 “We gather to rejoice in being open to the gifts of the Holy Spirit, gifts we receive for our own sanctification and for the building up of […]

MASS IN HONOUR OF SAINT JOSEMARIA ESCRIVA’ Homily notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin   Church of Our Lady, Queen of Peace, 25th June 2015   The quotation from Saint Josemaria on the printed invitation to today’s Mass speaks in simple language about trustingly spending time with the […]

    14th Sunday of the Year 2016 OPENING OF SAINT ANTHONY’S ROOM AND GROTTO Homily Notes of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin Saint Fergal’s Ballywaltrim, 19th June 2016 “Who do the crowd say that I am”?  The question about ‘who Jesus is’ is still a vital question today. The answers that […]

 STATEMENT OF ARCHBISHOP DIARMUID MARTIN  ON ORLANDO SHOOTINGS            “People all around the world are shocked with the news of the terrible loss of life at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. I have asked  that in the Prayers of the Faithful at all Masses in the Archdiocese of Dublin on […]

    Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua   RECEPTION OF THE RELICS OF SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA   Homily notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin     Pro-Cathedral, 13th June 2016     In our Gospel reading we heard Saint Luke tells the story of a […]

    ORDINATION TO THE DIACONATE OF BROTHER JAMES EIVERS, O.CARM.   Homily notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin,Archbishop of Dublin Carmelite Terenure College, 12th June 2016 “For centuries, in the minds of ordinary Catholics, the office of deacon was understood simply as the final step on the road to priestly […]

Feast of Saint Kevin ORDINATION OF EIGHT DEACONS FOR SERVICE IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DUBLIN Homily notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin ————————- Pro-Cathedral, Saturday 4th June 2016 11.00am One of the significant achievements of the Vatican Council’s reflection on the Church was the restoration in the […]

Pentecost 2016 FESTIVAL OF PEOPLES Homily Notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin 15th May 2016 “The Preface of the Mass of Pentecost sums up the meaning of our celebration today as a “Festival of Peoples”, the celebration of the diversity of ethnic identity gathered within the one […]

Icon of Mary, Mother of Perpetual Help SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER 2016 Homily notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin Pro-Cathedral, 30th April 2016 “The readings of today’s Mass, especially the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel reading from Saint John, show that […]

 STATEMENT OF ARCHBISHOP DIARMUID MARTIN ON FURTHER VIOLENCE IN DUBLIN  26th April 2016 Pope Francis recently quoted Martin Luther King on the theme of putting an end to violence.  King had said that in the face of senseless violence in the end: “somewhere somebody must have a little sense”.  And […]

 1916 STATE COMMEMORATION CEREMONY Arbour Hill  Homily notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin   Church of the Sacred Heart, Arbour Hill, 24th April 2016 I am very grateful to the Parish of James’ Street here in Dublin for providing some very significant heirlooms of their parish for use […]

    EASTER VIGIL 2016   Homily notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin       “The authors of the 1916 Proclamation were men of faith who dreamed dreams of hope for Ireland for the Irish people”     “Why are you seeking the living among the […]

  WAY OF THE CROSS 2016 Through Phoenix Park Dublin THE WAY OF THE CROSS IN THE YEAR OF MERCY Elements for reflections of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin Good Friday, 25th March 2016 FIRST REFLECTION “Pray that you may not come into the time of trial”.  Jesus […]

PALM SUNDAY 2016 Homily notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin —————- Pro-Cathedral, 20th March 2016 (after First Gospel Reading) “We have heard the Gospel account of the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Later we will hear the Gospel of the Passion of Jesus. There appears to be […]

CONCLUDING WORDS OF ARCHBISHOP DIARMUID MARTIN   St Mary’s Pro Cathedral – March 17th 2016 I am grateful to Father Brian Shorthall for his stimulating homily.  I thank him for his reference to the place of this Pro-Cathedral in the events of 1916.  The priests from this Cathedral provided spiritual […]

Regina Mundi College Cork  WHO REALLY IS POPE FRANCIS?  The relevance of his message to Ireland as we celebrate and commemorate 1916  Speaking notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin  Archbishop of Dublin   Regina Mundi College, Cork, 14th March 2016 “I have chosen a difficult topic.  Perhaps I am trying […]

 Fifth Sunday of Lent 2016  NOVENA OF GRACE DONAGHMEDE, CLONGRIFFEN, BALGRIFFIN Homily notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin   Holy Trinity Church, Donaghmede, 12th March 2016     “It is interesting how everyone likes Pope Francis but they like him best when he seems to be saying […]

STATEMENT OF ARCHBISHOP DIARMUID MARTIN ON VIOLENCE IN DUBLIN   I wish to repeat what I said on Saturday last condemning the extraordinary examples of violence which have marked our city again in recent days. “Violence is to be condemned whatever its roots are.  Dismembering bodies as some sort of […]

PILGRIMAGE OF THE IMAGE OF OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP Words of introduction of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin Redemptoristine Convent, Saint Alphonsus Road, Drumcondra , Dublin 18th January 2016 “I wish to commend the Redemptorist Congregations here in Ireland for organizing this jubilee pilgrimage, which undoubtedly will have the support of people on all parts of this island. The partnership with […]

ORDINATION TO THE DIACONATE of Br Patrick Desmond OP and Br Kevin O’Reilly OP Homily Notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin Saint Saviour’s Dominick Street, 6th January 2016   “I am particularly happy to celebrate the Ordination to the Diaconate of two Dominican Friars – Br Patrick […]

MIDNIGHT MASS – CHRISTMAS 2015 Homily notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin  Archbishop of Dublin Pro-Cathedral, 24th December 2015 10pm “No matter how many times we hear these Christmas readings we remain each year deeply struck by them again and again.  There is something about the atmosphere of this holy […]

Fourth Sunday of Advent 2015 OPENING OF THE DOOR OF MERCY AND THE EXTRAORDINARY JUBILEE OF MERCY Homily notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin Pro-Cathedral, 20th December 2015   “Over the past weeks the liturgy has focussed on our hope for the coming of Jesus Christ and the cry […]

Second Sunday of Advent 2015 FORTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PARISH OF SAINT JUDE THE APOSTLE Homily notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin  Archbishop of Dublin Church of Saint Jude the Apostle, 5th December 2015 “When I visit a school to celebrate the anniversary of its opening, I usually try to […]

First Sunday of Advent 2015 ANNUAL MASS FOR THE CO-WORKERS OF ACCORD DUBLIN Homily notes of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin All Hallows College, Dublin, 28th November 2015   “The Gospel that we have just heard was written by Saint Luke for the early Church where – just one generation after the […]

  Feast of Christ the King 2015 MASS TO CELEBRATE THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF THE  CHURCH OF SAINT CHARLES BORROMEO, CONFEY  Homily Notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin Church of Saint Charles Borromeo, Confey, 22nd November 2015 “We celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, Jesus Christ King […]

FEAST OF SAINT LAURENCE O’TOOLE 2015   Homily Notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin   Pro-Cathedral, 14th November 2015 “Saint Laurence O’Toole was Archbishop of Dublin at an unusual time.  He was the first Irish Bishop in Dublin.  His predecessors were of Viking extraction and the diocese was […]

MASS WITH THE DEAF COMMUNITY            Homily Notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin Emmaus Chapel, Deaf Village, Dublin, 8th November 2015   “I am always very happy to celebrate Mass here in this Emmaus Chapel with the Deaf community.  I know the work of the Chaplaincy in supporting […]

MASS FOR DECEASED PRIESTS 2015 Homily notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin     Pro-Cathedral, 7th November 2015   Introduction   In this month of November when the Church remembers those who have travelled the path of faith before us, we have come this morning to remember in our […]

FEAST OF ALL SAINTS 2015 Homily Notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, 1st November 2015 “We celebrate the Feast of All Saints.  At this time in autumn when the harvest has been collected, the Church celebrates and reminds us of another harvest, the great harvest […]

  Intervention of the Archbishop of Dublin,  Diarmuid Martin at the Synod of Bishops in Rome on “The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World”. XIV ORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS  “I wish to speak about the social culture of marriage as […]

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCILS’ REVIEW 2015   Speaking notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin Saint Paul’s Church, Arran Quay, 17th September 2015   “First of all this evening I would like to say thank you to all of you present and to those who of you embarked ten years ago […]

DUBLIN DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 2015 Homily notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin Opening Mass at the Grotto at Lourdes, 8th September 2015   “We gather once again this year on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary to begin our 2015 Dublin Diocesan Pilgrimage […]

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PROTECTION OF CREATION Reflection of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin Church of the Holy Cross, Clonliffe, Dublin, 1st September 2015   “We gather this evening as Christians of various denominations. Our gathering in this context of reflection on protecting creation puts into focus, however, not our […]

TWENTY FIRST SUNDAY OF THE YEAR 2015 Family Mass and dedication of Frank Duff Room  Homily Notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin  Archbishop of Dublin Church of Saint Peter, Phibsborough, 23rd August 2015   “Today’s Gospel reading from the sixth chapter of Saint John’s Gospel comes at the end of a […]

 Twelfth Sunday of the Year 2015 MASS OF REMEMBRANCE AND PRAYER FOR THE VICTIMS OF LAST WEEK’S TRAGEDY IN BERKELEY Homily notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin  Archbishop of Dublin Saint Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin, 20th June 2015 (6pm)   “The tragic events which took place in Berkeley this week have […]

Corpus Christi 2015 Mass for the 175th Anniversary of “The Tablet” Homily notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin Saint Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, 7th June 2015   Introduction   “We celebrate today the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ.  The Eucharist […]

Pentecost Sunday Beatification of Archbishop Oscar Romero Pro-Cathedral 24th May 2015   Homily from Fr. Richard Sheehy “In St. Luke’s account of that first Pentecost Sunday, there is a wonderful sense of excitement at the effect of the Holy Spirit coming down on the apostles. The people in Jerusalem, who […]

Pastoral reflections of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin for use at all Masses on 16th and 17th May Feast of the Ascension of the Lord   “Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I write on the subject of marriage and the family in the light of the upcoming referendum.  I have asked […]

MASS ON THE OCCASION OF ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF BACKLANE HOSTEL Homily Notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin ———————- Back Lane Hostel, Dublin, 9th May 2015 ​My mother’s family lived for generations in New Row, just a few hundred yards from here and I myself was born […]

 MASS TO GIVE THANKS FOR THE DECLARATION ON THE HEROIC VIRTUES OF THE VENERABLE MARY AIKENHEAD  Homily notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin  Church of the Holy Family, Aughrim Street, 26th April 2015  Introduction “We join this afternoon with the Congregation of the Religious Sisters of Charity […]

EASTER VIGIL 2015 Homily notes of  Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin  Archbishop of Dublin St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral, Dublin, 4th April 2015 “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain”.  Saint Paul, in his First Letter to the Corinthians, reminds us […]

WAY OF THE CROSS 2015 through Phoenix Park Dublin elements for reflections of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin Good Friday, 3rd April 2015   FIRST REFLECTION   “Pray with me that you may not come into the time of trial”.  Jesus knows that his hour has come and that he would […]

Press Statement March 24th There has been much commentary, some inaccurate, in mainstream and social media in recent days, concerning responses given by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin to a question at a public meeting which he addressed in Dublin last week, in particular in relation to freedom of conscience. Please see […]

THE TEACHING OF THE CHURCH ON MARRIAGE TODAY  Speaking notes of   Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin  Archbishop of Dublin  Iona Institute Lecture   “I am grateful to the Iona Institute for this invitation to come and speak to the Institute on the theme of The Teaching of the Church on Marriage […]

  ORDINATION TO THE DEACONATE OF SIX DOMINICAN FRIARS Homily notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin Saint Saviour’s Priory, Dominick Street, 15th March 2015 “We come now to ordain these six men as Deacons of the Church of Jesus Christ, within the Order of Preachers.  I join with […]