On 20 August 2020 the Father Willie Doyle Association was founded and began to work towards a Cause for Fr Willie.
On 20 November 2022 the diocesan stage of Fr Willie’s Cause was formally opened.
On 18 October 2026 the diocesan stage of Fr Willie’s Cause was formally closed.
And on 9 November 2026 the acts of the diocesan process were formally delivered to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints in Rome. On that same day, the Acts were opened, thus signifying the beginning of the Roman phase of the process. In many cases the Acts are opened, and the Roman stage commences, several months after their delivery, so we are very grateful for the progress that has already been made in a very short time. The significance of the step shouldn’t be underestimated – the last time an Irish diocesan process closed and went to Rome was in the mid 1980’s. We are very grateful for all of those who have helped bring the process to this stage. In particular we are grateful to Fr John Hogan who served as diocesan postulator; he will now take up the role of vice-postulator. We are delighted that Fr Pascual Cebollada SJ, the Jesuit General Postulator, will represent us in Rome as our Roman Postulator.
But we still have a long way to go – this is not the beginning of the end, it is merely the end of the beginning.
We will continue our work of spreading the message of Fr Willie’s life, encouraging both devotion to Fr Willie as well as presenting his virtues for imitation.
We will continue our work of encouraging prayer through Fr Willie’s intercession, seeking the miracles through his intercession that we need to progress the process. If you are aware of any favours through Fr Willie’s intercession please let us know: https://williedoyle.org/report-favours/
Very importantly, we must also (unfortunately) raise the money needed to see the process through to completion. In general, we make very few direct requests for financial support. But this is a time when we need to be a little more explicit about it.
The Father Willie Doyle Association is the Actor the Cause, and this means that we are solely responsible for the promotion, sponsorship and funding of the process. “The Church” is not responsible for these costs, but rather a small association of volunteers. These costs are considerable. In these last few months, given the intense activity associated with the closing of the process, we have incurred costs in excess of €25,000. This sum is far in excess of our typical running costs for an entire year.
Sometimes people wonder why a canonisation cause has to cost so much. Well. there are specific canonical fees that have to be paid at each stage of the process. We also incur printing costs (especially in terms of prayer cards and other promotional material); postage costs; costs for website maintenance and hosting; costs for graphic design; costs associated with the preparation of relics and other promotional items; necessary travel costs; as well as costs associated with the purchase of books about Fr Willie that we make available at our events. One cost that you will not see there is salary or staffing costs – everyone involved in the process takes on this work – and it is a considerable amount of work – as a volunteer. But we are happy to do this and we consider it a privilege. Nonetheless, the bills have to be paid.
The Church is enriched because of the lives and examples of the saints. We think that the totality of Fr Willie’s life – from the example of his interior process of sanctification, to his spiritual advice to others and to the ultimate sacrifice of his life in war – are a gift to the Church in Ireland and indeed to the world. The example of the saints lives forever, and can enrich the life of the Church until the end of time.
You can help us to raise the money needed in two ways.
Firstly, by donating directly at this link, either with a once-off or monthly donation: https://williedoyle.org/donate/
Secondly, by organising a meeting in your area. Meetings are one of the best ways to generate the needed funds and to spready devotion to Fr Willie. We will help you set up and promote a meeting and provide any support that’s needed. If you can help with this please reach out to us!
Most importantly of all, please pray for the success of this work, so that Fr Willie can be formally recognised as a saint, and inspire us to walk in his footsteps.
Thank you!
