We are delighted to announce that the closing (public) session of the Diocesan Inquiry of Fr Willie’s Cause will take place in the Cathedral of Christ the King in Mullingar at 4pm on Sunday 18 October.
The event will start with Solemn Vespers presided over by Most Rev. Dr Tom Deenihan, Bishop of Meath, sung by the Cathedral Choir. The organist will be James Murphy.
Fr Conor McDonough OP will preach, and then the formal closing session session will take place. Light refreshments will be available afterwards.
All are welcome to this wonderful and unique event!
As far as we are aware, the last time the closing session of a diocesan inquiry took place in Ireland was that of Venerable Nano Nagle 40 years ago. It is a unique and special ceremony, and it doesn’t come around very often. It’s an event not to be missed!
This marks a major milestone for Fr Willie’s Cause. We want to thank Bishop Deenihan, Fr John Hogan the Postulator, and the Diocese of Meath for their enthusiasm, support and very efficient processing of the diocesan stage.
The Father Willie Doyle Association was founded in 2020 and is the official Actor for the Cause, with responsibility for managing and funding the entire process. Fr Willie’s Cause was opened two years after our rounding; now four years later the Cause is progressing to the Roman stage. It has been a remarkable journey and it has been a privilege to meet so many people who have been inspired and who have experienced positive change in their life through Fr Willie’s example of holiness.
For us, this is not “just” about (hopefully) recognising Fr Willie as a saint, even though that is a big thing in its own right. A canonisation cause is ultimately a project of evangelisation – it is the retelling of the Gospel enfleshed in the life of a individual. The lives of the saints have always inspired the Church. Imagine the benefits and graces that have flowed to souls as a result of the example of diverse saints like St Therese or St Pio or St Maxmilian Kolbe. But if nobody promoted their lives and told their story, those graces would not have been flowed to so many souls. We rightly spend time and money developing beautiful buildings. But every building will eventually fall and decay, while the glory of the saints is eternal. We believe that Fr Willie’s witness is a gift to the Church in Ireland and universally, and that is what inspires us in this work.
Much has been done, and much remains to be done as we move to the next phase. We will face some very significant expenses and fees as we move to this next stage of the process. We want to thank our many benefactors, and appeal for anyone who can help with our future work to donate via this link: https://williedoyle.org/donate/
We look forward to meeting you on 18th October if you can make it!