Today as we mourn the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict, we also give thanks to God for this rich papacy and pray for his soul. It is also a day to note the one reference we know of to Fr Willie in his writings. Introduction to Christianity was one of Joseph Ratzinger’s most famous and significant books. First published in 1968, it brought Joseph Ratzinger to a wider audience. In …
Fr Doyle links
December 31, 2022
Reminder that the opening session of the diocesan inquiry into Fr Willie will be held after Vespers on Sunday 20th November at 5pm. All are welcome to attend.
November 7, 2022
The Irish Catholic Cause for WWI hero Fr Willie Doyle’s canonisation opened The Irish Catholic Fr Willie Doyle SJ: ‘In the shoes of a saint’ The Irish Times https://www.irishtimes.com/history/2022/10/27/irish-priest-killed-in-first-world-war-put-forward-for-canonisation/ The Irish Examiner https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/ourview/arid-40994678.html The National Catholic Register https://www.ncregister.com/news/father-willie-doyle-a-new-saint-for-ireland The National Catholic Register https://www.ncregister.com/blog/a-personal-reflection-on-father-willie-doyle The Tablet https://www.thetablet.co.uk/news/16055/cause-opens-for-canonisation-of-fr-willie-doyle Catholic News Agency https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/252700/will-war-chaplain-willie-doyle-be-ireland-s-next-saint Westmeath Examiner Cause to have Irish war chaplain canonised to open in Mullingar next month
November 4, 2022
As we look forward to the opening of Fr Willie’s canonisation cause next month, it is interesting to look back through history to those who have made this work possible. There are many people to thank for this step; men and women whose intervention and advice at different stages were decisive in opening Fr Willie’s cause. But there are two whose contributions were the most decisive of all. The first, …
October 28, 2022
It is with great joy that we welcome today’s announcement from Bishop Tom Deenihan of the Diocese of Meath that he intends of open the canonisation cause of the Servant of God Fr Willie Doyle SJ! Bishop Deenihan’s official edict is below. The Father Willie Doyle Association is the official Actor for Fr Willie’s Cause. There is much work ahead. We need your help. Please pray for Fr Willie’s Cause. …
October 27, 2022
The following praise for Fr Willie appeared in the Glasgow Weekly News on this day in 1917. It was written by a Belfast Orangeman. Given the source, this was high praise indeed! Fr Doyle’s attractive spirit and his care for others crossed all boundaries and social classes. Given his care for others, and their reverence for him, it can truly be said that Fr Doyle is a role model of …
September 1, 2022
In this excerpt from a long letter written 105 years ago today to his father, Fr Willie writes about his publications on vocations. You will be glad to know, as I was, that the ninth edition (ninety thousand copies) of my little book, Vocations, is rapidly being exhausted. After my ordination, when I began to be consulted on this important subject, I was struck by the fact that there was …
July 25, 2022
The President of the Wesleyan Methodist Conference, in an address made on this day in 1923, had the following praise for Fr Willie: I have been profoundly stirred in recent months by the experience of a young Roman Catholic saint, a member of the Society of Jesus, a tremendous lover of Jesus, a tremendous soul-winner, a great human and a great humorist. He had presumably been reading an early edition …
July 25, 2022
The first post on the original fatherdoyle.com website appeared 12 years ago today. How much has changed since then! At the time it was an effort to reach out to others and to keep the memory of Fr Willie alive; there was no expectation that the site would continue, and grow, over a decade later. Over the past 12 years there have been over 4,000 individual blog posts about Fr …
June 7, 2022
Patrick Corkery SJ’s newest book – Fr Willie: Much in the Presence of God – is an excellent introduction to the life and spirit of Fr Willie. It is published by Messenger Publications, the official publishing house of the Irish Jesuits. Buy a copy for yourself here, and also get a few more for your friends. It is an affordable booklet that makes an ideal, simple gift to pass out …
May 25, 2022