One of Ireland’s most popular religious events for young adults will be taking place in St. Patrick’s College Maynooth on Saturday April 26th.
Evangelium Ireland, which works to deepen knowledge of the Catholic faith among young adults, has seen attendance at its annual gatherings growing significantly in recent times.
There were over 180 attendees at the 2024 conference – more than double the number who attended the first event when Evangelium Ireland commenced its annual gatherings in 2019.
Fr. Benedict McGlinchey O.P., the group’s spiritual director, said that the growth of Evangelium was part of a wider trend in which more Irish young people are re-examining Catholicism.
“In today’s more secular environment, religious questions can be overlooked. But there is a clear appetite among young Catholics between the ages of 18 and 40 to deepen their faith and learn more about it, to consider the hard questions and to seek answers to them.
“We have seen how Evangelium has grown, along with the many other apostolates and initiatives across the Irish Church which are contributing to the renewal,” Fr. McGlinchey said. “Evangelium Ireland’s unique offering relates to how it helps attendees to learn more about the richness and beauty of the Church’s teaching, and so we are delighted with our itinerary and speakers this year.”
Fr. McGlinchey said that this year’s lectures include Fr. Chris Hayden’s talk on the Gospel of St. John, Dr. Andrew Meszaros’s examination of how Catholic teaching evolves over time and Fr. Simon Nolan O.Carm’s look at the contemporary mind through a philosophical lens.
Along with the main lectures, attendees will choose between three interactive workshops, with the options being lay catechist Eoin McCormack’s workshop on ‘Speed Apologetics,’ Dr. Noreen O’Carroll’s discussion on assisted dying and James Bradshaw’s workshop focused on the writers GK Chesterton and Hilaire Belloc and their connection to Catholic Social Teaching.
“We are greatly looking forward to a day filled with stimulating talks and many opportunities for young Catholics to get to know one another in such a joyful environment. The opportunity for attendees to attend Mass in the stunning College Chapel, a hugely significant place in the history of Irish Catholicism, is not to be missed,” Fr. McGlinchey added.
Tickets for the full-day event on Saturday April 26th can be purchased on Eventbrite, and more information is available on Evangelium’s Facebook and Instagram pages.