On Monday, 5 May, the annual March for Life took place in Dublin city. The event began at Newman University Church on Saint Stephen’s Green and proceeded to Molesworth Street. Prior to the march, Bishop Denis Nulty – Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin and Chair of the Council for Marriage and Family of the Irish Bishops’ Conference – celebrated Mass at Newman University Church.
In his homily Bishop Nulty remarked, “We gather to put what happens this afternoon in context. We gather to put ourselves in the hands of God before we set out on our ‘March for Life 2025’. We gather to realise we are not alone, we, who are the voice of those without any voice.
“The late Pope Francis reminded us “God’s mercy is our liberation and our happiness. We live thanks to mercy and we cannot afford to go without: it is the air we breathe. We are too poor to set conditions. We need to forgive because we need to be forgiven” and so we pray:
- Is tusa Tobar na Trócaire – you are the wellspring of mercy: A Thiarna, déan trócaire
- Is tusa Slí na Fírinne – you are the way of Truth: A Chríost, déan trócaire
- Bí linn i gconaí, ós ár gcomhair amach – be with us always, showing us the way. A Thiarna, déan trócaire “
Bishop Nulty continued, ” We gather in the church, most associated with Saint John Henry Newman, whose motto is “cor ad cor loquitor”, which translates as “heart speaks to heart”.
In the Acts of the Apostles we meet Stephen, who is fired up by God’s Word and despite being the victim of trumped up allegations, he continues more robustly than ever to defend his faith. What a beautiful line: “his face was like the face of an angel”. May we march with the faces of angels, convinced of our pro-life cause, but respectful in our interactions with others. We win people over not just by articulate argument but also by our demeanour.”
Bishop Nulty said, “A Pro-Life ethos is one that thrives on encounter.”
Visit CatholicBishops.ie to read the full text of Bishop Nulty’s homily.
ENDS
