As Ireland marked the 100th anniversary of the death of Venerable Matt Talbot, a recovered alcoholic known for his deep spirituality and personal transformation, two senior Church leaders issued a powerful call for a more compassionate national response to addiction.
At a centenary Mass in Saint Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Archbishop Dermot Farrell (pictured above), Archbishop of Dublin, addressed a packed congregation, warning of the societal impact of so-called recreational drug use. “It finances the networks and the violence from which we all recoil,” he said. Emphasising that addiction is a disease, not a moral weakness, the Archbishop called for community-based support that addresses both physical needs and inner suffering. He described Talbot as “a person of hope, faith, and charity” and urged the faithful to see his example as a guide for confronting today’s crisis.
Later, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church on Sean McDermott Street, in the heart of Talbot’s old neighbourhood, Bishop Michael Router, who is chair of the Bishops’ Council for Healthcare and liaison bishop with the Irish Bishops’ Drugs and Alcohol Initiative, echoed those themes during the centenary’s closing Mass. He highlighted the scale of the problem, noting that over 278,000 family members in Ireland are directly impacted by drug addiction. “We have an epidemic of silent suffering,” he said, calling for both practical support and spiritual healing. “True recovery requires the grace of the Holy Spirit.”
Both bishops emphasised that Talbot’s legacy, marked by prayer, penance, and devotion to the sacraments, offers real hope for those struggling today. Their shared message: addiction is not a moral failure, and every person is worthy of redemption and care.
“Hope is a community project,” Archbishop Farrell concluded. Bishop Router added, “The Holy Spirit is for everyone, especially those still in the grip of despair.”
To read Archbishop Farrell’s homily, please click HERE. To read Bishop Router’s homily, please click HERE.
ENDS
