“Singing before Pope Francis is a privilege for our soul; it is an honour for what the Supreme Pontiff represents in the world.”

Half a million free tickets for closing Mass of WMOF2018 snapped up in less than two weeks.

Knock Shrine event, Croke Park Festival of Families and RDS Congress booked out. 285,000 already signed up for WMOF2018 closing Mass in Phoenix Park.

"We have the highest number of individuals registered of any World Meeting of Families with just over 30,000” WMOF2018 Secretary General, Fr Timothy Bartlett has highlighted.

Secretary General of WMOF2018, Fr Timothy Bartlett, delighted at having reached milestone in volunteering numbers, but thousands more volunteers needed.

Papal visit to Ireland expected to be confirmed as two Irish families set to meet the Pontiff at general audience today.

The Icon card includes the official WMOF2018 prayer and is designed so that it can be set up on the mantelpiece and used throughout the year or used as the prayer before the family sits down to Christmas dinner this year

Thousands pour into Knock as countdown to World Meeting of Families next year begins and preparatory programme is launched.

The icon, which was written by Mihai Cucu, will be accompanied by petition boxes, and contemplative communities around Ireland have agreed to take petitions collected from families and to pray for them during the coming year.

It is hoped that this will offer people the opportunity to engage with the new direction Pope Francis is taking and renewed hope for the life of the Church in Ireland – Fr Richard Gibbons, PP and Rector of Knock Shrine.

New programme includes topics that are engaging, relevant and challenging.

Fr Timothy Bartlett is director of public and social affairs in the Diocese of Down & Connor and also Secretary to the Northern Bishops.

Ongoing industrial problems at West Belfast’s largest post-primary school over the past few months has seen a number of parental protests.