“This simple poem touched people who read it so deeply that we thought that a musical setting to the words could make it more widely accessible.”

The initiative aims to promote liturgical music in second level schools as well as in parishes throughout the diocese.

Up to 200 choristers and musicians attend summer school in Maynooth to hone their musical skills and realise they are 'not alone'.

Priests and bishops need to put more resources into choirs and music, says Ian Callanan of Music Ministry Together.

Pilgrims invited to Music Ministry Together weekend to learn music, get to know each other, and gain a deeper understanding of music in the liturgy of the Church.

"We are going to have less and less priests in Ireland over the coming years and we will be forced to think outside mass for liturgy. We therefore need to get young people more involved in the church outside of the formal structure of the mass and one of the ways to do this is through music," says international sacred music composer.