Three years after Martina Purdy joined the Adoration Sisters in west Belfast, she will profess her vows along with former barrister, Sr Elaine of the Heart of Jesus Kelly.

Four novices make their first profession, one makes his solemn profession and five new members join the order.

The friary, which over many years had been the novitiate of the Irish Franciscans, is now an inter-provincial novitiate, with novices coming from Ireland, Great Britain, Germany and Holland.

Bro Philip Mulryne OP joined Manchester United under Alex Ferguson and was part of the famed class of ‘92 featuring the likes of Beckham, Scholes, Giggs, Butt and the Neville brothers.

Europe shows biggest decline having lost 9,051 religious women.