“The Church must reach out to new generations, to a new culture. It must be in touch with the new anguishes and challenges of people. It must reach out to those who are marginalised and abused,” said Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.

The response to Pope Francis’ Extraordinary Missionary Month has been hugely successful in the Catholic Church across the world - The Irish News.

Monsignor Gerard McSorley was ordained on 13 May 1954 in Rome and is now the Diocese of Clogher’s longest-serving priest.

Tributes to 81-year-old Fr Michael Guckian, who served in the Philippines as a missionary for 30 years, describe him as “a walking saint”.

“It is like Jesus who went out to where people were and he gave them an invitation. We are doing the same; we ask people would they like to live a holy Lent,” said Fr Paddy Mooney, PP.