A new missionary programme aimed at reaching out to as many people as possible was launched today by the Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland, Diarmuid Martin.
Worshippers at the Pro-Cathedral's Chrism Mass heard Dr Martin say he would be inviting every parish in the diocese to join in a common programme of missionary outreach and evangelisation during the year 2009.
Dr Martin said: "We urgently need to renew all our efforts to bring the message of Jesus right into the hearts of our young people. We need to place the message of Jesus' love at the heart of marriage and family life. We need to bring to our world that unique message of truth, justice and love witnessed to by Jesus."
The new programme comes on the same day as a poll published in the Irish Examinerfound that while over 80 per cent of people in Ireland believe in God, only 45 per cent attend mass on a weekly basis.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Communications Office has launched a special website for Easter.
The site includes links detailing the celebration of Holy Week and Easter in the Holy See and in the dioceses of Ireland.