St. Carthagh's and St. Edmund's Catholic Churches

Saint Irenaeus

The Church is fortunate that Irenaeus was involved in many of its controversies in the second century. He was a student, well trained no doubt, with great patience in investigating, tremendously protective of apostolic teaching, but prompted more by a desire to win over his opponents than to prove them in error.

As bishop of Lyons he was especially concerned with the Gnostics, who took their name from the Greek word for “knowledge.” Claiming access to secret knowledge imparted by Jesus to only a few disciples, their teaching was attracting and confusing many Christians. After thoroughly investigating the various Gnostic sects and their “secret,” Irenaeus showed to what logical conclusions their tenets led. These he contrasted with the teaching of the apostles and the text of Holy Scripture, giving us, in five books, a system of theology of great importance to subsequent times. Moreover, his work, widely used and translated into Latin and Armenian, gradually ended the influence of the Gnostics.

The circumstances and details about his death, like those of his birth and early life in Asia Minor, are not at all clear. However in 2022, Pope Francis named Saint Irenaeus a Doctor of the Church.

With grateful hearts for God’s grace of one faith, one baptism, one hope and one Lord Jesus Christ, the  Good News of God’s unconditional love for all, we stand united as a community of God’s people in the  Archdiocese of Kingston. Conscious of our equality in God’s eyes and His personal love for us and  imbued with the evangelical zeal of our patrons and Mary, the Mother of the Church, we reflect God’s  goodness in our community and in our dealings with others. Guided by the Spirit and assisted by prayer  and the Sacraments, we strive to deepen our personal relationship with Christ Jesus and to share him  with others.

On behalf of Archbishop Mulhall, I am forwarding the following message:
 

To mark the fifth anniversary of the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia, on the 19 March 2021, Pope Francis inaugurated a special year dedicated to the family entitled, Year “Amoris Laetitia Family”. This special year will highlight the importance of the family within the domestic Church and encourage community ties between families through several spiritual, pastoral and cultural proposals.

In preparation for the Year “Amoris Laetitia Family”, the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life has provided the attached resource brochure, in English and French, with pertinent information and suggestions for the special year, which will open on the 19 March 2021 and conclude on the 26 June 2022 at the celebration of the 10^th World Meeting of Families, in Rome.

Throughout the year, the Dicastery will be providing supplementary information and resources. You are also invited to consult the Dicastery’s website dedicated to the Year “Amoris Laetitia Family”:

http://www.laityfamilylife.va/content/laityfamilylife/en/amoris-laetitia.html