Homily of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, Primate of Ireland

Archbishop Martin was speaking at a special Mass on 5 January, the Eve of the Epiphany, in Dublin’s Pro-Cathedral. The congregation included Filipinos, Poles, Nigerians, Romanians, Indians, Latvians and Brazilians, some wearing traditional dress. Readings and prayers were in different languages and there was a multi-cultural choir for the occasion. Archbishop Martin hopes that next year individual parishes will have a similar celebration. Because of emigration,Ireland’s population in 1980 was about half what it had been in 1845. But since 2000 huge numbers have been migrating into the country. The Church in the Philippines observes the First Sunday of Lent as Migrants’ Sunday.