His Excellency Mr Francis Campbell, who comes from Newry and is British Ambassador to the Holy See, was the keynote speaker at the recent annual three-day seminar for diocesan priests at Lismullin Conference Centre in County Meath. He outlined the reasons why Britain has an embassy to the Vatican, and the role it played in the Pope’s recent visit. 

Other speakers included Jack Valero, one of the founders of Catholic Voices UK, who explained how 20 lay men and women were trained to speak with conviction to the media about the Church’s positions on major contentious issues. He said the project had been a great success before and during the Papal visit. 

Professor Patricia Casey of the Mater Hospital and UCD dealt with the priest’s role as a minister of hope to those who are suicidal and despairing, while Fr John Harris OP, spiritual director to Youth 2000, spoke about the need to bring young people face to face with Christ in prayer, in devotion to the Blessed Eucharist exposed, and in the sacrament of reconciliation. The seminar was attended by over 50 priests from many dioceses.