Padre Pio Prayer Group Monthly Mass and Devotions, Dundalk

What to Expect

On the second Friday of every month, the Padre Pio Prayer Group meets at the Family of God Oratory in Carroll Village, Dundalk, for a Mass followed by devotions, starting at 8pm. The evening is centred on the life and spirituality of St Pio of Pietrelcina, the Italian Capuchin friar born Francesco Forgione in 1887, who spent most of his religious life at the friary of San Giovanni Rotondo in southern Italy. He became known worldwide for the stigmata that appeared on his hands, feet and side in 1918, and for spending long hours each day hearing confessions. St Pio died in 1968 and was canonised by Pope John Paul II in 2002, and prayer groups devoted to him meet regularly in parishes and oratories across Ireland, of which Dundalk’s monthly gathering is one.

Good to Know

• Second Friday of every month, 8:00pm, Mass followed by devotions
• Venue: Family of God Oratory, Carroll Village, Dundalk
• Free to attend, all welcome, no booking needed
• The Oratory is run by the Family of God Catholic Community, which began as a charismatic prayer group in Dundalk in 1974 under Sr Briege Murphy and was formally recognised by the Archdiocese of Armagh as a Private Association of the Church in 1992
• The same Oratory holds daily Eucharistic Adoration from 10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday, Morning Prayer of the Church at 11am Monday to Saturday, Mass on Mondays at 12:45pm, and a Thursday evening prayer meeting at 7:30pm
• Worth confirming the date nearer the time, since the second Friday can shift slightly around bank holiday weekends

Getting There

Carroll Village is on the western side of Dundalk, a short drive or bus journey from the town centre. Limited parking is available at the Oratory itself, and the walk from the town centre takes around 15 to 20 minutes. Dundalk’s main bus and rail stations are both roughly a 20 to 25 minute walk away, so a car or taxi is the easier option after dark, particularly for the 8pm start.