PRESS RELEASE

29TH NOVEMBER 2004

DIOCESE OF KILDARE AND LEIGHLIN LAUNCHES

DIOCESAN PASTORAL CAMPAIGN

“REACH OUT”

The official launch of the Kildare and Leighlin Diocesan campaign ‘Reach Out’
took place earlier today in The Red House, Newbridge, Co Kildare. The campaign
was formally launched by the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Most Rev Jim Moriarty.

The Reach Out campaign is a response to the issues raised by people in the
diocese following publication last year of Together in Christ, the draft
guide to the diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. The publication of Together in Christ
marked the start of a conversation in the diocese about what should be the key
priorities for the diocese in the coming years. The strong consensus was that
reaching out to youth, to newcomers and to those who do not regularly attend
church should be the primary objective for the diocese.

The formal launch of Reach Out now sets in place a campaign to address these
and other issues, which will begin in parishes throughout the diocese on the
Second Sunday of Advent – 5th December 2004 when congregations in all the
churches will be invited to bring home a specially designed diocesan candle
and leaflet and to drop one or two to neighbours. Everyone will be invited
to light their candle in their home on Christmas Eve. A large version of
the diocesan candle will be lit in every church at Christmas as a further
symbol of welcome and unity.

The Reach Out campaign will continue into 2005 supported by the re-launch
of the Diocesan website, awareness campaigns, a programme of visitation
throughout the diocese, a joint initiative with Trócaire for Lent 2005.
The Reach Out campaign will also tie in with the World Youth Day event in
Cologne, Germany next August.

Commenting on the campaign Bishop Moriarty said, “The sense of sharing the
light of Christ is the inspiration behind the new ‘Reach Out’ campaign in
our diocese. The lighting of a candle and the sharing of a prayer around
it on Christmas Eve is a beautiful way of expressing the hope, welcome
and the unity that Christ brings.

“In a society that too often leaves people feeling isolated and excluded,
the need to offer a word of encouragement and invitation is now never more
important. In every gesture of welcome, every encounter, every act of
friendship, we meet the Lord himself. In reaching out to newcomers, to the
young and to those who do not have close contact with the church, we are
welcoming Christ in a special way into our lives.”, Bishop Moriarty said.

Further information:
Martin Long Director of Communications (086 1727678)
Brenda Drumm Communications Officer (087 2337797)
Fr Micheal Murphy Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin (086 8244629)

NOTES TO EDITORS:
* A photograph of Bishop Moriarty is available on request.
* Visuals of the campaign poster/leaflet are also available on request.
* 60,000 leaflets and 40,000 candles will be issued by the diocese for
the campaign.
* The Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin has:
56 parishes; 110 priests/parish pastoral workers;
a Catholic population of approximately 200,000;
117 Catholic Churches; and the Patrons of the Diocese are St Brigid,
St Conleth and St Lazerian.
* The Diocese includes County Carlow and parts of Counties Kildare,
Laois, Offaly, Kilkenny, Wicklow and Wexford.