Mass celebrating the 50th anniversary of Accord, the Catholic Marriage Care Service – Saint Malachy’s Church, Belfast – 4 March 2012
“When did we last hear a government or a government minister speak in support of marriage and family? Public discourse seems to prioritise discussion and promote debate on other forms of union, rather than on the importance and value that loving marriages provide to the immediate family, the local community and to the nation as a whole” – Bishop Jones

Keynote address by the Ombudsman and Information Commissioner, Emily O’Reilly, celebrating 50 years of Accord, the Catholic marriage care service – Europa Hotel, Belfast – 3 March 2012

ACCORD Golden Jubliee Conference 1962-2012 On 3 and 4 March next a major conference will be hosted by ACCORD in Belfast to mark its 50th year.  Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, will celebrate Mass for participants and conference speakers will include Bishop Christopher Jones, Bishop of Elphin and President [...]

ACCORD, the Catholic marriage care service, aims to promote a deeper understanding of Christian marriage. ACCORD offers couples the means to nourish marriage and family relationships. Click here for marriage prayer, audio reflections on love and a list of creative gift ideas for couples. To coincide with Saint Valentine’s day 2011, ACCORD has announced a [...]

PRESS RELEASE 11  February 2011 ACCORD new figures show upward trend in couples getting married ACCORD launches new Facebook page for couples Love, not money, key to happiness on Saint Valentine’s Day and everyday - see list of tips below Audio reflections on love and marriage available to parishes and for broadcast on www.catholicbishops.ie ACCORD, the Catholic marriage care service, has announced a 6% [...]

Irish Bishops’ Conference Department of Pastoral Care: national cooperation, supporting pastoral relatedness The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ICBC) work collaboratively on issues which arise for the Church and society and this work includes five departments, one of which is the Department of Pastoral Care whose commissions, agencies and initiatives include Cura, Migrants/Prisoners at Home and [...]

‘Why Marriage Matters’ is a statement in support of marriage and family life, which was published by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference to coincide with the Oireachtas debate on the Civil Partnership Bill which it enacted in July 2010.

PRESS RELEASE 12 March 2010 ACCORD marks 40 years of supporting marriage ACCORD figures for 2009 show an 11% increase in demand for counselling The three areas listed by clients as being most problematic in their relationships: communication, stress and sexual intimacy Rates of depression and stress in clients are up 14% and 12% respectively [...]

A Statement of the Irish Bishops’ Conference on the Civil Partnership Bill 10 March 2010 | Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference At a press conference on the last day of the spring general meeting of the Irish Bishops’ Conference on 10 March 2010, bishops published a leaflet ‘Why Marriage Matters’ in support of marriage and family [...]

Stephen Cummins, Director of Marriage Education  at ACCORD, talks about the importance of marriage preparation and what ACCORD can offer to couples: