A Word from the Regional Chaplain, October 2025

27 Oct A Word from the Regional Chaplain, October 2025

I can’t believe it’s nearly six months since I last wrote a piece for Teams, and now, here I am, writing my final Word as Regional Chaplain. Much has happened in the interim. Paddy and Jacinta Quigley have gently surrendered the task, which they have carried out faithfully and generously over many years, if not decades, of producing the quarterly Teams newsletter. Teams Ireland owes them a great debt of gratitude for the unwavering commitment and publishing skills they brought to the task, editing and producing a fine newsletter, a matter of days after receiving the various contributions. Paddy had a particular skill of giving ‘last minute’ people like myself a good two week warning before the deadline for submission. The lack of such gentle but
persistent nudging shows in the fact that I am way over meeting this deadline! The new editorial committee have taken the bold decision to move the whole process online, which is where most people today get their information, and hopefully it will make the newsletter accessible to more people, both nationally and further afield.

It has been a privilege to be part of the Regional Team over the past four years, under the innovative and energetic leadership of Rosemarie and Brendan Gavin. Under their stewardship, Teams has seen the launch of new teams in Cork and Belfast, the Tandem programme for couples who are engaged or considering marriage has expanded, and a new website has just been launched. They also led the delegation of Teams couples and chaplains from Ireland to participate at the International Teams gathering in Turin in July 2024. It is a mark of the high regard in which they are held internationally that they have been invited to become the new Super Regional Couple in January, taking over from Paul and Annette O’Beirne from England. The Super Region encompasses England, Ireland, Wales, Malawi, Ghana, South Africa and Zambia. We wish them God’s blessing as they prepare to take up this new role.

Anne and Mark O’Leary have taken on the role of Regional couple, which covers all of Ireland and will be formally blessed for this new challenge at the Teams’ gathering later this week. Having taken on the Treasurer’s role over the past three years and turned Teams’ finances around, Paolo and Paola Batori have already succeeded Anne and Mark as the Dublin sector couple. They also pioneered the first online Team during the Covid years, a brilliant initiative.

At a time when fewer couples are getting married in a church setting, particularly in Dublin, it is amazing to note the establishment of new Teams in Ireland over the past five years or so. While much of this is due to the efforts of the leadership seeking new and innovative ways to make Teams better known in Ireland, it is also further evidence of the way the ‘new Irish’ are revitalising the Church in Ireland. In my own parish in Swords, we recently held an International Mass, where parishioners of many different nationalities contributed to a lively and engaging liturgy, with music, liturgical movement and prayers of the faithful led in ten different languages. In Teams too young couples of different nationalities are bringing the gift of their deep faith commitment and dynamism to our movement and encouraging other couples to become involved.

As I write, we are preparing for the annual Teams Gathering (formerly known as the Responsible Couples’ Day). Again, this transition encourages as many couples from different Teams to attend as would like to, particularly couples who are new to Teams. Not only will we be joined by Paul and Annette O’Beirne, the outgoing Super Regional couple, but we will also have the joy of welcoming Alberto Perez and Mercedes Gomez-Ferrer from Spain who lead the ERI (Equipe Responsable International).

During their time as Super Regional Couple, Paul and Annette have been very supportive of Teams Ireland, participating in our Gathering Day each year, and looking after the whole British and Irish group attending Turin last year. At that international gathering (which takes place every six years), there was a very emotional moment when the outgoing ERI handed over to Alberto and Mercedes and their team of six couples and a chaplain, representing the different continents on which Teams are present, the responsibility for taking Teams forward for the next six years. Their joining us this weekend is a wonderful reminder that we are privileged to be part of a movement of faith and marriage spirituality which is so much bigger than our Irish experience.

We are also privileged that Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare and Leighlin will join us and celebrate Eucharist with us. A Teams chaplain for many years, Bishop Denis has been particularly supportive of Teams in recent years and makes himself available to us when ever his busy schedule permits. As I look forward to meeting faces familiar and new at our Teams Gathering, I am reminded that my involvement with Teams began with a tap on the shoulder. The Holy Spirit wants each of us to tap on a shoulder.

Our Lady of Teams, pray for us.

Fr. Richard