The centenary celebrations of Venerable Matt Talbot this summer drew bumper crowds and sparked renewed momentum for his cause for canonisation, according to Michael Murphy of the Knights of St Columbanus.
“We didn’t realise going into the centenary year how big of a success it was going to be,” Mr Murphy said. “Not alone for reigniting the cause, but also the interest all around the country that was there.”
What began as plans to speak in six churches expanded rapidly. “At the end of the year, we ended up speaking in 30 different places… it just seemed to have grown arms and legs,” he said.
The June centenary weekend in Dublin drew more than 2,000 people. “At the Pro-Cathedral there were 700–800 people,” Mr Murphy recalled. “They came from England, they came from America… it was unbelievable really.”
Mr Murphy believes the year marked a turning point. “I think it’s a breakthrough moment,” he said. “Matt Talbot is a beacon of hope and a shining light for people who feel lost.”
For more see – Matt Talbot: A good neighbour
