Post by Devotus Immaculatae on Jun 2, 2024 16:11:56 GMT
As the title of the thread suggests, this is just a post appreciating the work of Fr. Thady Doyle who is based in Co. Wicklow.
[ I must admit it took me a while to warm to his approach, some of his takes on current politics and events would not be my interpretation, and occasionally some of the critical Catholic commentaries he occasionally relies on for helping explain sacred scripture, would not always be exactly in line with the CCC in my opinion. I don't believe on the rare occasions this occurs, to be in any way intentional by Fr. Doyle. He is a reverent and faithful Priest. Why do I have to mention this? - Regrettably I have to put on such disclaimers, as social media today seems incapable of separating the message from the messenger, and confusing the messenger with the central point being made. If a point is good and true, it's good and true regardless of who makes it, even if they are not always correct about everything all of the time. We are all fallible human beings. I’ve found Fr. Doyle’s teaching about union with Jesus Christ in heart and mind and the Holy Spirt to be excellent. Fr. Doyle runs a public channel, so there is going to be public comment on what he says.]
Now, that aside, what's my actual central point concerning Fr. Thady?
He demonstrates what one person can do on their own with little to no help.
After being disillusioned with other Catholic magazines in the 90’s, Fr. Doyle started writing, printing and distributing the Curate’s Diary. To keep the costs down and make the magazine affordable, he bought a second-hand printing press, and prints them himself. 4,500 copies per month, and has subscriptions from all over Ireland and worldwide. He keeps it simple. A3 pages folded in half and centrally stapled, and he uses a three-column layout to maximise the space and make reading easy. A 20-page magazine published every month and on sale in 2024 for the princely sum of only €1. Carefully chosen in size weight and shape to maximise the cheapest postage rates available. He has annual subscriptions from all over Ireland and the world. I love this magazine for it’s value and simplicity, and its one man band low cost model. Please consider supporting it.
I’ve seen the Curates Diary in sale in Churches and Shops all over Ireland. He relies on volunteer promoters to distribute them.
At its peak the Curates Diary sold 14,500 copies per month. (He explains himself the numbers crashed and never recovered once the clerical abuse crisis started).
On top of this, around 2010, Fr. Doyle managed to raise enough funds to buy and renovate a former gatekeeper’s cottage in Glendalough, right on the edge of the Glendalough Monastic Site and national park, and within the former bounds of the old Monastic City.
From this little cottage he offers masses, eucharistic adoration, talks, retreats, a bookshop, teas and coffees. The first regular Catholic masses and regular Catholic presence at Glendalough Monastic Site since penal times.
Please support this Cottage and give it a visit.
I don't live anywhere near Glendalough, but if I did, I would be volunteering to help Fr. Doyle and help out at his Cottage. He's keen to get volunteers of all ages to help with his work at Glendalough and perhaps help carry it on as well.
If this wasn’t enough Fr. Doyle also started a successful YouTube channel around 5 years ago, one of the largest and most successful Catholic YouTube channels in Ireland, now with 35,000 subscribers worldwide.
Please consider supporting his channel.
If you have any supportive things to add about these initiatives, please share them!
Anyways, if you were not familiar with it, I hoped you enjoyed learning about one Priest's spirited initiative. Please keep Fr. Doyle in your prayers.
[ I must admit it took me a while to warm to his approach, some of his takes on current politics and events would not be my interpretation, and occasionally some of the critical Catholic commentaries he occasionally relies on for helping explain sacred scripture, would not always be exactly in line with the CCC in my opinion. I don't believe on the rare occasions this occurs, to be in any way intentional by Fr. Doyle. He is a reverent and faithful Priest. Why do I have to mention this? - Regrettably I have to put on such disclaimers, as social media today seems incapable of separating the message from the messenger, and confusing the messenger with the central point being made. If a point is good and true, it's good and true regardless of who makes it, even if they are not always correct about everything all of the time. We are all fallible human beings. I’ve found Fr. Doyle’s teaching about union with Jesus Christ in heart and mind and the Holy Spirt to be excellent. Fr. Doyle runs a public channel, so there is going to be public comment on what he says.]
Now, that aside, what's my actual central point concerning Fr. Thady?
He demonstrates what one person can do on their own with little to no help.
After being disillusioned with other Catholic magazines in the 90’s, Fr. Doyle started writing, printing and distributing the Curate’s Diary. To keep the costs down and make the magazine affordable, he bought a second-hand printing press, and prints them himself. 4,500 copies per month, and has subscriptions from all over Ireland and worldwide. He keeps it simple. A3 pages folded in half and centrally stapled, and he uses a three-column layout to maximise the space and make reading easy. A 20-page magazine published every month and on sale in 2024 for the princely sum of only €1. Carefully chosen in size weight and shape to maximise the cheapest postage rates available. He has annual subscriptions from all over Ireland and the world. I love this magazine for it’s value and simplicity, and its one man band low cost model. Please consider supporting it.
I’ve seen the Curates Diary in sale in Churches and Shops all over Ireland. He relies on volunteer promoters to distribute them.
At its peak the Curates Diary sold 14,500 copies per month. (He explains himself the numbers crashed and never recovered once the clerical abuse crisis started).
On top of this, around 2010, Fr. Doyle managed to raise enough funds to buy and renovate a former gatekeeper’s cottage in Glendalough, right on the edge of the Glendalough Monastic Site and national park, and within the former bounds of the old Monastic City.
From this little cottage he offers masses, eucharistic adoration, talks, retreats, a bookshop, teas and coffees. The first regular Catholic masses and regular Catholic presence at Glendalough Monastic Site since penal times.
Please support this Cottage and give it a visit.
I don't live anywhere near Glendalough, but if I did, I would be volunteering to help Fr. Doyle and help out at his Cottage. He's keen to get volunteers of all ages to help with his work at Glendalough and perhaps help carry it on as well.
If this wasn’t enough Fr. Doyle also started a successful YouTube channel around 5 years ago, one of the largest and most successful Catholic YouTube channels in Ireland, now with 35,000 subscribers worldwide.
Please consider supporting his channel.
If you have any supportive things to add about these initiatives, please share them!
Anyways, if you were not familiar with it, I hoped you enjoyed learning about one Priest's spirited initiative. Please keep Fr. Doyle in your prayers.