Mayo: Children enjoy the Diocese of Achonry’s preparation launch for the World Meeting of Families.

Limerick: Pupils from Doon CBS Primary School display their shoeboxes for the Christmas Showbox Appeal.

Nyumbani: Minister Coveney and Sr. Mary Owens, Executive Director of Nyumbani, with the children of Nyumbani.

Vatican: People take photos as Pope Francis arrives to celebrate Mass marking the first World Day of the Poor in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Vatican: Pope Francis speaks before eating lunch with the poor in the Paul VI hall after celebrating Mass marking the first World Day of the Poor.

USA: Jeanette Vizguerra, a mother of four who lived in Denver churches for 86 days to avoid immigration authorities, is hugged during an immigration rally near the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

Italy: Seminarian Samuel Bass from the Diocese of Austin greets a woman as poor people leave after eating lunch at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

USA: Capital letters representing the 89 chapters of “The Four Holy Gospels” are seen inside The Art of the Gospels by Makoto Fujimura gallery at the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC.

Kiladare: Orla Curtin, Sarah Lennon and Aishling Mc Kenna graduate from the Pontifical University St Patrick’s College Maynooth. Archbishop Eamon Martin presided over the ceremony which included  241 lay, clerical and religious students and 24 permanent deacons who were first to complete a Diploma in Diaconal studies. Photo: John Mc Elroy.

Brazil: Soldiers of the Brazilian army patrol a street in the Rocinha favela of Rio de Janeiro. Police crackdowns on drug dealers in the area have affected people’s religious activities.