Croagh Patrick Reek Sunday, Murrisk Co Mayo Sunday 28th
Newly Ordained Fr Mark Quinn celebrating mass on the summit of Croagh Patrick Ireland's 'Holy Mountain' for the annual pilgrimage which traditionally takes place every year on the last sunday in July.
Photo Conor McKeown A Catholic men’s group in the west of Ireland has seen its memberships double in a little over a year, as organisers say growing numbers of men are seeking faith, fraternity and formation.
Fr Mark Quinn, curate in Tuam, told The Irish Catholic that the Men of St Joseph began in Tuam with around 40 men at its first meeting in September 2025, while now around 105 have signed up with 65 attending its most recent gathering.
Fr Quinn said the group was started after he noticed increasing numbers of young men returning to confession. Those coming range from 18 to retirement age and include married, single and engaged men, as well as men returning to or entering the faith.
“When you put something on for men alone, they’ll flock to it,” he said, contrasting the turnout with other parish and catechetical events where men often make up only a minority.
“You could encompass it and say that they’re looking for meaning and they’re looking for that kind of support,” Fr Quinn said. “A lot are looking for formation as well.”
The growth has helped inspire the Irish Forge, a new men’s formation initiative involving Fr Quinn, Dr Robert McNamara, Declan Ganley and Michael Madden.
Dr McNamara, head of philosophy at St Patrick’s Pontifical University, said that since returning to Ireland he had gained the “distinct impression” that the practice of the Catholic faith among men, particularly younger men, was growing “both in numbers and vigour”.
“There’s a great need of men to understand what manhood is and to take responsibility for being a man,” he said, adding that many had not received the formation needed to meet those responsibilities.
Fr Quinn said there had been little understanding of “Christian masculinity” in recent decades, leaving a gap which could be filled by more extreme ideas encountered online.
He said the groups also gave men space to speak openly with one another. “There’s a great freedom in sitting down to be able to talk to other men about faith and about life and struggles,” he said.
The Irish Forge will hold two formation days focused on faith, virtue, responsibility and fraternity at Moyne Park, Abbeyknockmoy, Tuam, Co. Galway, on October 24 and November 21.
Places are limited, with further information and booking available through the Irish Forge website.