Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of organization is the John Paul II Centre?

John Paul II Centre is a non-profit organization at the service of the Church, sponsored by the Legionaries of Christ and the Regnum Christi Apostolic Movement

What does the John Paul II Centre do for the community?

The John Paul II Centre strengthens and enriches the life of families and individuals within the community. It addresses the needs of the modern family and provides real answers to the many challenges they face by providing appropriate programmes and courses, such as marriage enrichment, parenting and family life talks, youth clubs and seminars and much more. The John Paul II Centre has served large numbers of families and individuals in Dublin and throughout the country for many years. The centre is a non-profit organization under the direction of the Legionaries of Christ.

Do you have to be a Regnum Christi member to come to Dal Riada?

No, all are welcome

Is there a dedicated priest or/and laity who oversees the services and activities at Dal Riada?

Yes, all activities at the John Paul II Centre are overseen by a Legionaries of Christ priest and by both consecrated and lay members of Regnum Christi

What kind of services and programmes does Dal Riada provide?

Dal Riada provides a diverse range of services listed below:

Parenting and family life workshops
'Time Out’ Days for the Family
Marriage Enrichment Days
Catholic Faith formation and information courses
Young Adult activities (formation and evangelization)
Spiritual Direction
Evenings of Reflection
Counselling Referrals
Parenting Series
Young Mother’s get-togethers
Youth Clubs (teens)
Special Topic weekend courses are run throughout the year
Weekend Retreats

What is spiritual direction?

Spiritual direction is a practical way to stay focused in your spiritual and faith journey . Priests from the Legionaries of Christ usually provide spiritual direction for the members of Regnum Christi.

Are there charges to attend the activities listed or participate in the services offered?

No, many activities and events have no charge, however, as Dal Riada is a non-profit organization, often charges / donations are necessary to cover the cost of the event.

What are the normal opening hours at the Centre?

9am to 5.30pm, Mon - Fri

Can I do volunteer work at Dal Riada?

Yes, volunteers are welcome to help out, please call +353 (01)-288-9317 for further details

What exactly is Regnum Christi?

Regnum Christi is an apostolic movement at the service of mankind and the Church founded by Father Marcial Maciel, LC
Regnum Christi is active in more than thirty countries, and its membership includes tens of thousands of lay men and women, as well as deacons and priests. Regnum Christi members strive to increase their own personal conversion and love for Christ, and take upon themselves a commitment to personal and organized apostolic activity

What is the charism of Regnum Christi?

Regnum Christi is characterized by a keen sense of mission as well as a sense of freedom, joyful faith, and personal conviction in its members. It encourages their initiative and reminds them of their responsibility, rooted in Baptism, to make their faith the active principle of every aspect of their everyday life-personal, professional, social, and family.

To live this spirituality and persevere in a genuinely Christian life, members rely on a personal commitment to daily prayer, regular spiritual direction, and the frequent reception of the sacraments. They also benefit from working with other members of Regnum Christi, coming together in teams that meet weekly to reflect on the Gospel, apply it to their concrete circumstances, and review the progress of their apostolic activities. Priests from the Legionaries of Christ usually provide spiritual and apostolic direction for the members of Regnum Christi

How can you know if Regnum Christi is for you?

How do you know if you are called to this spiritual Family? Well, are you Catholic? Do you want to do something effective for Christ and the Church? Do you sometimes wish you could do something, but don’t quite know how to go about it on your own? Are you free of commitments to any other Movement or similar group within the Church? When you see the shortcomings of society or even within the Church, do you want to do something rather than indulge in sterile complaints or criticism? Are you attracted by a spirituality centred on personal love for Christ, devoted to Mary in the imitation of her virtues, and in profound communion with the Church and the Pope as successor of Peter?

Membership in Regnum Christi is an answer to a call, a particular way of responding to Christ’s call to every Catholic to be holy and do apostolate. It is a commitment to dedicate yourself body and soul to bring everyone you can to know and love Jesus Christ. It means becoming an active participant in a dynamic organization made up of men and women, married and single, young and old -- mostly lay, but also including diocesan priests -- who share the desire to see Christ reign in the hearts of all people, and to give life to every facet of contemporary society with the principles and ideals of his life and mission.
Regnum Christi is one way of living the Catholic faith, not the only one. It is one Movement among many in the Church, but not the only one. There are many others, and the Church needs us all. It is part of, and an aid to the local Church, not a substitute for it. It is a Movement of apostolate, not a Catholic ‘club.’ It is a commitment to use the most effective means of evangelization, not necessarily the easiest or least taxing.

How do I get more information?

If this brief description above appeals to you, if you think that God is calling you to live out your baptismal commitment through the means provided by Regnum Christi, then I invite you to learn more about it. Please call the John Paul II Centre (01) 288 9317 and ask more details.

Who is the founder of Regnum Christi?

Marcial Maciel was born on March 10, 1920, in Cotija de la Paz, a small town located in the state of Michoacan, Mexico. His childhood was marked by the profound social and religious crisis that rocked Mexico during the 1920´s.

This early contact with human suffering and the persecution of the Church etched in the young Marcial a deep concern for the spiritual, economic, and social well-being of all people.

In 1936 he moved to Mexico City to begin studying for the priesthood in the minor seminary directed by the bishop of Veracruz, Rafael Guizar y Valencia. At age 16 Marcial was inspired to found a religious congregation dedicated to spreading Christ's kingdom through every positive means available. Though he had neither experience nor material support, Marcial realized his dream with God's help. He founded the congregation of the Legionaries of Christ on January 3, 1941, and in 1959, a movement called Regnum Christi.

What are the relationships between Dal Riada, Regnum Christi and Legionaries of Christ?

The Legionaries of Christ are the priestly branch of the bigger family which is the Regnum Christi movement and consequently provide necessary guidance to the apostolic works undertaken by the members as well as providing for their sacramental needs. This however, in no way detracts from the commitments and loyalty to each member’s parish.

Dal Riada is simply the name given to the house on Avoca Avenue by the original owners; (c. 1850’s) Since it’s acquisition in the 1970’s it has become the Family Centre but has retained that original name.