Welcome to St Martin Apostolate
Discover who we are and what we do.
Click on the sections below to learn more about Our Mission, Our History, Our Activities, and The Dominican Order. Each section opens to share detailed insights about our work, values, and heritage.
St Martin Apostolate’s mission is to assist Catholics in practicing and deepening their faith in everyday life. We strive to foster a society grounded in peace and justice, inspired by the Gospels and the social teachings of the Catholic Church. Our commitment is to act on behalf of the poor and marginalized — including the homeless — following the example of Jesus Christ, who showed compassion to all.
Rooted in the legacy of Saint Dominic, who founded the Order of Preachers over 800 years ago out of mercy and love for humanity, we support their work at home and abroad. We also collaborate with charities dedicated to uplifting those less fortunate. Saint Martin de Porres, renowned for his intercession for the sick, inspires us to continue improving the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Our mission encompasses spreading the word of Jesus Christ, promoting the teachings of Saint Martin de Porres, supporting charitable works, and raising awareness and funds for the Dominican Order of Preachers.
At the heart of our work are activities that help Catholics live out their faith daily. Our dedicated team includes clerics, staff, and volunteers, but there is always room to grow. We warmly invite you to join us in this mission—whether by volunteering or supporting our work.
Our Oratory
We provide a place of peace and calm for those seeking to pray, meditate or simply calm themselves during their busy day. Mass takes place in the Oratory at 1.00pm Monday – Friday and Adoration after Mass each day until 4pm.
Our lunchtime Mass are streamed Live on our Youtube Channel – click here
Our Shop
Our Shop provides a very wide range of religious goods, prayer cards, mass offerings, and other items and facilitate those seeking to promote their faith. Our shop at 42 Parnell Square West is open from 9.30am – 5.00pm Monday – Friday. Visit our shop and see the wide range of quality religious items that we have to offer at great prices! Can’t make it in person, no problem, visit our online shop here.
Our Magazine
Our Saint Martin Magazine has been around since 1952 and is a worthwhile, easy to read Catholic magazine that nearly 40,000 people enjoy every month. It is full of interesting articles covering a diverse range of topics including articles to help develop your understanding and to encourage faith. Our wonderful magazine will allow you to touch base with your spirituality, gain an insight to St Martin’s work and catch up with your Faith.
The Apostolate’s story begins with Fr. Louis Coffey O.P. in the mid-1940s. Tasked with promoting devotion to Blessed Martin de Porres and aiding missions by educating priests, Fr. Coffey started from a small shop on Dorset Street. With the help of a supportive shop owner, raffles and religious goods sales flourished, laying the foundation for our organization.
In November 1952, the St Martin Magazine was launched and continues monthly publication to this day, reaching thousands of readers. The Apostolate expanded steadily, launching quarterly prize draws and extending membership into the UK, which remains a vital area for us.
The Apostolate relocated twice: first to No. 30 Parnell Square West in 1957, where the beloved Moving Crib was inaugurated, attracting large crowds. In 1977, we moved to our current home at 42 Parnell Square West. Here the Oratory was opened by Cardinal Ciappi, and the Moving Crib scenes were painted and updated by notable artists including Fr. Aenghus Buckley O.P. and Cormac Larkin.
By 1981, over 6,000 magazine promoters distributed nearly 100,000 copies monthly—a testament to Fr. Coffey’s lifelong dedication from humble beginnings to the present day.
The Dominican Friars
The activities, work and ministry of the Dominican Order in Ireland are varied, and they are involved in many Apostolates throughout the Country. The Irish province of the Order has friars engaged in the teaching of philosophy, theology and biblical studies in their academic centres in Dublin and Limerick. Other members of the province are engaged in post-graduate studies at home and abroad in centres such as Oxford, Rome and Jerusalem.
Many of our friars participate in pastoral care and some are working in media and publishing, while others conduct retreats and missions at home and overseas.
A large proportion of the Dominican Orders’ work is dedicated to providing local communities around the country with sacramental services (particularly the celebration of the Eucharist and the provision of the Sacrament of Reconciliation). Dominicans provide parish ministry in some dioceses in Ireland and supply some friars to hospitals, prisons, schools, universities and the defence forces. The Order have their own web site where you can discover much more about the Dominican Order in Ireland www.dominicans.i
The Dominican Nuns
They preach the Word of God through their work in the areas of Education, Ecology and Justice as well as Chaplaincy; Therapy; Care; Family Support; Retreat Work; Prayer Ministry; Reconciliation and Peace Building; Interreligious Dialogue; Hospitality and Support to those who have come to Ireland from other countries. They also engage in pastoral work in the wider community
This work is carried out across regions in Ireland, South Africa, Portugal, North America (Louisiana), Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia. The Sisters study, share, proclaim and witness to the liberating word of God that right relations be restored between God, people and the earth where these are broken due to lack of knowledge and distortion of the Truth.
The worldwide Dominican family endeavour to centre their lives on the Word of God. The friars, sisters and laity of the Order preach the name of the Lord Jesus throughout the world, while the nuns seek, ponder and call upon Him in solitude, so that the word proceeding from the mouth of God may not return to Him empty, but may accomplish those things for which it was sent.
The Dominican Sisters see their mission as seeking out truth and beauty wherever they are to be found. www.dominicannuns.ie
Simplified Summary – About Us This page tells you about the St Martin Apostolate. We help people live their Catholic faith. You can read about our mission, our history, what we do, and the Dominican Order. We also run a peaceful oratory, a shop with religious items, and a monthly magazine. Our work is guided by Saint Martin de Porres and Saint Dominic. You can click each section to learn more.