“The Church must reach out to new generations, to a new culture. It must be in touch with the new anguishes and challenges of people. It must reach out to those who are marginalised and abused,” said Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.

“In a time where some speak of a ‘post-truth’ society, one in which ‘alternative facts’ and ‘fake news’ are the order of the day, we know that ‘the word of God is alive’ (Heb 4:12)” – Bishop Dermot Farrell.

“You may be surprised at the power you find in the Bible,” says Fr Pádraig McCarthy.

“It is a good thermometer of the thirst out there for something more. People are being ignited by it.”

Cardinal Martini began Samuel Groups in Italy in 1989. Each year for the following decade he brought together about 200 young people in his diocese of Milan for monthly meetings on Sunday afternoons.

Centre has cost the Order €500,000 over the past three years to keep open and this level of funding cannot be sustained into the future.

It began in 2014 as an effort to tap into the ecumenical collaboration of IEC2012. The different traditions would read, pray and celebrate the Bible together over one week.

Representatives of Ireland's main Christian churches will explore and study the application of the Word of God to life and culture through 32 events at 15 venues.

August vocations weekend organised after May weekend booked out.