Date of death: Thursday, May 13, 2010
Fr Tierney was one of the first to become aware of the issues involved in relation to cults, Sects and New Religious Movements in Ireland.
He wrote about this extensively in the media and tried to alert the Churches and society about the challenge these groups represented.
He helped numerous families throughout Ireland during his ministry.
In the 1980′s, a number of people from different Christian churches became pastorally involved in this area.
Subsequently the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin appointed Fr Tierney as Chairperson of a committee established to provide information and necessary pastoral care in relation to new religious movements.
Later in 1992 it was felt that this ministry should best be approached from an ecumenical perspective, and the leaders of the other mainline Christian Churches in Dublin responded positively to an invitation to participate in the work of the committee.
This committee later became the Dialogue Ireland Trust. Further development took place in 2001, when Dialogue Ireland, though continuing to be supported by the churches, became an independent Trust, thus giving it greater freedom in carrying out its mission.
Fr Martin Tierney had retired as the chair over 10 years ago. He was a pioneer in the field in Ireland with his book, “The New Elect.”
Funeral arrangements: Reposing at Quinn's Funeral Home, Glastule, Dublin between 3-5pm Saturday followed by Removal on Monday to the Church of St Therese Mount Merrion arriving 5.30pm.
Funeral on Tuesday after 11am Mass to Deans Grange Cemetery, Dublin.
No flowers - donations if desired to the Blackrock Hospice.
Month's Mind Mass will be held at 11am in Liscannor Parish Church, Co. Clare.
SIC: DI