Fr William Doyle was an Irish Jesuit priest; military chaplain to the the Royal Dublin Fusiliers during World War 1 who was killed in the Battle of Langemarck, on 16 August 1917 aged 44 years.

Fr Doyle was a spiritual leader who touched many souls during his lifetime and long after.

In August 2022, the Father Willie Doyle Association was established to petition the Catholic Church to introduce a cause for canonisation for Fr Doyle.

In January 2022 the Supplex Libellus, the formal petition, was presented to Most Rev Thomas Deenihan, KC*HS, Bishop of Meath Diocese.

Having consulted with the Irish Bishops’ Conference and the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints, Bishop Deenihan issued an edict on 27 October 2022 announcing the opening of a cause.

The opening session took place on Sunday 20th November 2022 at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, County Westmeath.

In attendance were Bishops and clergy from the Dioceses of Ireland; the postulator for his cause Fr John Hogan; the Irish Jesuit Provincial Fr Leonard Moloney; head chaplains to the Irish and British armies and members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem – Lieutenancy of Ireland.

The event was live-streamed and is available to view here

Further information on Fr Doyle is available at