Catholics throughout the world are being asked to take time off today to pray for their local priests and to offer them support for the work they do.
Today is officially designated as World Day of Prayer for Priests, and in Ireland there are special ceremonies at Knock Shrine in Co Mayo.
Catholic priests have found themselves at the centre of many scandals and shocking revelations - particularly in relation to child sex abuse - in recent years.
But the group behind the World Day of Prayer, Quantum Universal, says there is a need for the extraordinary work that priests do to be acknowledged and supported.
It asked for Catholics everywhere to pause and join in silent prayers for the world's 400,000 priests at 3pm today.
Spokeswoman for the Irish group Marion Mulhall says the work that priests do - sometimes in extremely difficult and dangerous situations - is often overlooked.
She urged Catholics in Ireland to make a special effort today to meet and say 'thank you' to local clergy.
At Knock Shrine a special Mass was celebrated to offer encouragement and thanks to Ireland's 6,000 priests.
