On October 24, in the Vatican, the Pontifical Council for the Laity and Family Life and the Irish delegation of the IX World Meeting of Families met to discuss the gathering, which is scheduled to be held in Dublin from 22 to 26 August 2018, on the theme "The Gospel of the Family, Joy for the World." The issues addressed were the program and methodology of the preparatory catechesis, the theological-pastoral congress, the festival of families and witnesses, and the event's promotional activities at national and international level. The meeting was chaired by the Prefect of the new Dicastery, His Eminence Kevin J. Farrell. The Irish delegation, led by the Archbishop of Dublin, H.E. Msgr. Diarmuid Martin, was composed of Ms. Anne Griffin and Father Timothy Bartlett, respectively Secretary General and General Manager of the International Day of Families. The Vatican Dicastery was represented by Msgr. Carlos Simon Vasquez, Msgr. Miguel Delgado, Fr. João Chagas, Fr. Patrick Dubois, Ms. Elisabeth Hawkins and Dr. Marco Brusati, as expert for the Festival of Families. The next meeting was scheduled for 29 November.