Trócaire, the bishops’ overseas aid agency, is supporting relief efforts in Vanuatu in the aftermath of what is thought to have been the worst cyclone to ever hit the country. Cyclone Pam, a category five storm, devastatedthe most populated island of Efate, where more than 65,000 people live, with wind speeds of up to 270…

The bishops have called for a renewed global commitment to protect freedom of religion and to stop the “brutal persecution” of minorities. In a joint statement this week the bishops said the “denial of the freedom of conscience and religion” is a “truly global crisis” which had led to “violent conflict, loss of life, forced…

Six Dominican friars have been ordained deacons by Dublin’s Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, in a ceremony that has bucked the trend of recent decades. The Irish Dominicans’ Prior Provincial, Fr Gregory Carroll confirmed that this was the largest ordination of deacons since 1972 and that the new deacons all entered the order after a specially designated…

Schools are places of ‘security and shelter’

Pope Announces Year of Mercy Pope Francis has announced the celebration of an extraordinary Jubilee Year dedicated to Mercy. The Holy Year of Mercy will begin on December 8, 2015, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and 50th anniversary of the closing of the Second Vatican Council, and will end on November 20, 2016, the…

A weekend event for ‘Creative Catholics’ – those involved or interested in the musical, visual, literary or dramatic arts – is being organised by a group called His Mad Plan. The theme of the weekend is ‘Beauty Will Save the World’ and it is designed to be a weekend of prayer, talks and workshops from…