Courtney McGrailPope Francis receives a kite from a boy during a meeting with children of Italian prisoners in Paul VI hall at the Vatican May 30. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)
Month: June 2015
Liverpool takes to the streets in droves for Marian procession
Over 500 people took part in Liverpool’s biggest Marian procession in decades on Saturday May 30. Liverpool’s Archbishop Malcolm McMahon and Sisters from the Missionaries of Charity, the congregation founded by Mother Teresa, led children who had made their First Holy Communion through the city, stopping several times to sing a hymn and to say…
People die while the UN and state fail to act, say bishops in Democratic Republic of Congo
Bishops from the Democratic Republic of the Congo have criticised governmental and United Nations failures to tackle “genocide, jihadist fundamentalism and Balkanisation” in the country. “For more than 20 years, the eastern populations have fallen victim to war and insecurity,” said the bishops from eastern South Kivu province in a pastoral message, continuing, “in 2010,…
Referendum defeat due to defective catechesis
Dear Editor, The unimaginable has happened – same-sex marriage is now legal in Ireland, voted in by the Catholic population. This is surreal. This is despite the best herculean efforts on the ground by dedicated groups of lay people. However the timid instruction from the shepherds was very weak, with no mention of Jesus Christ and that…
Criticisms of Cardinal Pell are denied by Vatican commission
Criticisms of Australian Cardinal George Pell by a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors do not reflect the role or views of the commission, a Vatican spokesman has said. The commission “does not have the task of investigating and pronouncing judgment on individual cases,” according to Father Federico Lombardi, responding to…
Memorial month in Dublin for Matt Talbot
Mags GarganThe Dublin church which hosts the mortal remains of Matt Talbot is holding a memorial month to mark the 90th anniversary of his death. First Communion in Our Lady of Lourdes Church on May 16 opened the festivities which included a football blitz, radio Mass and novena Masses. On Saturday, June 6 a Vigil Mass…
Relics of St Oliver Plunkett to visit Cavan
Relics of St Oliver Plunkett will visit the chapel of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Cavan on Tuesday, June 9. The relics will arrive at the centre at 10am and will be available for veneration until 10pm. There will be a lunchtime Mass in the chapel at 1.15pm offered by Fr Enda Murphy, Diocesan Director…
Four Belfast Lay Dominicans professed
Four new Lay Dominicans were professed at a ceremony in the chapel of St Dominic’s Convent, Falls Road, Belfast on May 21. The new lay members of the Order of Preachers are: Ms Margaret McLean OP, Ms Monica Dynan OP, Mr Brendan Kelly OP and Mr John McBride OP. They belong to the Immaculate Heart…
Peach bellinis make a tasty summer dessert
Erin FoxSweet Treats
Chastity promotes human dignity
Chastity is about more than saying no, Dawn Eden tells Mags Gargan