Courtney McGrailMediawatch
Month: November 2015
Consultation process for proposed world religions course is farcical
David QuinnThe new questionnaire on faith education is designed to be a stitch up, writes David Quinn
Messenger of wonder & wonderful messenger
Fr Michael Paul Gallagher SJ called people to discover a God who was much more loving than they had dared imagine, writes Fr Thomas Casey SJ
There’s something about Mary…
Martin O'Brien
Four years, almost to the day, since she retired after 14 momentous years as eighth President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, devout and questioning Catholic, stateswoman, peacemaker, Pope Francis admirer, qualified Canon lawyer, wife, mother and grandmother, is relishing the freedom that comes from being a private citizen again while being forever grateful for the…
Youth 2000 retreat on Lough Derg
Mags GarganA large number of young people recently gathered on Lough Derg to spend a weekend in retreat on Ireland's island of pilgrimage. The retreat was organised by Youth 2000 Ireland, who were welcomed to the island by the sanctuary's prior, Fr Owen McEneaney. More than 120 youngsters travelled from all parts of the country to spend the weekend in prayer…
CofI bishop addresses Clogher Catholic clergy
Bishop John Mc Dowell, Church of Ireland Bishop of Clogher, was the guest speaker at the Annual General Conference of Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Clogher. The conference of clergy and co-workers was held in the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan. The theme of Bishop McDowell’s keynote address was ‘Personal Reflections on Ministry’. Recalling his formative…
Annual Mass for St Feichin in Abbey parish
Young people were to the fore at the annual concelebrated Mass of St Feichin in Abbey parish, Co. Galway through the music and through the prayers of the faithful. The prayers were composed and read by the five first Holy Communnicants in the parish. Chief celebrant was Fr John Hickey CC Abbey with seven concelebrants.…
Middle East Christians plead for coexistence
Church representatives meeting in Cairo have called for peace and coexistence in the region. The Executive Council of the Middle East Council of Churches urged “heads of state and religious and political decision-makers in the world, Arabs and Muslims” to work for the preservation of religious pluralism, saying it is “the most precious treasure of…
World News in Brief
Papal visit to Central African Republic later this month is confirmed The Holy See has confirmed that Pope Francis is to visit the Central African Republic later this month, after doubts were raised about the planned trip when the Pontiff said it was his “hope” that he could visit the conflict-riven country. Despite the country’s instability, the Vatican has announced that the Holy Father will…
New head of Belgian Church says women’s ordination is ‘negotiable’
Bishop Jozef De Kesel of Bruges has been named by Pope Francis to succeed Archbishop André-Joseph Léonard as Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels and the effective leader of Belgium’s Catholic Church. Ordained in 1972, Dr De Kesel is regarded as a protégée of Cardinal Godfried Danneels, who resigned in 2010 shortly before it emerged that he had…