A senior Church official has urged parents with children in Catholic primary schools to ensure that a proposed new curriculum will not encroach on the time allocated to religious education. Fr Tom Deenihan, who heads the Catholic Primate School Management Association, warned that there had been “some concern” that the proposed new Education about Religion…

Country music star Carrie Underwood has spoken of her “strong” faith in God. The 2005 American Idol winner also revealed her goal as a parent is to raise her son as a “loving” Christian. The Jesus, Take The Wheel singer spoke to People magazine about the importance of faith to her family: “We want to…

Homelessness campaigners have cautiously welcomed the latest package of measures agreed by the Government to address the country’s homelessness crisis. After a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, ministers Alan Kelly and Michael Noonan announced a series of measures including barring landlords from increasing residential rents for two years, obliging property owners to give longer notice to…

Staff Reporter A former seminary in Diocese of Waterford & Lismore has been transformed into a new housing project by a Catholic agency. The extensive work on St John’s College was carried out by the Franciscan-run housing agency Respond with the aim of alleviating the problem of homelessness in Waterford city. The new development, which will…

Joe Barrett A young Wexford woman, who obtained a total of €750 from two parish priests in Laois while claiming to be a social worker, has appeared at Portlaoise District Court on three counts of deception. Rebecca O’Leary (22) pleaded guilty to the three charges that occurred on October 8 and 12, twice from Portlaoise Parish…

A prominent Jesuit scholar and leading commentator on modern Irish Catholicism has died after being ill for some months. Fr Michael Paul Gallagher SJ died on Friday, November 6, in St Vincent’s Private Hospital, after the Anointing of the Sick and prayers with three Jesuit friends. He had been suffering from cancer since January. Born…

Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin returned to his native Derry to celebrate the vigil Mass for the Feastday of All the Saints of Ireland on November 6. Here Dr Martin is greeted by students from St Mary’s College at the Mass at St Eugene’s Cathedral.Photo: Stephen Latimer

A delegation of 15 bishops, eight support staff and diocesan personnel have taken part in an information visit to the European Commission and to the European Parliament in Brussels. The group met with First Vice-President of the European Commission, Mr Frans Timmermans, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Mr Phil Hogan as well as…

Ireland is to host three climate rallies on the eve of the upcoming UN Climate Summit in Paris. The rallies are scheduled to begin at 2pm on November 29, the day before the Taoiseach Mr Enda Kenny addresses the summit. Organised by such organisations as Trócaire, Friends of the Earth, and Stop Climate Chaos, the…