Thousands of pilgrims are expected to retrace their ancestral heritage during Easter as they take to Ireland’s ancient pilgrim paths. The inaugural National Pilgrim Paths Week will see a nationwide series of pilgrim walks taking place on Ireland’s medieval penitential trails from Tuesday, March 22 to Tuesday, March 29. Knowledgeable local guides will lead each…
The North’s environment minister Mark Durkan MLA, has been criticised for using “offensive” and “hurtful” language in speaking about abortion in the case of unborn children with life-limiting conditions. Speaking at a launch of a Women’s Manifesto in Derry, Minister Durkan said: “Now, to talk about the elephant in the room – or, the elephant…
The headmaster of one of the country’s leading Jesuit schools has spoken of the importance of “academic rigour” in religious education (RE). Belvedere College SJ Headmaster Gerry Foley also called on Catholic schools to develop a “common language” to articulate their unique ethos. Speaking to a meeting of Catholic educators at Marino Institute of Education…
After 12 years as diocesan secretary in Limerick, Fr Paul Finnerty said his new appointment as Vice Rector of the Irish Pontifical College in Rome is “daunting” but “exciting”. One of his first challenges will be to learn Italian. “I will have to hit the books in a big way,” Fr Finnerty told The Irish…
Further State funding for bodies with a religious ethos appears in doubt after the Diocese of Elphin confirmed it was forced to pull out of a local family life centre to guarantee future funding. It was first reported in The Irish Catholic last week that Tusla – the State’s child and family agency – was…
Rugby legend Dan Carter has paid tribute to deceased Kerry teenager Donal Walsh as a “truly inspirational” young man. Donal Walsh lost his brave battle with cancer in May 2013 after coming to national fame for campaigning against youth suicide and his parents continue to spread his message through the Donal Walsh #LiveLife foundation. Advance…
Addressing thousands of pilgrims in St Peter’s Square at the weekend, Pope Francis told them: “God does not nail us to our sin.” The Pope went on: “He does not identify us with the evil we have done. We have a name, and God does not identify this name with the sin we have committed.”…
In a joint message for Holy Week and Easter, the two archbishops of Armagh have asked that all Christian will “show something of the immeasurable mercy of God” in their daily lives. In the message, Archbishop Eamon Martin and Archbishop Richard Clarke point out that while this is a particular Year of Mercy in the…
A high-profile body set up to advise Pope Francis on preventing abuse is under threat unless the Vatican releases further funding, it has been claimed. Baroness Nuala O’Loan has described as “very disturbing” claims that Vatican officials have been slow to release funding for the Pontifical Council for the Protection of Minors. Irishwoman Marie Collins,…
“It was impressive to see the huge amount of voluntary effort to support the refugees’, writes Brendan O’Regan, even though “The faith element was…over simplistically” I’ve long been a fan of reporter Valerie Cox’s work for RTÉ Radio and last Sunday night she made a very effective jump to television on the Exodus – A…
Cathal Barry
Mags Gargan
Michael Kelly
Greg Daly
Brendan O’Regan