Over the last number of months, a number of enthusiastic RE and music teachers within the Archdiocese of Tuam have been working on a new project which will bring 300 young people together to perform a charity concert. Awakening will be a performance of a combination of modern church and contemporary music which will raise…
We have a responsibility to ease the burden on countries that are immediate neighbours to war-torn regions, writes David Quinn Europe is currently embroiled in the greatest refugee crisis since the Second World War. It has been precipitated by the collapse of authority in Libya, and in large parts of Iraq and, of course, by…
Uruguayan Church’s ‘pain and shame’ at unpunished abuse Uruguay’s bishops have apologised for sexual abuses committed by priests 20 years ago that went unpunished because the country’s statute of limitations expired. A statement on the website of the South American country’s bishops’ conference says the Uruguayan Church feels “pain and shame” about “abhorrent acts committed by people who had promised to serve…
Pope’s meeting with Sanders wasn’t endorsement Pope Francis has dismissed suggestions that he has somehow endorsed US presidential candidate Bernie Sanders by meeting with him in the Vatican. The Vermont senator was in the Vatican to participate in the ‘Centesimus Annus’ Conference on Catholic Social Teaching and had stayed the night at Casa Santa Marta, where the Pope lives. Speaking…
Calling women as deacons is at least worth talking about Phyllis Zagano The early Church had a problem. As it grew, the apostles could not attend to all its ministries. As Pope Francis said, when speaking to assembled bishops in Philadelphia, last September, the apostles essentially ‘invented’ the diaconate. The beginnings of the diaconate related…
The head of the US-based Catholic News Service (CNS) has stepped down, following online claims that he was “promoting the LGBT agenda”. Tony Spence, director and editor-in-chief of the US bishops-owned news agency since 2004, had in the days prior to his resignation commented on his Twitter account about legislation where LGBT rights and religious…
A group of 13 ladies, two men and two children visited the convent of the Holy Rosary Sisters in Temple Road, Dublin, laden with music and delicious food to thank the sisters for the work they have done in Africa. The group represented the Women Intercessors for the Church and the Nations, also known as…
Author Jon M. Sweeney tells Mags Gargan about how St Francis’ legacy was almost destroyed by his best friend One of the first of many surprises when Pope Francis was elected head of the Church was that he chose the name Francis, after St Francis of Assisi, because he was “the man of poverty, the…
Thornhill Ministries in Derry is celebrating a ‘Jubilee of Consolation’ with a festival of flowers entitled ‘Dry the Tears’. The festival is being hosted by Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Steelstown Road, Derry on the weekend of May 6-8 and follows on from the vigil to “dry the tears” which Pope Francis is celebrating in…
Nigerian bishops have urged the government to hasten its efforts to free 219 schoolgirls who were abducted by insurgents two years ago. Bishops Matthew Audu of Lafia and George Dodo of Zaria called on officials to boost intelligence gathering efforts and muster the political will to find the girls, who in April 2014 were taken…
Mags Gargan
David Quinn