Pope Francis has concluded the Year of Mercy with a call on the Church and faithful to “identify and practise” new works of mercy. In an act mirrored in churches around the world last Sunday, the Pontiff closed the Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica to officially end the jubilee year, and reminded pilgrims in…

The Diocese of Waterford and Lismore will officially open the Holy Family Mission in Glencomeragh on December 2. Operating under the auspices of the diocese, the Mission is a new residential Catholic community of young people aged 18-30, which draws from the tradition of the Catholic faith to form young people, and families, to live…

Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin has been accused of seeking to provide political cover “to silence services or advocates that do not support abortion as a solution to a crisis pregnancy”. Independent TD Mattie McGrath spoke in response to the publication of the Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill brought forward by Mr Howlin…

Irish bishops have rejected claims that clergy are facing into a retirement black hole due to falling parish collections. Fr Gerry O’Connor of the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) told The Irish Catholic that “Dioceses which are experiencing a decline in revenue from collections are saying to elderly priests: ‘we may not be able to…

Students at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, celebrate with Armagh’s Archbishop Eamon Martin after the conferral of over 265 students with qualifications in theology and philosophy.

Staff reporter Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry has said that the early division of school children through testing “damages educational outcomes of our society”. Speaking last week as he blessed the new extension at All Saints Primary School in Tattysallagh in Co. Tyrone, Bishop McKeown stressed the long-term value of non-selective education for all students,…

Bishop Fintan Monahan of Killaloe has appealed to Government and others in positions of leadership to “maintain rural life”. Speaking to The Irish Catholic this week as An Post signalled that a major wave of post office closures is possible, Bishop Monahan said the “impoverishment of rural Ireland” remains a big issue of concern for…

RTÉ broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan was on hand to encourage children everywhere to have a ‘Mad Hair Day’ this December 16 for a good cause. A fundraising initiative of the Society of Missionary Children, the event calls for children to adopt zany hairstyles as they collect money for poverty stricken children across the world. This year…