Courtney McGrailSt Mary’s Cathedral in Kilkenny was suitably packed when it hosted on November 20 a concelebrated Mass of Thanksgiving to mark the recent retirement of Bishop Séamus Freeman, S.A.C., who served as Bishop of Ossory for almost nine years. The celebration coincided with the Feast of Christ the King and the conclusion of the Extraordinary…
Month: December 2016
Nurturing green shoots in Waterford
Greg DalyA new place of mission and evangelisation for young people in Ireland has been officially opened in the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore. The Papal Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Charles Brown, formally opened Holy Family Mission at Co. Waterford’s Glencomeragh House on Friday, December 2, saying it was an honour officially to launch such a…
Fulton Sheen process delayed by appeal
The anticipated commencement of the Cause for Canonisation of America’s Archbishop Fulton Sheen has been dealt a blow by confirmation that the transfer of his remains to the Diocese of Peoria in Illinois is to be legally challenged by the Archdiocese of New York, their current location. On November 17, the Manhattan Supreme Court ruled…
New Brexit report on Ireland asks crucial questions – Derry bishop
A House of Lords report that has recommended that questions of freedom of movement across the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic has been welcomed by Derry’s Bishop Donal McKeown. “It’s certainly very encouraging for us here to discover that there are people in significant positions who are concerned about the effect that Brexit…
Venezuelan prelate urges release of political prisoners amid crisis
Venezuela’s leading prelate has urged the government to remain true to pledges made when entering cross party dialogue towards ending the country’s economic crisis. As talks between representatives of President Nicolas Maduro and opposition figures continue, Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino of Caracas spoke publicly on issues of action agreed to by government but not yet…
Bishops make official submission to Citizens’ Assembly on abortion
Paul Keenan“Supporting and sustaining a culture of life is in the interests of every generation and it defines us as a society,” the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference has said in its submission to the Citizens’ Assembly on the Eighth Amendment. In a lengthy document, entitled ‘Two Lives, One Love’ and issued on December 9, the bishops…
Study finds direct link between mother’s attention and child’s early development
Staff Reporter A leading psychiatrist has welcomed a new study which establishes an appreciable link between the time spent by a mother with her children and the children’s cognitive and social development. Reacting to news that researchers from the University of Essex and University College London have found that the greater a mother’s attention and…
Ordination of Fr Nejad
Fr Damien Nejad and Raphoe’s Bishop Philip Boyce, OCD at the ordination of Fr Nejad in Letterkenny’s Cathedral of Ss Eunan and Columba on Sunday, December 11. Glasgow-born Fr Nejad’s mother comes from Annagry, where Fr Nejad celebrated his first Mass on the evening of December 11 in the Church of St Mary Star of…
Family is changing but ‘traditional’ family remains all-important
David QuinnThe ‘Family Rhythms’ report gives cause for thought, writes David Quinn
Slaying the sectarian dragon
Michael KellyThe tone of discussions about the Catholic Church in Ireland increasingly reminds me of growing up in the North surrounded by sectarianism, writes Michael Kelly