The Belfast 4 Corners Festival will take place this year from February 3 to 12, under the theme ‘Our Wounded & Wonderful City’. The event comprises innovative events aimed at encouraging people to go beyond the ‘corners’ of their own neighbourhoods towards discovering new ideas and friends. The 4 Corners Festival was established by a…
Month: January 2017
Prelates have no plan to halt Mass by suspended priest
Greg Daly
Ireland’s bishops are likely to ignore plans by ‘silenced’ priest Fr Tony Flannery to celebrate a public Mass on January 22. Redemptorist Fr Flannery, who has been out of ministry since 2012, has announced on his website that he intends to disregard the ban and celebrate his 70th birthday, which will be on January 18,…
Bishop says asylum seekers will get a warm local welcome
Paul Keenan
The Bishop of Achonry, in whose diocese the parish of Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon is preparing to receive at least 80 Syrian refugees, has insisted people of the town will be “welcoming” of the new arrivals. Speaking to The Irish Catholic this week, and amid widespread media coverage of rows centred on the choosing of Ballaghaderreen’s…
Pope criticises clericalist mind-sets in homily
Pope Francis has criticised the ‘clericalist’ attitude as “hypocritical” and at odds with Jesus’ example of serving the people of God. In a homily delivered in Casa Santa Marta on January 10, the Pontiff said the attitude communicated by Christ was that “of a servant, and this gave authority…Jesus did not have an allergy to…
Our bishops get ready to meet Pope Francis
David Quinn
Times have changed since the last ad limina, writes David Quinn It is 10 years since the Irish bishops made their last ad limina visit to Rome. It will take place from January 15-25. Literally, an ad limina apostolorum means ‘to the threshold of the Apostles’. It is a pilgrimage to the tombs of Ss…
Broadcasting authority complaint likely after RTÉ Eucharist mockery
The head of the Family and Media Association is “almost definitely” going to complain to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland after the Eucharist was ridiculed on RTÉ’s flagship chat show. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Donal O’Sullivan-Latchford said that he was “very likely” to complain to the BAI after The Late Late Show broadcast on…
Death of one of Ireland’s greatest servants
Former Irish economist and public servant TK Whittaker (left), who died this week aged 100, pictured with Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and Seamus Mallon, former deputy leader of the SDLP, at a function in Mr Whittaker’s honour last year.
Pope Francis announces prayer intention for the homeless
Pope Francis has issued an ‘urgent action’ prayer intention for the month of January, naming the homeless during the continuing cold weather sweeping Europe. “During these very cold days,” he said, “I think of and I invite you to think of all the people who live on the streets, affected by the cold and many…
Heroic priest play set for American debut
A play about the heroic Irish priest Msgr Hugh O’Flaherty is set for its first overseas performances God Has No Country, by Kerry actor and playwright Donal Courtney about the Rome-based World War Two priest, will be performed in Rochester, New York and Penn State University, Pennsylvania in March and April. There have been proposals…
Irish Ambassador attends ‘inspiring’ papal address
Ireland’s Ambassador to the Holy See, Emma Madigan, has spoken of the “impressive and inspiring” address delivered by Pope Francis to the Diplomatic Corps on January 9. Ambassador Madigan joined with representatives from over 180 missions with links to the Holy See to hear the annual address from the Pontiff, which touches on those key…