Last Sunday we had the familiar Gospel of Doubting Thomas. I’m always intrigued that the Gospel goes out of its way to refer to as “Thomas called the Twin”. Nowhere to my knowledge do we ever hear who Thomas’s other twin is. I wonder if that might be deliberate because it allows for a more…
Brendan O’Reilly The process of admitting new Catholics to the Church is centred on forming disciples writes Brendan O’Reilly Infant baptism in the Church has been practised since apostolic times and prior to 1972 if an adult sought baptism the ritual used was the Rite of Infant Baptism. Such adult baptisms were often celebrated privately,…
Limerick’s diocesan day of lay-led liturgies has been a big success, according to early reports. The morning of Tuesday, April 25, saw lay-led liturgies of the word in every Limerick parish, while diocesan clergy were away on in-service formation. “There were about 150 to 200 people in the cathedral,” Noirín Lynch of the Diocesan Pastoral…
The Oscars were in town this week as eight families attended the screening of their short films at the annual LauraLynn Oscars Night. Pictured are Oliver (8), Hollie (6) and Maura (8) Quail. Each film was directed and produced by the children and families along with the support of Windmill Lane Studios and script writers…
The two Bishops of Derry are undertaking a 30-mile walk this week in honour of the city’s patron, St Columba, and to promote reconciliation within their community. Bishop Donal McKeown and CofI Bishop Ken Good begin their journey today at St Columba’s birthplace at Gartan in Co. Donegal and their destination is St Augustine’s Church…
It has been a bad few weeks for those of us who value life from conception to natural death. First, there was a huge backlash against the National Maternity Hospital being situated in the grounds of St Vincent’s Hospital. The perceived problem was that there might be any Catholic influence whatsoever in the place, particularly…
A leading canon lawyer has warned that prenuptial agreements could invalidate marriages, as farmers have indicated their support for such agreements being introduced into Irish law. Research from Macra na Feirme conducted at livestock marts over recent weeks has found that 72% of surveyed farmers believe prenuptial agreements should have a place in Irish law,…
Bishop Fintan Monahan of Killaloe with his dog Barra, pictured after the bishop completed the Connemara International Marathon on Sunday, raising over €600 for Trócaire.
Staff reporter Irish priests have welcomed Pope Francis’ decision to celebrate a Mass for modern martyrs while wearing the stole of a martyred former student of the Irish College in Rome. “I think it’s very significant,” Fr Gerard Magee, chaplain at Queen’s University Belfast, said of the Pope’s decision to wear Fr Ragheed Ganni’s stole…
Fr Johnny Doherty CSsR hands a Mission Cross to Brian Fitzsimons at a drive-thru mission stall outside the Church of St Nicholas Ardglass where the Redemptorist Fathers from Clonard Monastery are conducting a mission in the parish of Dunsford and Ardglass until Sunday, April 30. Looking on is parish priest, Fr Gerry McCloskey. Photo: Bill…
Greg Daly
Courtney McGrail
Breda O'Brien