The Bishop of Killaloe has called on water suppliers to make allowances for the farming community as a drought continues in Ireland and water restrictions are placed in hard hit areas. Also keep an “eye out” for elderly neighbours as temperatures look likely to stay around the mid-20s in Ireland, bishops and clergy have warned…
Colm Fitzpatrick examines if lay-led services are the future of Irish Catholicism In light of a prominent politician taking the lead at a Saturday night Eucharistic service after the parish priest failed to show up to offer Mass, questions have been raised as to what parishioners should do in such situations, and how they…
WMOF 2018 There was no shortage of excitement during the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore’s family fun day which was packed with entertainment for all. Kicking off on Sunday, June 24, there was music, face painting, a bouncy castle, obstacle course, kite making, treasure hunts, arts and crafts, tours of the abbey, prayer services…
Davis Clark A prominent Irish Columban missionary has denounced priests who arm themselves, saying clerics should not be “ready to kill”. Almost 200 Catholic priests have applied for gun permits in the Philippines this year against a background of a series of clergymen being murdered. The murders have led the Philippine National Police to categorise…
A huge crowd gathered on July 1 to celebrate Family and Mission Day at St Columban’s, Navan, Co. Meath to mark 100 years of Columban mission. This was the occasion for the Missionary Society of St Columban to welcome their many faithful friends, promoters, relatives of the priests and Sisters of St Columban, and their…
WMOF 2018 The Government has issued travel recommendations to the public attending the Pope’s Mass on August 26, in order to make it as smooth a process as possible. A huge amount of organisation has gone into preparing to accommodate the half a million people expected to attend, with the World Meeting of Families…
International Analysis Letter from Rome For all those concerned with a rising tide of anti-Christian persecution around the world, certain things about the nation of Pakistan may seem blindingly obvious: that Shahbaz Bhatti, for instance, should be declared a martyr and saint, and that a death sentence for Asia Bibi should elicit outrage and…
A body representing a quarter of Catholic priests in Ireland will be hosting a number of meetings ahead of the Papal visit for the World Meeting of Families this August. The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) will host four public regional meetings on the theme of “What do we need to say to Pope Francis…
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte should talk with the country’s religious leaders in person and not use representatives, according to a senior Church official. Fr Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the public affairs committee of the Catholic bishops’ conference, said “actual dialogue” with the president would be better. Early this week, Duterte named a four-man team to…
Colm Fitzpatrick asks whether phones should be banned in schools If you had said 40 years ago that someday children will be walking around with small portable electronic devices whereby they could communicate with their peers, create their own personal profiles, and find the answer to any question with just the tap of a…
Chai Brady
Colm Fitzpatrick
John L. Allen Jr.