A “shared future” between different religious communities in the North of Ireland is only possible if we “include everybody” Derry’s bishop, Donal McKeown, has said. The comments come in the wake of criticism the bishop received by DUP MP Gregory Campbell, after he spoke about the ongoing sectarian rioting taking place across Derry leading up…
WMOF 2018 Jade McMahon and Ciara Hunt Preparations for our youth pilgrimage began many months ago when we attended meetings in the pastoral centre in Corbally, Limerick. We were trained and the role we were about to undertake as youth pilgrims was explained to us. We met our 10 dedicated leaders who were full of life, fun and…
Always carrying rosary beads and showing graciousness in defeat, it makes sense that Croatia’s manager is a man of sincere Catholic faith. Coaching his team all the way to the World Cup final, Zlatko Dalic [pictured] said that his success is due to his Faith in God. “Everything I have done in my life and…
Pope Francis has chosen four cardinals from countries where young people are facing special challenges to preside over sessions of the Synod of Bishops in October. The Vatican announced on July 14 the Pope’s appointment of the presidents-delegate: Cardinals Louis Sako of Baghdad, the Chaldean patriarch; Desire Tsarahazana of Toamasina, Madagascar; Charles Bo of Yangon,…
The Quiet Revolution of Pope Francis: A Synodal Catholic Church in Ireland? by Gerry O’Hanlon SJ (Messenger Publications, €12.95) Peter Hegarty “It is through the clash of ideas in public debate that truth emerges,” Gerry O’Hanlon observes in a favourable overview of the reforms undertaken and envisaged by Pope Francis. He writes of the slow emergence of…
Just in time for Pope Francis’ official visit next month, Ireland’s National Marian Shrine in Knock, Co. Mayo, has launched its first ever exclusive collection of prayers. The beautiful Knock Prayer Book is a collection of brand new prayers composed by Fr Richard Gibbons, rector at Knock Shrine for over five years, and carefully chosen…
Fascism: A Warning by Madeleine Albright (William Collins, £14.99) Peter Hegarty Albright’s striking title emphasises her concern about the rise of strongmen around the world: ‘Some may view this book and its title as alarmist. Good. We should be awake to the assault on democratic values that has gathered strength in many countries abroad and that is dividing…
The Australian state of Victoria has said a recommendation by the royal commission that it pass a law requiring priests to break the confessional seal to report cases of child sex abuse requires further consideration. Victoria attorney general Martin Pakula said on July 11 that the government needs to further consider 24 of the 317…
Matthew Carlson writes about the fight against tobacco companies Tobacco companies are known to target children and young people to create new waves of smoking addicts, but new laws being implemented this September aim to fight back against these callous forms of advertising. Plain packaging legislation will come into force this autumn, under the…
It was with heavy hearts that the people of the parish of Middletown and Tynan bade farewell to the Sisters of Saint Louis. The sisters have had a religious presence in the village of Middletown for over 140 years and were founded in Juilly, France in 1842. They first came to Ireland in 1858. They were invited by the…
Colm Fitzpatrick
Chai Brady