It’s our job to shine the light that first shone in Bethlehem, writes Ciara Ferry During the Advent and Christmas season, many people find themselves asking the question “What do I want?” Oftentimes the answer can be found in the Black Friday sales, but does not actually satisfy any longer than it takes for…
Canon law may still block proposal The Archdiocese of Dublin has been left in the dark over plans by the Religious Sisters of Charity to relinquish control of the St Vincent’s Healthcare Group and enable the building of a new National Maternity Hospital. According to a diocesan spokesperson, there has been no contact between…
Parishioners at the Dublin church founded by Cardinal Newman are “delighted” that a second miracle attributed to him has been recognised by the Vatican, paving his way to sainthood. Blessed Cardinal Newman founded and designed Newman University Church which has brought “many great experiences of Faith and worship to people” according to the parish priest.…
Wellbeing programmes in Faith schools could do more to help protect students from mental health issues, a leading Irish theologian has said. Tuam-based priest Prof. Eamonn Conway and Dr Kerry Greer of Limerick’s Mary Immaculate College have said that emerging resilience programmes in Irish schools lack a scientific basis, and that the notion of Christian…
Those guilty of the shooting of 10 innocent people in Ballymurphy showed “sneering contempt” and “lack of repentance” according to the parish priest at a memorial service. Relatives and friends of the victims held a candlelit vigil in memory of their loved ones who were killed in West Belfast in 1971. The Ballymurphy shootings occurred…
It’s now 175 years since Charles Dickens published his phenomenally successful A Christmas Carol, in 1843 – so successful that it has almost come to define modern Christmas. It has spawned endless editions and many and diverse movie versions, and its allusions have gone into the language: we all know what a ‘Scrooge’ is, and…
While Christmas is usually a time most of us look forward to, social justice campaigner Fr Peter McVerry said homeless people dread the festive season. Speaking to the paper as the trust launched its 2017 annual report, Fr McVerry said that Christmas is the most “depressing day of the year” for homeless people as they…
The Catholic Church has been slow to recognise the presence of homosexual men in the priesthood, which is why superiors must exercise care in helping gay candidates prepare for a life of celibacy or leave the seminary, Pope Francis said. “Homosexuality is a very serious matter, which must be discerned adequately from the beginning with…
The eventual successor to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin faces many immediate challenges writes Michael Kelly In an era of flourishing faith, plentiful vocations and widespread esteem for the Church, being a bishop in Ireland was an attractive prospect for any ambitious cleric. It used to be said that when a priest was elevated to the…
Parishes can be a “shining example” to the community if they become actively involved in tackling climate change, according to a parish pastoral worker for the Archdiocese of Dublin. Speaking from the Czech Republic while on pilgrimage to Poland Jane Mellett said she believes the Church can be a “leading voice” on the issue of…
Greg Daly
Chai Brady
Colm Fitzpatrick
Mary Kenny
Michael Kelly