There is an “urgent” need for extra Catholic school places in south Belfast to cater for demand, according to a report. The research commissioned by the Integrated Education Fund (IEF) found that six of the 14 primary schools in the Castlereagh/Carryduff area are at, or almost at, capacity. This includes three Catholic and three integrated…
A reporter once asked two men at the construction site where a church was being built what each did for a living. The first man replied: “I’m a bricklayer.” The second said: “I’m building a cathedral!” How we name an experience largely determines its meaning. There are various languages with a language and some speak more…
Concrete hope never disappoints, Pope tells Gypsy communities Members of Italy’s Gypsy communities must look to God to hold on to the hope of a future where they are no longer discriminated against or segregated, Pope Francis has said. Speaking to 500 members of the Roma, Sinti and Gypsy communities during a May 9 prayer service in the Clementine Hall of the…
This month saw the culmination of festivities at St Conleth’s church, where the people of Newbridge’s parish came together on his Feast Day to mark the 1,500th anniversary of his death and to celebrate the vibrant parish life that still exists in his name today. The weekend of celebrations began with Mass where Kildare and…
Bill to end Louisiana death penalty fails A proposal to allow voters to decide if capital punishment should remain legal in Louisiana has been defeated in the state senate. Senate Bill 112 would have added a question to the next state-wide ballot proposing a constitutional amendment to abolish the death penalty. It was defeated last…
Shaping Ireland: Landscapes in Irish Art National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Square, Dublin Beit Wing Rooms 6-10, Exhibition runs to July 7 These days, when everyone is so conscious of the world around them and with environmental matters, it will come as a surprise to many to discover that the admiration of landscape is quite…
Francis Derangement Syndrome hit a new low over the last fortnight, with the publication of a preposterous open letter from a handful of Catholics calling on bishops to “address the situation of Pope Francis’ public adherence to heresy”. Published on the ever-untrustworthy lifesitenews.com with the tagline ‘Prominent clergy, scholars accuse Pope Francis of heresy in…
A new book exploring how God can be found in the most dark and chaotic parts of life has been praised as inspiring. The Jewel in the Mess, the latest book by the Church of Ireland Bishop of Connor Rev. Alan Abernethy which was launched this month, details how Bishop Alan came to find the…
Children’s Corner It’s an age-old experiment that most people are somewhat familiar with but many may not know exactly how to recreate the spectacle. Volcanoes are one of nature’s most beautiful, and devastating, phenomenon. They spur on so many questions. An easy way to teach and talk about them – or just have fun…
I’ve often wondered why Ireland doesn’t have a dedicated high-profile Christian arts festival. There was plenty of arts content during the Eucharistic Congress and the World Meeting of Families, but an annual event would be in order. A few years ago Glenealy, Co. Wicklow, had its MAD (‘Make a Difference’) festival thanks to the late…
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Colm Fitzpatrick
Peter Costello
Greg Daly
Chai Brady
Brendan O’Regan