by Cindy Wooden Amid the rubble and bombed out remains of four churches destroyed by Islamic State militants, Pope Francis paid tribute to Iraqi Christians who endured persecution and even death. But visiting Mosul and Qaraqosh in northern Iraq on Sunday, he also urged the Christians to live up to their faith and honour the…
by Cindy Wooden Travelling to the birthplace of Abraham, Pope Francis urged believers to prove their faith in the one God and father of all by accepting one another as brothers and sisters. From a stage set on a dusty hill overlooking the archaeological dig at Ur, Abraham’s birthplace about ten miles from modern-day Nasiriyah,…
A recently published pamphlet with a revised version of St Patrick’s Confession has already seen 5,000 copies distributed in the run-up to St Patrick’s Day. St Patrick’s Testimony Pamphlet has been described as “beautifully attractive” and “concise and truthful”. In autumn Evangelical Catholic Initiative partnered with Wild Goose Publishing, a Pentecostal ministry based in Bray,…
Visiting a Baghdad cathedral “hallowed by the blood of our brothers and sisters” murdered in a terrorist attack that shook the world, Pope Francis said their sacrifice must motivate faith and a commitment to working for the common good. The Syriac Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady of Deliverance, sometimes referred to as Our Lady of…
For the second time, the Shroud of Turin will be exposed for veneration on social media and websites on Holy Saturday, the archbishop of Turin has announced. The Shroud, which bears the image of a crucified man and has been venerated for centuries as Christ’s burial cloth, will be displayed via live stream on April…
The Minister for Mental Health has warned about the negative consequences of prolonged restrictions on Mass and other religious ceremonies. Minister Mary Butler told The Irish Catholic that she is “positive and hopeful for a re-opening of churches [for liturgy] soon.” “I’ve discussed how important Mass is for the older generation with the Taoiseach…I’m very,…
Primary and secondary schools partially reopened on Monday, with staff and students feeling a mix of “trepidation and excitement” at the return. “The mood among the principals is that, while there is a little bit of trepidation, there’s also a desire to get schools open and to get classes in and by teachers to get…
Irish people should write to their TDs and push for Ireland to stand with the Uyghur Muslim minority in China who may be facing “the worst single abuse of human rights in the world right now”, according to the bishop of the Diocese of Raphoe. Bishop Alan McGuckian told The Irish Catholic that as more…
A giant of Irish intellectual life, Fr Enda McDonagh is warmly remembered by many as a man of great generosity, writes Jason Osborne Tributes have poured in for “towering intellect”, Fr Enda McDonagh, with President Higgins saying he “will be missed by so many for a multitude of good reasons.” Intellectual life Fr McDonagh was…
Hope is in the air in the North as the 500,000th vaccine was administered late last week, priests have said. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, a number of priests told of the “cautious optimism” that is returning to their socially-distanced parishioners, an optimism that has been buoyed by the recent good weather. “Because we are…
Michael Kelly
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady