Famed Italian poet Dante Alighieri’s contribution to Christendom is “insurmountable” and cannot be underestimated as a renewed appreciation of his work commemorates the 700th anniversary of his death. Fr John Harris OP of Newbridge told The Irish Catholic that the role his works have played in art and literature was to “open up the visage…
It would be a shame if after all the sacrifices of Covid-19 we went back to where we were beforehand, writes Archbishop Eamon Martin The first performances of Handel’s Messiah were in Fishamble Street, Dublin, in 1742 and so many people wanted tickets that the organisers asked the ladies to come without hoops in their skirts and…
A Belfast priest has voiced his disappointment after a flag showing loyalist killer Michael Stone was put up near Holy Cross Girls’ School in Ardoyne. Rector at Holy Cross Ardoyne, Fr Eugene McCarthy told The Irish Catholic the incident wasn’t representative of the Loyalist community. “I think it could be an embarrassment to the Loyalist people to…
Easter Sunday this year falls on my 77th birthday, so I’ll be marking it with gratitude for the gift of my life. To be honest, my poor Ma wasn’t exactly thrilled when she found herself with a fourth pregnancy in her forties when her other children were born a good decade before that. But she…
During Holy Week the Faithful should keep Myanmar in their prayers as violent crackdowns on protests against a military coup have led to the deaths of hundreds of people, an Irish bishop has said. Bishop Denis Nulty of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin said the situation in the country “concerns me hugely”. He asked…
The Catholic school’s trust Le Chéile have expressed delight as they press forward with plans to open a new secondary school in Ballincollig, Co. Cork. The trust won the majority of 800 votes – the largest turnout for any school patronage vote last year – to establish a school with a capacity of 1,000 students…
The View It was an interesting start to Holy Week 2021. Last Palm Sunday evening, Michael Kelly of this newspaper reported that the State had confirmed in the Declan Ganley case (which challenges the ban on public worship) that it was an offence to go to Mass, or for a priest to say Mass publicly…
A move to allow paid leave to mothers and the fathers following a miscarriage or stillbirth is “one that I’d welcome here,” according to Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute. This comes on the back of New Zealand’s introduction of just that following a vote in parliament in what is one of the first…
There has been widespread criticism of the criminalisation of Mass with people drawing obvious historic parallels, writes Ruadhán Jones Garda roadblocks barring parishioners from attending Mass in Co. Cavan raised historic parallels with penal times, as it was confirmed over the weekend that public worship is now deemed a legal offence. The confirmation came when…
Scotland’s supreme civil court ruled last Wednesday that the Scottish government’s blanket ban on public worship is unlawful. Judge Lord Braid overturned the ban on March 24 in response to a challenge by 27 faith leaders, alongside Glasgow Catholic priest Canon Tom White. Judge Braid had heard their challenge on March 11-12 at the Court…
Archbishop Eamon Martin
Chai Brady
Mary Kenny
Ruadhán Jones
Maria Steen