Staff reporter Gardaí are investigating an act of criminal damage after a Kenmare church was sprayed with a pentagram and black writing. Parishioners were “shocked and outraged” to see the graffiti on the Holy Cross church when they arrived for Sunday Mass, February 13, according to a local councillor. Patrick Connor-Scarteen – a local Fine…
Nice to see that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez have got back together again but does the news deserve the buzz it’s been getting from the tabloids? They were a joke last time they were together, around the time they made Gigli. Now the prospect of them going up the aisle has got the paparazzi…
Few people like to hate, those who hate probably feel justified, and few would defend it in public discourse. And yet, though I’d have no truck with hate, I’m uneasy about the idea of ‘hate crime’. Some crimes are motivated by hate, but the crime is still the crime and can be prosecuted as such.…
Meath diocese celebrates ‘inspiring’ PJPII Award recipients Bishop Thomas Deenihan of Meath presented awards to students from the diocese who had completed the Pope John Paul II awards at bronze, silver, gold and papal cross level, hailing them as “inspiring”. The ceremony took place in St Patrick’s parish church, Trim, Co. Meath after the vigil Mass…
Female Government TDs cut a pathetic figure at the weekend lining up to express their sadness at not being invited to the latest come-all-ye. You see, the National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI) – a group funded by successive governments from taxpayers’ money to lobby said governments – is organising a campaign to ensure that…
Sr Caitriona Kelly speaks of the Loreto Sisters’ service of God and women during their 100 years in the Eastern Africa province, writes Jason Osborne The Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, better known as the Loreto Sisters, celebrated January 29th 100 years of God’s faithfulness in their mission to the Eastern Africa Province. The…
Pope Francis to visit Malta for apostolic visit in April Pope Francis will travel to the Mediterranean island nation of Malta for an apostolic visit in April. A Holy See Press Office communiqué said that “Accepting the invitation of the President of the Republic of Malta, the civil authorities and the Catholic Church of the…
Picture the scene: the Hill of Tara in August 1843, and a huge crowd has gathered for the largest of Daniel O’Connell’s ‘Monster Meetings’ in support of repealing the Act of Union. The great man himself processed through the thronged masses accompanied by a harpist, but there were other harpists there that day – five…
Sacred Space for Lent 2022 (Messenger Publications, €4.95/£4.50) The Sacred Space website, a mission of the Irish Jesuits, continues to be one of the most popular prayer sites, accessed worldwide, continuing some would say the ancient ambition of the earliest Christians in this country to spread the word directly to people. Sacred Space for Lent…
Dear Editor, On the Feast of Ss Peter and Paul, 1959, Bishop Donal Lamont delivered a pastoral letter ‘Purchased People’ to the Catholics of Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe.) It is a wonderfully clear, courageous and concise work and deals with many different issues. Relevant to our Western society today, is his analysis of the roles of…
Aubrey Malone
Brendan O’Regan
Michael Kelly
Peter Costello