Ireland’s newest bishop has warned that politicians would be making a big mistake if they push ahead with plans to secularise faith-based schools. Bishop of Ossory Niall Coll, who was ordained on Sunday, told The Irish Catholic that in the Republic “you get the impression that someone has decided that we have to become an…

Brigidine Sr Rita Minehan CSB hopes that people will see “the beauty of faith” as the first ever bank holiday for St Brigid’s day takes place on February 6. The Irish saint’s “beautiful witness” of care for the poor speaks loudly to today, believes Sr Minehan, chairperson of Solas Bhríde Christian spirituality centre. “She was…

A homeless charity has warned that once the current eviction ban ends in March there will be a large increase in the number of people becoming homeless and needing their assistance. Paul Sheehan of the Cork Simon Community told The Irish Catholic that lifting the pause on evictions, which is in place from October 30,…

Loreto Sister Orla Treacy from Co. Wicklow is currently accompanying 60 students and pilgrims on a 405km pilgrimage from the diocese of Rumbek to South Sudan’s capital, Juba for the Pope’s upcoming ecumenical visit. Pope Francis is scheduled to make an ecumenical pilgrimage to Juba, South Sudan, February 3-5 with Anglican Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury and…

Schools’ bodies in the North have shared “significant concerns” about the impact of the “crisis” in education funding, warning of negative impacts for many generations to come. There is a need for an “urgent meeting involving everyone with a concern for the future of our children and young people,” say the schools’ bodies in a…