Q: What is the significance of a Jubilee Year? A: The short answer is, a Jubilee Year is a special year of grace and reconciliation. Today, the Catholic Church celebrates a Jubilee Year every 25 years, although the Pope can also declare an ‘extra’ extraordinary Jubilee year between the regularly scheduled jubilees (as Pope Francis…
An Irish Dominican nun, described as an “educational pioneer” and “award-winning filmmaker” has died at the age of 106. Sr Maureen MacMahon joined the Irish Congregation of Dominican Sisters in 1936 and went on to innovate in both educational and filmmaking realms. Commenting after Sr MacMahon’s death, Fr Conor McDonough OP said that the nun…
Where is Joy? AC My God, where is joy hidden? It is in You. And where is happiness hidden? It is in You. We are created for happiness, and we look here and there for it, and think it’s in this or that, in money, holidays, fine food. But no, it is in You, only…
St Ita of Ireland, also known as ‘the Brigid of Munster’, is one of the most revered saints in Irish Catholic tradition. Born around 480 in Co. Waterford, she grew to embody the virtues of piety, compassion, and wisdom. She is celebrated on January 15 and holds a special place in the hearts of Irish…
As pilgrims of hope in a synodal Church, we need to talk urgently about ministerial priesthood. We need to courageously face up to the crisis of very few priests that will be in the Irish Church of the future and the consequences of this reality. In doing so, there are two extremes to avoid. The…
Luca Attanasio Until the most recent appointments, at 50 years of age he was the youngest cardinal in the College of Cardinals (now Mykola Bychok, bishop of the Saints Peter and Paul eparchy of Melbourne of the Ukrainians, aged 44 has become the youngest, ed.) and among those called to a complex task of Christian…
Christians are baptised “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” affirming their faith in the Trinity. This is the central mystery of Christian faith, revealing God in himself and as the source of all salvation. The Trinity encompasses the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as one God,…
The New Year 2025 and the following 2026 bring anniversaries appropriate to Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich who was born in St Petersburg in 1906 and died in Moscow in 1975. Commemorating these events two of his 15 symphonies have been slotted into the NCH January programmes. His 10th of 1953 had the National Youth Orchestra on…
A consistory, originating from the Latin word consistorium meaning ‘assembly place,’ is a formal meeting in the Catholic Church led by the Pope and attended by the College of Cardinals. These gatherings serve two key purposes: to provide consultation on important matters and to carry out symbolic ceremonies. Over centuries, the consistory has become a…
If Dublin airport’s passenger cap is not lifted there will be a “big reduction” in the number of charter flights taking pilgrims to holy sites around the world, the CEO of the DAA, the company that owns and operates Dublin Airport and Cork Airport, has warned. Mr Kenny Jacobs told The Irish Catholic he has…
Brandon Scott
Renata Milán Morales
Chai Brady