Now in its fourth year, Walled City Passion, directed by Jonathan Burgess, continues to reshape the Easter story in bold and thought-provoking ways. This year’s production reimagines the Passion through the eyes of the Roman guard who proclaimed Jesus the Son of God—but here, he is cast as a riot guard in modern-day Northern Ireland.…
Month: April 2025
Assaults on priests increase in Poland
A new study by Poland’s Church Statistics Institute reveals that Catholic clergy increasingly face aggression. Of 614 priests surveyed, half reported experiencing hostility in the past year. Common forms included mockery, threats, and online abuse, with 4% facing physical attacks. Nearly 20% noted attacks on churches or religious sites, and 15% reported disruptions during services.…
Young people find language for their faith
Since 2014, the Order of the Knights of St Columbanus has organized a public speaking competition titled, Young People Find Language for Their Faith. This year’s All-Ireland Final took place at the Carlton Hotel near Dublin Airport, with teams from six schools across the island participating. Each school was represented by a team of three…
Fascinating historical detective work
Dear Editor, Felix M. Larkin’s review of Edward Burke’s Ghosts of a Family, on who perpetrated the McMahon killings in Belfast in March 1922, points to a fascinating piece of historical detective work. It made me want to read the book. A caveat, however. Larkin’s characterising systemic attacks on northern nationalist communities, by forces of the…
The trial of temptation and the good fight
Everyone loves a good ‘battle-between-good-and-evil’ – luckily, it’s not just for the movies, it’s for all of us! Like Solzhenitsyn said, the battle line between good and evil runs through every human heart. Our enemy is the devil and his demons; our comrades, the angels and saints; our captain, the Lord. Exciting stuff! But most…
Aid in Myanmar remains difficult – children in particular are suffering
In parts of the devastated earthquake regions of Myanmar, ongoing attacks by the military are hampering the deployment of aid workers. The military government rejects a temporary ceasefire in the civil war country. According to local media (Wednesday), junta leader Min Aung Hlaing emphasised that the “necessary defence operations” would continue. Myanmar’s democratic underground government…
Suffer little children
Housing crisis is driving youth leaving care to drugs and prison Children leaving State care face spiralling into crime and addiction due to an inability to find housing, with the situation getting “definitely worse” according to campaigners. The Peter McVerry Trust is supporting dozens of young adults who turn 18 and leave State care…
Secularisation of schools could put parental choice at risk, Senator Mullen
In a recent debate on Newstalk, Senator Rónán Mullen expressed his opposition to the secularisation of Irish schools. He said, “If you only want children taught to read, write and to be good tools for the economy, then you might as well let AI do the job. But everybody who is sensible about what education…
150 children Confirmed in Clane Parish last weekend
The Clane and Rathcoffey Parish celebrated the confirmation of 150 children last weekend. Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin Denis Nulty said that “Confirmation is a wonderful moment of encounter with the young confirmandi… I had two celebrations in Clane on Friday and one in Rathcoffey on Saturday.” This year, the bishop is “focusing on the life…
Down and Connor Diocese invests £10M in youth, QUB Chaplaincy
A £10 million investment in the redevelopment of the Queen’s University Chaplaincy has been made by the Diocese of Down and Connor, The Irish Catholic has learned. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Shannon Campbell, director of the QUB Chaplaincy said, “It’s really encouraging to know that our local Church is prioritising faith support and pastoral…