Easter is normally a pretty intense time for religious programming. This year however it was wall to wall religion in the media because of the death of Pope Francis. Last I wrote about my initial shock and sadness and initial reaction in the media. The week following was dominated by coverage of the Holy Father’s…
The Sunday Gospel Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41 Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12, 13 Rv 5:11-14 Jn 21:1-19 How often do we return to the familiar places we know so well, the places we have visited many times before, whether to rest or escape from life’s overwhelming problems? Whenever I return to my little town in Poland,…
The Parish of the Annunciation, Rathfarnham celebrated this week 150 years since the foundation of the Church of Annunciation. To mark the important milestone, a Jubilee Mass celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin Paul Dempsey took place on April 27. Celebrating the Mass alongside Bishop Dempsey were Fr Martin Cosgrove PP and Fr Michael Coady…
A new documentary telling the story of a woman who transformed the Catholic Church in Mexico is now available in Ireland and UK on Amazon Prime. The new animated documentary Concepción tells the story of Conchita Cabrera de Armida, a Mexican lay woman “whose profound faith and apostolic mission transformed the Catholic Church and continued…
As a former student of canon law at the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven), I find myself reflecting on the remarkable legal and pastoral legacy of Pope Francis following his death, especially as the university prepares to celebrate its 600th anniversary in 2025. Founded in 1425, KU Leuven has long stood as a centre…
Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone: The Art of Friendship, by Niamh MacNally & Brendan Rooney, with texts by Sarah McAulife & Joseph McBrinn (National Gallery, €45.00 / £39.00) In 1924 the young Irish artists Evie Hone and her friend Mainie Jellett held their one and only joint exhibition in the gallery of the Society…
There is a very beautiful walk around Lough Talt in Co. Sligo. It is called the ‘Loop Walk’ and covers just over 8km. The first part of the walk is a steep incline that tests all but the fittest but, once crossed, leads to a wonderfully breathtaking view of Lough Talt. The ‘loop’ continues along…
A rare exhibit of the Holy Tunic of Christ, believed to be the garment worn by Jesus during His passion, is drawing record crowds to the Basilica of Saint-Denis in Argenteuil, near Paris. Open from April 18 to May 11, the exhibit is expected to attract over 400,000 pilgrims, more than double the 2016 attendance.…
Over 2,000 people gathered for a Requiem Mass for Pope Francis in Knock Basilica on April 23. The Mass was led by Fr Richard Gibbons PP and Rector at Knock Shrine and had people from Knock Parish and surrounding areas attending. According to Fr Gibbons, the Pope “is fondly remembered in Knock,” resulting from his…
If Asia is the “continent of the future”, for the Catholic Church it also represents “the future of evangelisation”, in a territory and with a portion of humanity that combines tradition and innovation. All this is fully expressed and defined in the personality and vision of 67-year-old Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, one of the…
Brendan O’Regan
Fr Dominik Domagala
Renata Steffens
Peter Costello