Every day counts: The Protestant Church is calling for the rapid entry of all endangered Afghans with a promise of admission to Germany who are currently stuck in Pakistan. This involves around 2,300 people. Hanover/Dresden (KNA) The Protestant Church in Germany (EKD) is calling for the immediate entry of all Afghans who are stuck in…
Month: August 2025
‘Too many churches in Ireland’ Dominican provincial warns
The head of the Irish Dominicans has said the Church in Ireland must focus less on maintaining buildings and more on forming worshipping communities rooted in faith and the sacraments. Fr John Harris OP, Provincial of the Order, told The Irish Catholic that while closures are difficult, the future of Catholic life does not depend on institutions…
Return to Sunday Mass, bishops urge
The Irish bishops have issued a nationwide appeal to Catholics to return to Sunday Mass, describing the celebration of the Eucharist as “the source and summit of our faith”. In a pastoral message titled Why Sunday Matters, released as part of the Jubilee Year of Hope, the bishops emphasised the centrality of Sunday as the…
Primate responds to ACP call to cut Church ties with Allianz over Gaza
The Primate of All Ireland has said the Church is a long-standing customer of Allianz but is not represented on the company’s board, after the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) called on the Church to cut its ties with the insurance giant over alleged links to Israel. Responding to a statement last week by the…
Nun warns of ‘troubled, violent society’ as domestic abuse callouts surge
According to the recent report, the rate of domestic abuse callouts has jumped 45% in the last four years, with over 65,000 incidents in the last year. Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD described the figures as “shocking,” accusing government of “hiding behind” claims that the rise is simply due to increased reporting. Asking, “If the…
First-class relic of Carlo Acutis to be installed in Ardfinnan
Holy Family Church in Ardfinnan, Co. Tipperary, will soon become the home of a first-class relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis – set to be canonised as the Church’s first Millennial saint on September 7 by Pope Leo XIV. Fr Michael Toomey PP will travel to Assisi following the canonisation Mass in Rome to receive a…
Stop pretending—Catholic schools must choose Christ or collapse
Primary schools have been in the headlines for months, and not for happy reasons. Underfunding has reached historic levels, the cost-of-living crisis has deepened the strain, and families—especially those with children who have additional needs—are left fighting bitterly just to secure the most basic support. In some areas, oversubscribed schools leave parents devastated when their…
Theologian urges deeper reflection on war at Trinity College conference
A renowned theologian has urged Irish Catholics to confront Europe’s wars with deeper theological reflection and hope at a conference held in Trinity College Dublin (TCD). Among the keynote talks at the TCD theology conference last week was the address by Prof. Tomáš Halík of Charles University, Prague, a leading Catholic academic in Central Europe.…
A welcome surprise in Miami Beach
Fr Denis Hooper OSB of Glenstal Abbey had an eventful two weeks of ministry in June at St Patrick parish in Miami Beach, where he assisted in Masses and pastoral calls. The highlight of the trip was a chance encounter with a Wexford family on holiday, who delivered a premature baby at Miami Beach’s Mount…
Theologian urges deeper reflection on war at Trinity College conference
A renowned theologian has urged Irish Catholics to confront Europe’s wars with deeper theological reflection and hope at a conference held in Trinity College Dublin (TCD). Among the keynote talks at the TCD theology conference last week was the address by Prof. Tomáš Halík of Charles University, Prague, a leading Catholic academic in Central Europe.…


Chai Brady





