Archbishop Eamon Martin has said he’s not overly concerned that Catholic Emancipation commemorations don’t feature in the Irish Government’s programme for government. Speaking to this paper he said “I wouldn’t be too worried about seeing it in the program for government, I would like to do and we’re already having some conversations about this at…
The Bishop of Meath Tom Deenihan has said that he is cautiously optimistic that the diocese is seeing a ‘turn’ in the vocations tide. “I think that the recent upturn, and we must be cautious here, in those entering Propaedeutic years, seminary or just enquiring, has been well reported and is very welcome. There are,…
A sneaky marketing tactic has crept in during the last decade or so. Traditionally, there were 12 days of Christmas beginning on Christmas Day and ending on either the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany or the Epiphany itself. The Church counts a little differently, celebrating the Octave of Christmas, which ends on the…
The Board of Management of St Flannan’s College, Ennis, Co. Clare, recently announced the appointment of a new principal, Donal Cahir, a native of Kilnamona. Mr Cahir joined the staff of the diocesan school in 1999 and was appointed deputy principal in 2017. He succeeds Fr Ignatius McCormack, who worked with him in managing the…
In a new book released this month, A Synod Diary -Sixty Days That Shook the Church- author and academic Michael W. Higgins recalls his first Vatican Synod, The Extraordinary Synod of Catholic Bishops from November 24 to December 8th, 1985 called to review the twenty years that had elapsed since the conclusion of Vatican II.…
The name of my house is “Living Hope”; these words, on a sign by the front door, light up at night, a great reminder of St Peter’s message in his first letter: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us a new birth…
Predictions, they say, are difficult to make, especially the ones about the future! But we need neither a crystal ball nor the gift of prophecy to know that 2026 is going to be another immensely challenging, if rewarding, year for everyone engaged in the leadership and management of Catholic primary and post-primary schools. At primary…
Halfway through a sit-down interview with the Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin, there’s a knock on door and he excuses himself to go answer it. It’s a dark winter’s evening, it could be anyone. It turns out someone found a lost kitten. It was just one little thing on a spectrum of things that…
One of the oldest Lay Dominicans in Ireland was granted a Papal Award for a lifetime of service to the Church and numerous charities. James Joseph Tohill, also known as J.J., aged 92, is a retired Belfast businessman and accountant. Mr Tohill is a member of St Brigid’s Parish in South Belfast and received the…
Evangelium Ireland has said there is a growing hunger among young Catholics for apologetics, as the organisation confirmed that its 2026 annual conference will take place in Cork. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Evangelium’s public relations officer James Bradshaw said this year’s annual conference in Maynooth highlighted a strong appetite for discussion, reasoning and formation.…
Breda O'Brien
Martina Purdy