Pope Benedict XV began his papacy in 1914 during the first year of World War One; Pope Pius XII began his papacy in 1939 during the first year of World War Two. Not ideal timing. Pope Leo XIV ushered in his first signature initiative—the Extraordinary Consistory of Cardinals—during the same week as his fellow American,…
On the last Saturday of September 2013, in one of the most extraordinary All-Ireland finals ever played, Clare stormed Croke Park and reclaimed the Liam McCarthy Cup. In a dramatic replay against Cork, teenage sensation Shane O’Donnell delivered a performance for the ages, striking 3–3 from play as the Banner edged a classic, 5-16 to…
In week two of his Dei Verbum catechesis, Pope Leo XIV says we know the Father by entering the Son’s relationship with him, in the Spirit. Dear brothers and sisters, good morning and welcome! We will continue the catechesis on the Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum, of Vatican Council II, on divine Revelation. We have seen…
Zephaniah 2:3, 3:12-13 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 Matthew 5:1-12a Stand your ground.” That is one of the great commandments of the modern world. Be assertive. Be visible. Be successful. Make sure your voice is heard, your rights defended, your interests protected. Never let yourself be pushed around. Never be a doormat. Christianity, from its very…
In recent years, schools, the media, and other institutions in Ireland have come to accept a set of transgender-related claims as the new normal. This shift was not the result of careful argument or evidence, but of sustained lobbying. Teachers and principals accepted this newly sanctioned view largely because journalists amplified it without interrogation. Those…
January 2026 could hardly be described as a slow news month. With no shortage of major international and domestic stories competing for attention, The Irish Times’ decision to give front-page prominence to an article about a ‘rights guide’ was striking. The headline stated that the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) claimed schools “must” use…
The Dublin archdiocese has been supporting 350 post-primary students in the voluntary schools, community schools and colleges with regard to their faith leadership and their own personal development for the last 13 years. These young students have consistently demanded this type of school programme, with most school places oversubscribed and demand outstripping supply. Animating student…
Should religious symbols be shown in buildings owned by the State? This is the question the European Court of Human Rights will examine in due course. It has been brought by the Union of Atheists in Greece, who object to religious symbols appearing on the walls of Greek courts. While the case might seem remote…
The blessing of throats on February 3, the Feast of St Blaise, continues to be observed by the faithful in Ireland. It is one of those traditions that you remember from childhood when you went to have your throat blessed on this day each year. St Blaise was a fourth-century Bishop of Sebastea in what…
Obedience is light for the world. It is gift and sign for our society, writes Sr Mary T. O’Brien pbvm Our church calendars mark February 2, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, as the Day for Consecrated Life. Because it happens to coincide with a Bank Holiday in Ireland this year, its significance could…
Fr Dominik Domagala
David Quinn