EXCLUSIVE The Diocese of Derry – which dates back to the Twelfth Century and is one of the oldest in Ireland – may cease to exist within a decade, according to its outgoing Bishop. In a wide-ranging interview with The Irish Catholic, Bishop Donal McKeown suggested that his successor may be the last Bishop of…
An Irish theologian has said that lack of moral courage among the Irish people has roots that stretch back centuries — and that it continues to shape the character of Irish society today. Fr Vincent Twomey, former Professor of Moral Theology at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, made the observation during a wide-ranging conversation on Just…
The Diocese of Clogher has celebrated the ordination of Fr Stephen Sherry to the priesthood on Vocations Sunday, April 26, in St Macartan’s Cathedral, Monaghan. Originally from Tullycorbet, Co. Monaghan, Fr Sherry was ordained by Bishop Lawrence Duffy in a ceremony attended by clergy, family and parishioners from across the diocese. His ordination marks the…
he tone was warm, the delivery assured. But does Archbishop Dermot Farrell’s Knock homily actually offer the Church in Dublin what it needs, or does it dress a crisis in hopeful language while the hard decisions go unmade? The Archbishop’s central consolation — that crisis proves life — is sound as far as it goes.…
Irish clergy are encouraging Christians from across the globe to gather for the first ‘Worldwide Marian Procession’, taking place on June 13. The event is being launched by the YouTube channel ‘Guardians of the Faith’ and supported by Bishop Donal McKeown and Archbishop Eamon Martin. Participants are encouraged to join the procession in person in…
The Diocese of Kerry is undertaking a major overhaul of its pastoral approach with a renewed focus on youth ministry built around local leadership, parish networks, and national collaboration At the centre of this shift is the first ‘Conference of Possibilities’, recently held in Killarney, which brought together more than 20 organisations working with young…
The Taoiseach Micheál Martin was asked a simple question this week by reporter Ben Scallon: “Do you believe that a child can be transgender?” He answered definitively, with the confidence of a man who knew the party line: “Yes, I do believe.” He then went on to pontificate: “There are young people in life who’ve…
The St Vincent de Paul Society has appointed a Co. Derry woman as new Regional President. Anne Irwin, a native of Coleraine, has been a member of SVP for 25 years and “brings a deep understanding of the organisation’s work, alongside a clear vision for its future.” Ms Irwin served as Area President until May…
More than 140 home-educated children from across Ireland took part in the sixth annual Catholic Home Education Awards on April 18 in Ardee, Co. Louth, with around 180 people attending. “The awards are about recognising the hard work and talents of home-educated children, but also about bringing Catholic homeschooling families together,” organiser Stephen Tyrrell said.…
While the British parliament was engaged in debating the Assisted Dying Bill (which ran out of time last week, and therefore fell) – a personal and dramatic story emerged to capture public attention. Wendy Duffy was a former care worker in the West Midlands of England, although, by her own admission, she came originally from…
Martina Purdy
Renata Steffens
Mary Kenny