Exclusive “To keep hope alive is not naïve; it is an act of faith,” Bishop Niall Coll of Raphoe has told The Irish Catholic. The bishop said that with all the suffering of wars around the world, “it is easy to feel overwhelmed, to the point of paralysis, and to surrender to despair.” However,…
The formation of future priests in Ireland is expanding far beyond traditional theological study, a meeting at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, has heard. At a recent gathering of formators and Church partners, Rev. Sean Corkery, Coordinator of Human and Pastoral Formation at the National Seminary, outlined how seminarians are now trained in a wide range…
The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Whitefriar Street, held a Holy Week Vigil Retreat on March 28 for young adults in the Dublin City area to prepare for the Easter season. The gathering was led by the Carmelite Friars and was aimed at young adults, providing space for spiritual preparation during Holy Week…
In the words of Fr Kevin Kiernan OFM Cap, Director of the Capuchin Day Centre in Dublin, a message central to Easter is that “the bad days don’t define us”. “[That’s] only part of it, and it moves us on to the Resurrection and to the newness of life,” the Capuchin priest said. He shared…
Just days after a leading member of the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) dismissed the ancient practice of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament as “of the past”, Pope Leo has urged young people to make time for Eucharistic adoration as part of the path to living a fulfilled life. Writing in his message for Vocations…
Pilgrim paths across Ireland are set to come alive this Easter as part of Pilgrim Paths Week 2026, a nationwide series of guided walks celebrating the country’s ancient routes and drawing people into a shared experience of reflection, community and renewal. From the slopes of Kerry to the lakeshore of Donegal, the week (April 3–12)…
Two Derry primary schools invited families, friends, and parishioners to enjoy their interpretations of the Passion during the Easter season. At St Mary’s Primary School in Draperstown, the Passion Play has become “a cherished tradition.” Principal Corinne Coyle praised the “extraordinary effort” of the pupils, specifically the P4 class, who “rose to the challenge” of…
A call to end violence against women has been issued in Newry Cathedral Parish this week, following the death of a 28-year-old. There is growing alarm at the number of women killed in recent years, with approximately 30 deaths recorded in Northern Ireland since 2020. The church community is lending its voice to highlight the urgent…
Dawn Masses are set to take place across the country this Easter Sunday, offering early risers a chance to mark the Resurrection. Fr Paul Prior, PP of Mullagh & Cross, Co. Cavan, said the celebration, now in its second year locally, has already struck a chord with parishioners. “As the liturgy progresses, the sun rises…
St John writes that before he was arrested Jesus, speaking to his disciples, told them: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus then went on to lay down his life…
Renata Steffens
Nuala O’Loan