Representatives of Venezuela’s 2015 National Assembly — recognised by the Trump administration as the last democratically elected authority in the country — along with representatives of interim President Delcy Rodríguez’s government announced the first agreements reached during their negotiations last week. The process is being overseen by the United States government, with the primary objectives…
Knock Shrine has attracted thousands of pilgrims for its annual Novena, which has been taking place since August 13 and will conclude tomorrow, August 21, the anniversary of the Apparition. This year’s theme is ‘Sheltered in God’s Love,’ and marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of Knock Basilica. The event provides an opportunity for prayer and reflection…
For several years I visited a woman in my parish once a month, bringing her Communion. Over that time, I came to know her well, and I know her family appreciated the attention she received. A few days before she died, they rang to ask if I would visit her in hospital. I was glad…
Tributes have been paid to Augustinian priest and biblical scholar Fr Kieran O’Mahony OSA, who died peacefully at Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross, on August 18. Fr O’Mahony was widely known for his work in Scripture and for helping Catholics engage more deeply with the Bible through teaching, preaching and writing. Only weeks before his…
I’m not much interested in crime, so the vast literature – and screen dramas – on ‘true crime’, and the even vaster canon on fictitious murder and gangsterism – have mostly passed me by. So I have only recently become aware of the existence of Daniel Kinahan, widely described as the boss of ‘the Kinahan…
The newly appointed Bishop of Derry has appealed to Irish Catholics to rediscover Knock Shrine and the joys of pilgrimage. Speaking as the annual Knock Novena begins on August 13, Bishop Michael Router spoke of the importance of the Co. Mayo shrine for the Irish people. “Sometimes,” said Bishop Michael Router, “we don’t find it…
In the heart of a city long scarred by division, the pipes and fiddles of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann sounded a note of quiet triumph at the weekend. For the first time, Belfast hosted the world’s largest celebration of Irish traditional music, song, dance and language – drawing more than a million visitors. That this…
In May I had the privilege of attending the 104th German Katholikentag in Würzburg, Germany. This was a gathering that brought together tens of thousands of Catholics from across Germany and beyond under the striking theme ‘Hab Mut, steh auf!’ in English, ‘Take courage, stand up.’ Over five days, the beautiful city of Würzburg became…
A centenary recreation of Waterford’s historic March of the Black Friars is an opportunity to “re-engage” with the city’s Catholic history rather than simply look back nostalgically, a local historian has said. The procession on August 16 will recall the 1926 march which drew around 5,000 people to mark 700 years since the arrival of…
In a recent visit to the archbishop’s residence in Armagh, Emma Redmond, Head of OpenAI Ireland, gathered with Archbishop Eamon Martin to discuss the Pope’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas. Ms Redmond was accompanied by Derek Nolan, Policy and Partnerships Lead for Ireland and the Nordics at OpenAI Ireland. The group discussed the encyclical letter “at this…
Renata Steffens
Mary Kenny
Martina Purdy