Former RTÉ personality, Mary Kennedy, said she “would love to see women priests” during her opening talk at Knock Novena. Ms Kennedy was the first guest speaker at the 2026 Novena, talking on the theme of ‘Faith in full view’. Ms Kennedy said that “faith is part of our daily lives, and it’s never going…
The new Bishop of Derry has urged Catholics to view the upcoming Synod as an opportunity to evangelise and to bring back those who have “walked away”. Bishop Michael Router, who is part of the National Synod Team, and steering committee, rejected the notion that it is a “talking shop” with an agenda to change…
Around 300 people gathered for the final Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday before the historic Dublin church closed for major restoration works expected to last around two years. Fr Kieran McDermott, Administrator of the Cathedral parish, said the turnout reflected the strong attachment many people still have to St Mary’s. “We estimated that…
A briefing from the Iona Institute based on data from Catholic dioceses in Ireland found that there has been a 30% drop in Catholic baptisms across the country over the past ten years. A majority of the decline can be accounted for by a falling birth rate, which has decreased by 18.8% on the island…
A parish priest has called for better communication between clergy, undertakers and parishioners after an experience that left him questioning whether ministry is drifting from relational to transactional. Writing in his Notebook column for The Irish Catholic, Fr Martin Delaney describes visiting a woman in his parish monthly for several years, bringing her Communion, and attending…
There’s to be a new strategy to protect and preserve the cultural heritage of the Travelling community, announced as part of National Heritage Week, just coming to a close. It’s made me reflect on historic attitudes to Travellers, which many of us may have inherited. I grew up with several mixed attitudes to Travellers, who’d…
In March 18, Bishop Michael Router was in Rome, where he met the Pope as part of his work around healthcare and ethics. He described the Pontiff as a serene presence. “Pope Leo was very calm, very quiet, a good listener,” said Bishop Router, “Someone that you would take seriously, a very strong character.” It…
“For all our technology and all our progress, many people seem more restless than ever,” said Bishop of Raphoe Niall Coll during the National Novena to our Lady of Knock on August 15. Both Bishop Coll and Bishop Kevin Doran spoke at the annual Novena this year about technology’s impact on our everyday lives. “We…
Are we set for a repeat of the fuel protests from earlier this year? The cuts won by protestors to the excise duties we pay on fuel are due to expire shortly and if the Government begins to restore them, it is very likely that truckers and farmers will take to the streets again. The…
Cork secondary school teacher Christine O’Hara, who started a Rosary Group in her own school of Coláiste Chríost Rí in 2022, has created a set of PowerPoints to help fellow teachers and parishioners introduce the Rosary in their schools. Speaking to The Irish Catholic about the idea, Ms O’Hara said she believes “it is a…
Renata Steffens
Martina Purdy
Mary Kenny
David Quinn