Catholics from Mary Mother of Divine Shepherd Mulajje Parish in central Uganda are worried about losing their church and all properties after one of the families that donated the land to the church years ago began to repossess it. The parish is one among hundreds of Catholic churches in the East African country that continue…
Italy’s constitutional court on February 15 blocked a referendum to decriminalise physician-assisted suicide in the country, citing inadequate legal protections for the weak and vulnerable. The leadership of the Italian bishops’ conference welcomed the court’s decision in a statement. The court’s pronouncement “is a very specific invitation… to offer the support necessary to overcome or…
Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin joined the people of Tullysaran, Co. Tyrone, February 11 to mark the beginning of the centenary year at the Church of the Immaculate Conception. The Archbishop was joined by Cardinal Sean Brady, Fr Peter McAnenly Adm, Fr Barry Matthews CC and Deacon Malachy McElmeel. During the Mass, the Archbishop presented…
Rhina Guidos The load of worries carried on the shoulders of José Gregorio Guarenas, coordinator of Human Rights for the Vicariate of Caracas at the Archdiocese of Venezuela, is heavy. His work doesn’t solely focus on concerns affecting the life of members of the Catholic Church, such as recent cases of nuns facing obstacles in…
First diocesan pilgrimages to Lourdes in three years announced In-person diocesan pilgrimages to Our Lady of Lourdes shrine in France are underway again for the first time since the pandemic started. The dioceses of Derry and Down and Connor have announced the dates for their 2022 diocesan pilgrimages, which will take place in July. The…
Pope reflects on what ails the priesthood Opening an international conference on priesthood, Pope Francis insisted that those who are not close to God in prayer, close to their bishop and other priests and immersed in the lives of their people are simply “‘clerical functionaries’ or ‘professionals of the sacred’”. “A priest needs to have…
Dear Editor, In a thoroughly referenced article in Homiletic and Pastoral Review (July 2, 2020), Fr Regis Scanlon OFM Cap. claimed that Vatican II did not reverse Pius IX’s teachings on religious liberty, that the change in the Church’s teaching on religious liberty between Plus IX and Vatican II constitutes a “development of doctrine” and not…
The Divine Mercy National Conference will take place this weekend, the 25th, 26th and 27th February, 2022. It will be broadcast online through www.divinemercyconference.com, free of charge and also on churchservices.tv. It will also be available (audio only) on www.RadioMaria.ie, via your TV on Saorview 210 or dial up listening service 01 4373277. The theme…
Staff reporter A priest who gave Last Rites to a 12-year-old boy killed in a collision with a truck in Limerick last week described it as “terribly harrowing”. Wiktor Chojecki (12) was driving the car on the N21 near Adare when the incident occurred just before 2am. It’s believed he took the vehicle while family…
More than 800 anti-Christian incidents were reported in France in 2021. The provisional figures were announced on February 10 as part of an ongoing study of anti-religious acts in the Western European country, which has a population of 67 million people. Investigators have so far identified a total of 1,659 anti-religious acts last year, with…