edited by Brandon Scott Bishop Antonio Staglianò of the Diocese of Noto in the Italian island region of Sicily left parents dismayed after he told a group of children that Santa Claus did not exist, subsequently sparking a week of backlash from parents and international media. After Bishop Staglianò’s comments on the Christmas character caused…
by Brandon Scott Soprano Celine Byrne has insisted that faith must be at the centre of Christmas celebrations, despite all the distractions. Speaking on RTÉ Lyric FM’s Marty in the Morning, Ms Byrne said that Mass is a huge part of her family Christmas. “I go to the church and light candles,” Ms Byrne told…
We unashamedly celebrate and feel proud about our exceptional Christian heritage, writes Alexander O’Hara Recent proposals to designate Saint Brigid’s Day, February 1st, as a public holiday are to be welcomed. It needs to be made clear however that we are celebrating a remarkable Christian saint, not a pagan goddess. The romanticism linked to pagan…
The Little Way Association receives numerous requests from missionaries throughout the world asking for help to feed, support and educate needy, deprived children. Due to COVID-19 they are faced with many sufferings. They tell us of orphaned children left alone with no one to love or care for them, of families so poor that they…
At Backpack Productions we offer our courses as online facilitated groups. These groups run via Zoom and included in the enrolment fee is access to recordings of the sessions or video material used, so that you can stay up to date even if the times don’t always suit you! Our Spring 2022 schedule includes the…
It has never been more important to stand up and defend our schools so our students can shape a better world, writes Philip McMaster In an era where it seems Catholic education is increasingly under attack, the forthcoming centenary of the foundation of St Joseph’s Grammar School in Donaghmore, Co. Tyrone represents a timely opportunity…
The yearning for God can sometimes manifest itself in the most unlikely of ways, writes Maolsheachlann Ó Ceallaigh In 1982, the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden released their third album, The Number of the Beast. The album was hugely popular, entering the UK charts at number one and remaining there for two weeks. It…
Pope tells young people to dream big Spending a bit of time with young people before leaving at the end of his apostolic trip to Cyprus and Greece, Pope Francis encouraged them to have the courage to hope, to dream and even to question their faith. He met with Catholic teenagers and young adults from…
Italian tries to dodge Covid jab using fake arm An Italian man who wanted a coronavirus vaccine certificate without actually having the jab tried to play the system by presenting health workers with a fake arm, an official said. Despite the realistic skin colour, nobody was fooled by the silicone limb, and the man –…
Dear Editor, Dr John Murray is so right when he states that “there exists a huge need for teaching Catholic doctrine clearly, wholistically, energetically, and honestly, and calling all Catholics, and indeed all people willing to listen, to personal conversion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ” [ The Irish Catholic – November 25, 2021]. It…