A place in the Church for the youth of today

Exploring Christus Vivit: Making Room for the Young Church edited by Gerard Gallagher (Veritas, €9.99/£9.12) The promise of the future is in this little book, a collection of thoughts and commentaries edited by Gerard Gallagher, on last year’s apostolic exhortation of Pope Francis Christus Vivit. The hope of creative renewal and continuation is seen by Pope…

Vatican Roundup

Vatican bishop: Ethics committee will guide future investments A Vatican bishop has said that a committee of outside professionals is being created to help keep Holy See investments both ethical and profitable. Bishop Nunzio Galantino, president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), said November 19 that statutes for a new…

Win An Post Christmas stamps

An Post has launched the annual Christmas stamps, and to mark the launch The Irish Catholic has ten prizes of a special Christmas stamp bundle to give away to lucky winners. The special bundle is priced at €26 and includes the 20-stamp Christmas booklet (valued at €19) with one free stamp and a handy booklet…

A personal view of Jesus

My story by Jesus of Nazareth as narrated by Brendan Butler (From the author, €10.00, including postage, contact www.mystorybyjesusofnazareth.org) Brendan Butler is a well-known anti-war activist and advocate of much needed reform and of openness in the Church. He always has vital things to say, though they are not always well received. But that is the way…

‘Rejoice’ as US to re-join Paris Climate Accord

In the middle of a nail-biting US election this month, an event occurred which may have passed people by, but which has huge consequences for our common home. Three years ago, the Trump administration announced that it was pulling the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement, a decision which came into effect on…

In Brief

Two churches in Washington state burn in apparent arson attacks Two church buildings – one Baptist, one Catholic – were damaged by fires in apparent arson attacks in Brewster, a town in central Washington. Sacred Heart Catholic Church suffered some fire damage near the sanctuary from an incendiary device dropped through a broken window early…

State’s ‘ironic’ approach to protecting life

Dear Editor, I was interested to read in Niamh Uí Bhriain’s article [IC 29/10/2020] that it is likely that euthanasia will kill the same number of people as coronavirus in the Netherlands this year. This is a shocking statistic, and I fear for the introduction of the ‘Dying with Dignity’ bill in Ireland. I noticed…

Family News & Events

New vaccines showing positive signs There’s hope on the horizon as two major pharmaceutical companies have announced successful tests of vaccines for Covid-19 Vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna have both proven more than 90% effective in preventing Covid-19, based on interim data from a late-stage clinical trial. Pending more safety data and regulatory review, the…

First Sunday of Advent

The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. Dark November will soon be past when we turn the page of the calendar to December. In the Church’s calendar it is the First Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the new liturgical year. Advent means coming: the past coming of Jesus Christ at the first Christmas;…

A Passion for God’s Love

Fr James Sweeney CP Celebrating Three Hundred Years of the Passionists Catholic life is richly populated with great and saintly figures. They’re very particular people, from their own particular places and traditions, but they belong to us all. The Apostle Paul says the Spirit’s gifts are bestowed for the good of the whole Church. So…