We may see the possibilities of technologies being realised more and more by faith communities even as things start to get back to normal writes Dr Brian Conway Perhaps more than at any other time in recent history, today’s pandemic world has led to a rapid reappraisal of how we organise virtually every single aspect…
Ruadhán Jones, Chai Brady and Jason Osborne Priests in parishes in Laois, Offaly and Kildare say that the local lockdowns have been met with a mixture of “frustration and disappointment”, as most parish activities were shut down overnight. “The last time the response was fear, this time it’s more frustration,” says Fr Tom Cox of…
Our churches holds memories, not resting in stone but in prayer writes Fr Willie Purcell There is so much to thank God for: the ancient paths where our ancestors trod on their way to Mass, the wonder of the seasons that gave them hope often in times of struggle and despair. The companionship of family…
This is a homily preached by Fr John Carroll at the funeral of Mr Donohue who died from cancer last month I don’t intend to ‘talk up’ Jason’s life, or indeed his many achievements – his is a life that speaks for itself: a gentle life, a noble life, a life marked with gratitude for…
Pope Francis has hailed John Hume’s tireless commitment to the peace process. In a message read at Mr Hume’s funeral in Derry, the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said that the Pope was saddened to hear that Mr Hume (83) had died on August 3. “Mindful of the Christian Faith that inspired John…
Hospitals in the Lebanese capital are overwhelmed with those suffering injuries from a massive explosion in Beirut’s port, causing widespread damage to the city and rocking the tiny Mediterranean nation already devastated by the coronavirus and its worst financial crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. “People won’t be able to rebuild their homes, businesses, livelihoods.…
Fr Christopher Heanue started his morning on July 27 by celebrating Mass at 5am…and then took off on a 100-mile bike ride. It wasn’t just any ride. Fr Heanue called his journey ‘100 Miles of Hope’, which was a fundraiser to help support his parish, Holy Child Jesus, in Richmond Hill, New York, in the…
Pope Francis has extended the authority of the Eastern Catholic patriarchs to their Faithful living in the countries of the Arabian Peninsula. The Pope’s decision sets aside instructions issued by St John Paul II in 2003 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 entrusting the pastoral care of all Catholics of any rite to the Latin-rite…
Masses have been suspended in two Catholic churches in Pakistan’s Karachi Archdiocese after torrential monsoon rain. Thick black sludge covered the compound of St Francis Xavier Catholic church in the Shahjahanabad area following flooding after three days of heavy downpours in the port city. Five feet of water stood in Shahjahanabad, home to 45 Catholic…
The Catholic archbishop of Juba, South Sudan, condemned “in the strongest terms possible” the murder of three young girls, killed while watching television in their Juba home. The girls, ages 9, 7 and 4, were the children of Edward Jami Andrea, a lecturer at the Upper Nile University in the capital. The children were alone…