The famous Redemptorist novena in Limerick has reached an even bigger congregation than normal thanks to the wonders of technology, Fr Gerry Moloney CSsR told The Irish Catholic this week. The annual event would normally see the Redemptorist church in the city thronged with worshippers, but Covid-19 restrictions mean that the novena sessions are only…
“Wanderer, there is no road, the road is made by walking”
The Irish Spirit – Issue No. 7 Lorna Siggins “Wanderer, there is no road, the road is made by walking” is an oft-quoted observation by late Spanish poet Antonio Machado. It’s one that might resonate with “quiet pilgrims”, as in the growing numbers of people in recent years who have sought solace in landscape as…
Dioceses asks TDs to lobby to relax church ‘50-people’ rule
The Diocese of Kerry has appealed to TDs in the county to urge the Government to relax a rule that would permit as few as 50 people to attend Mass from June 29. When the Government announced the accelerated roadmap there was no mention of the limit. However, at the weekend Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said…
Our Churches are rarely exceptions to America’s original sin of racism
2019 marked a banner year for the US Church in terms of race relations, or so I had thought. Washington, DC, the nation’s capital and a long-time bastion of African American heritage, received its first ever black archbishop through the appointment of Wilton Gregory, the long-time leader of Atlanta, Georgia. To punctuate the appointment, it was…
BLM movement inspires Myanmar anti-racism campaign
With anti-racism protests gripping the United States and other countries, young activists in Myanmar see it as the right time to challenge racism in the Buddhist-majority country. Launching a campaign called ‘Don’t call me ‘Kalar’’ on Facebook, the effort seeks to end the use of a term that historically referred to people from the Indian…
Schools defy Primate on academic selection
Two Tyrone Catholic Grammar schools have said they will have entrance exams despite the Primate of All-Ireland calling for schools to abandon them this year due to the pandemic. St Patrick’s Academy in Dungannon and St Joseph’s in nearby Donaghmore will use academic selection. Archbishop Eamon Martin of the Archdiocese of Armagh, the diocese in…
Vatican Roundup
Build new future with Laudato Si’ say Vatican panelists The coronavirus pandemic and ongoing global crises clearly indicate that Pope Francis’ encyclical on caring for creation urgently needs to be implemented worldwide, a panel of church leaders said. “After Covid-19, nothing will be the same,” Aloysius John, secretary general of Caritas Internationalis, said last week at a Vatican news…
Clergy must stand against ‘rising tide’ facing schools
Dear Editor, I agree fully with your editor’s comment [IC 11/06/2020]. The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life, the alpha and the omega if you like. The disrespectful way it is approached by some should not be facilitated or tolerated. I think there is an argument for the Church to take…
Family News & Events
Time to make art among the animals Many families have been cooped up for a long time, only now being able to go on some visits and days out, what better way to celebrate the easing of Covid-19 restrictions than getting creative and letting children’s imagination flow? ‘Come make art among the animals’ is an…
The challenge of accepting that Christ has no body, but yours
The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. Today’s Gospel, Matthew 10:37-42, is part of the instruction given by Jesus to his apostles as he prepared them to carry on his mission after his departure. He told his followers that it would be costly at times. Sometimes great personal sacrifices would have to be made.…










