The President’s Award is to launch its ‘Maith Thú’ campaign to commend young people for their resilience through the Covid-19 pandemic. Maith Thú celebrates the achievements of young people who have completed their Gaisce Award and offers encouragement to those needing extra support to finish their award activities during the crisis. “Unfortunately, this year there…
Instilling peace in students with religion
Personal Profile Ruadhán Jones Faith has always been an important part of her life, explains Sarah Seoige, a teacher of religion and Irish at Athlone Community School and an active member of political party Aontú. Sarah considers herself very fortunate to have had “two of the most wonderful parents any child could have asked…
Bishops in Ecuador say crisis highlights unsolved problems
Ecuadorian bishops have denounced those who take advantage of the Covid-19 crisis to get rich fraudulently as a “very serious crime”. In a declaration entitled ‘Crisis and hope’, the bishops stress that the “serious health crisis has highlighted the endemic defects of the State that have never been addressed in a clear and decisive way”.…
Ireland’s bishops ask faithful to complete Trócaire Lenten this Pentecost
Despite the changing times in which we are living, some things remain steadfast. This weekend we celebrate Pentecost, the recognition that the Holy Spirit has come and remains in the life of every follower of Jesus Christ. Pentecost is linked closely with Easter and with the mission of Trócaire, particularly this year as we all…
Lebanese Catholic schools at risk of closure due to crisis
A bishop in Lebanon has said that Catholic schools in the country could close down due to the Covid-19 pandemic and has called on intervention from the West to save them. Bishop Michel Aoun of Jbeil-Byblos of the Maronites says the economic crisis has overwhelmed the country and 80% of Catholic schools could close because…
Vatican Roundup
Pope transfers Vatican Data Processing Centre Pope Francis has transferred the Vatican’s Data Processing Centre (CED) from the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA) to the Secretariat for the Economy (SPE). The Holy Father made the shuffle in the Roman Curia, which was announced by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro…
Importance of prayer to St Michael
Dear Editor, What a blessing we have at a time with churches closed to have Mass celebrated daily on the web cam in many churches throughout the country and on RTÉ Now. We owe a debt of gratitude to all involved in this ministry. I write this email on Wednesday, May 6, following this morning’s…
Belloc’s path to Rome
Over the coming weeks some of our literary collaborators will give suggestions for ‘lock-down reading’, books of all kinds to amuse and raise our spirits. This week: Anthony Redmond on The Path to Rome (1902) by Hilaire Belloc. It must be 40 years since I first read The Path to Rome and I have…
In Brief
Female appointed as Swiss Catholic bishop’s delegate Swiss Bishop Charles Morerod of Lausanne, Geneva and Friburg has appointed a woman theologian to succeed the present episcopal vicar. Marianne Pohl-Henzen will succeed the present episcopal vicar for the German part of the diocese on August 1 Pohl-Henzen, 60, studied theology and philology, and for the past…
Family News & Events
Mental health impact of virus can be severe The mental health impacts of Covid-19 may linger after the pandemic is over according to new research. It found some patients hospitalised due to the virus are likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder months or years after they leave hospital. The risks may…










