Dear Editor, Surely there is no better time than the present to review our diocesan development planning process. If our current lockdown is to be seen as part of God’s plan for our Church, we need to be listening and learning from our very real present experiences. Diocesan development plans need to be working documents…
The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. Many of us are disappointed that very few of the restrictions on our movements have been lifted. Return to any normality will take time. Long term worries remain about unemployment, closure of businesses, national and personal finances. Can we draw any hope from the Gospel for…
The Jewel in the Mess by Alan Abernethy (Columba Books, €12.99 / £12.99) Out of danger comes hope: this is the theme of the Church of Ireland Bishop of Down and Connor’s new book. He has suffered in recent years from depression and well as prostate cancer. But in these dark hours he has recovered a…
58-year-old archbishop appointed in Uganda Rt. Rev. Lambert Bainomugisha, the Auxiliary Bishop of Mbarara, was appointed by Pope Francis as the new Archbishop of Mbarara last week. Archbishop Bainomugisha takes over from Most. Rev. Paul K. Bakyenga, who retired after 22 years in the role having reached the canonical retirement age of 75. His 58-year-old…
Beating boredom with online education In these days of lockdown, it can be a headache for parents to keep children occupied due to the need to stay indoors for long periods. Children aren’t able to go outside and play with their friends so boredom can become a powerful adversary. There are multiple online resources that…
The ripple-wave of memory for the late prelate is still strong, and his example continues to motivate and inspire writes Fr Michael Murtagh While wandering through the streets of Lourdes recently, I noticed a photograph on sale in Viron’s photographic shop. I thought it had disappeared in recent years, but it appeared in the…
The percentage of sermons about abortion is in the single digits, according to a Pew Research Centre study, the results of which were released yesterday, April 29. Even a mention of abortion in a sermon is rare, according to the study. Pew analysed nearly 50,000 sermons shared online or livestreamed by more than 6,000 US…
Continuing restrictions need to be provided for Chai Brady, Róise McGagh and Aron Hegarty Bishop Donal McKeown has said that Church leaders must come up with a plan to show health authorities that social distancing can work in parishes when restrictions start to ease. As authorities on both sides of the border prepare to reconsider…
Ruadhán Jones Dublin based journalist Yvonne Kinsella has revealed how she “clung to prayer” when struck down with the coronavirus. Ms Kinsella spent 13 days in hospital due to Covid-19, and her condition worsened to the point that nurses told her she would be put in an induced coma and taken to ICU. Speaking…
A Co. Laois-based priest who has been an outspoken supporter of asylum seekers has said that the coronavirus pandemic is having a severe effect on those living in direct provision. Fr Paddy Byrne, parish priest of Abbeyleix, told The Irish Catholic that he fears the current crisis is “severely challenging” for “vulnerable” families living in accommodation while…