First state in Germany reopens churches Saxony has become the first state in Germany to allow churches to re-open for public services. The governor of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer, announced that from last week onwards churches could hold services albeit “on a small scale”. Mass was duly celebrated in the Catholic Provost Church of the Holy…
Live classes online Gyms have been closed for over a month now. Many of us will have spent hours scouring online for at-home workouts and tutorials and it’s starting to get old. Not being able to interact with a class or get tips on your form can slowly start to take the fun and the…
Ruadhán Jones Pope Francis has asked Christians to join their love for the church with a caring concern for civil society, particularly at this time of the coronavirus pandemic. Marking the feastday of St Catherine of Siena, Pope Francis prayed that people would be inspired by her example and asked for her intercession “to…
President Donald Trump said he would continue to support issues vital to the Catholic Church, especially abortion, religious freedom and school choice, in a conference call with Catholic leaders and educators. He also said he would seek federal financial support for Catholic schools as they confront the coronavirus pandemic. Many schools across the country have…
Exclusive Excerpt Freedom From Evil Spirits – Released from Fear, Addiction & The Devil Fr Pat Collins CM (Columba Books, €12.99) Chapter Twenty-One: Overcoming Temptation The temptation to sin is a characteristic of every human life. In Genesis we are told how Adam and Eve were tempted by the devil in the Garden of Eden.…
To mark his name day, the feast of St George, Pope Francis gave the gift of medical supplies to several countries reeling from the coronavirus pandemic. The Pope, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, donated respirators, masks and protective eyewear on the April 23 feast of his namesake, St George. Five new respirators will be…
World Youth Day and the World Meeting of Families have been postponed for one year at the request of Pope Francis, according to the Vatican. World Youth Day, which was scheduled to be hosted in Lisbon, Portugal in August 2022 will now take place in August 2023. The World Meeting of Families, which was previously…
A US priest has become the first clergyman in the country to have amended a previously declared diocesan ban on public Masses since the coronavirus outbreak. Bishop Peter Baldacchino of Las Cruces, New Mexico has lifted a diocesan ban on the public celebration of Mass, issued guidelines for distribution of Holy Communion, and told priests…
Fr Seán Maher I walk into the wounded Christ in our world today. This walk begins with a phone call. ‘Naas Hospital’ flashes up on the screen of the phone. And you know that this means some more Covid-19 patients need to be anointed. You answer the phone and hear that there’s three patients on…
Catholic bishops in Germany have voiced their disapproval at Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision not to lift the ban on public church services. Despite allowing thousands of shops to reopen, Merkel said the ban on public church services should remain until further notice. She also announced that a state secretary of the interior ministry would talk…