There is a lot of scope for people with intellectual disabilities to be “marginalised”, a leader of a parish group has said in light of reports of mistreatment in a Belfast hospital. Leader of Spred (Special Religious Education) in Holy Rosary Parish in Belfast, Grainne McMacken, said that she was aware of the situation regarding…
A hospital boat named the ‘Pope Francis’ set sail last week in the Amazon River to bring medical care to rural populations. “Just as Jesus, who appeared walking on water, calmed the storm and strengthened the faith of the disciples, this boat will bring spiritual comfort and calm to the worries of needy men and…
The Year of Our Lord 1943: Christian Humanism in an Age of Crisis by Alan Jacobs (Oxford University Press, £20.00) Frank Litton “Every age has its own outlook. It is generally good at seeing certain truths and specially liable to make certain mistakes.” We, therefore, need books that will correct the characteristic mistakes of our…
The grisly murders of missionary priests and a local priest, a lay volunteer and 40 seminarians in Burundi are the focus of a recently opened investigation into their sainthood cause. Catholic bishops in this central African nation welcomed the step petitioned to the Vatican by the Xaverian Missionaries, founded in 1898 by St Guido Conforti…
Four Church-owned primary schools are switching to non-denominational patronage models ahead of the new school year. The schools in Kerry, Wexford and Roscommon had all been facing closure due to declining enrolments, with one in Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry having just 14 pupils. Although dioceses have previously transferred empty school buildings to non-denominational or multi-denominational patron…
Indian police arrested six suspected members of a hard-line Hindu group for attacking 40 Catholics taking part in a 280-mile pilgrimage to a Marian shrine in Velankanni in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The attackers were accused of blocking the pilgrims on a public road last week and beating and verbally abusing them, a…
Catholic university steps up on abuse prevention – Pontiff A specialised centre at Chile’s premier Catholic university can help the Church protect minors and vulnerable persons from the scourge of clerical sexual abuse, which has plagued the Church in the country and around the world, Pope Francis has said. In a video message played on August 15 during the inaugural ceremony of the…
Derry’s Bishop Donal McKeown has announced the following clerical changes, which are effective this month onwards: Fr Paul Fraser is to be PP Ardstraw West & Castlederg and PP Termonamongan; while Fr Colm O’Doherty will be PP Clonleigh and Adm. Urney & Castlefin. Fr Francis Bradley, PP Buncrana and Chancellor of the Diocese of Derry,…
Making mature students feel at home Family support is very important for mature students, and with this in mind, Technological University (TU) Dublin are organising a family fun afternoon, so the family will have a chance to see some of the university and get a better understanding of the new experience. Organisers say: “Bring your…
So Everyone Can Hear: Communicating Church in a Digital Culture by Mark Crosby (SPCK, £9.99) These days the Sunday homilies, with the occasional pastoral letter from an archbishop or bishop, are not quite enough. With the clamour for attention online the need for all the churches to make their message heard in the din of current…