Pat O’Kelly Founded in 2013 by enterprising trumpeter David Collins and his violinist wife Sarah Sew, Dublin Brass Week (DBW) brings an intrepid set of musicians to the capital as teachers, performers and participants in its varied programme. An important part of the biennial festival is its series of master classes given by tutors…
Healthy lessons about grub for growing teens It’s difficult to get many teenagers cooking at the best of times, never mind teaching them about the importance of nutrition. A teen health eating programme will run from the end of July into August, made possible by ADHD Ireland. In collaboration with Northside Partnership, the nutrition and…
Limerick’s Bishop Brendan Leahy said the union of young and old in peace, reflection and prayer on the annual diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes was a spiritually enrichening and special experience for all involved. Over 500 pilgrims, including 120 young people from the diocesan youth programme, travelled to Lourdes from Limerick last month. For many of…
A Ghanaian archbishop has called on Christians to be modest in the celebration of weddings, noting that pressure on young people to have expensive weddings is partly to blame for couples living together without marrying. Noting that divorce causes great pain to families, Archbishop Philip Naameh of Tamale, president of the Ghana Bishops’ Conference, said…
Madison Duddy and Colm Fitzpatrick Bishop-elect Michael Duignan has said he was “shocked” when Pope Francis appointed him as the next bishop of Clonfert, but felt “called to stay and do the Lord’s work”. It was announced on Tuesday that the Elphin priest had been given the role, taking the reins from now-retired Bishop John…
A Clare-born nun is to be awarded a prestigious medal next week for dedicating her life to teaching in Pakistan. St Mary’s University, London, has announced to award Sister Berchmans Conway the Benedict Medal next week in recognition of almost 70 years of teaching, most of which was spent in Pakistan, where she taught at…
(Previous report can be found here) Opening the Vatican tombs of a princess and a duchess July 11 in a search for the remains of a young Italian woman missing for more than 30 years, the Vatican found no human remains at all. “The search had a negative result,” said Alessandro Gisotti, interim director of…
“Every life is valuable, always,” Pope Francis tweeted after offering prayers for Vincent Lambert, a 42-year-old French man who died today, nine days after doctors stopped providing him with nutrition and hydration. “May God the Father welcome Vincent Lambert in his arms,” the Pope’s tweet said. “Let us not build a civilization that discards persons…
John McGuirk An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was at pains last week to distance himself from reports that he was being considered for the top job in the European Union – President of the Commission. Amid reports that he was in line to replace Jean-Claude Juncker, both the Taoiseach and his party seemed very eager…
With “overwhelming joy”, Bishop Daniel Jenky of Peoria announced that Pope Francis has approved a miracle attributed to the intercession of Archbishop Fulton Sheen. “Now that the miracle has been confirmed by Pope Francis, the Diocese of Peoria can formally begin planning for the beatification of Archbishop Sheen, which will take place in Peoria,” according…