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…
Ghanaian archbishop asks Christians to have modest wedding ceremonies
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…
New bishop-elect called to do ‘Lord’s work’
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…
Irish nun to be awarded for lifetime of teaching in Pakistan
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…
Vatican discovers empty tombs as it searches for missing woman
(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…
Pope mourns death of French patient after doctors withhold care
“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…
A missed opportunity to change the climate
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…
Fulton on way to sainthood after first miracle approved
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…
New Vatican document displays simplified Curia
Letter from Rome Elise Harris A preliminary outline of Pope Francis’ coming apostolic constitution on the Roman Curia reveals the merger of several more departments and an increased emphasis on the presence of laity as part of a reform hinged on decentralisation and synodality and fuelled by evangelisation. Tentatively titled Praedicate Evangelium, a draft of the…
Limerick boxer Kevin Sheehy was ‘exemplary’ – priest
The priest who led the funeral Mass for Limerick boxer Kevin Sheehy has described his death as “cruel”. The five times Irish boxing champion was killed in an early morning hit-and-run on July 1, causing shock across the country. Logan Jackson, from Coventry in England, appeared in court last week charged with murdering the 20-year-old…










