The Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland has paid tribute to a Tyrone priest after his sudden death over the weekend. Fr Phelim McKeown was a “caring and pastoral priest” who had a “particular empathy for those who were suffering and struggling in any way”. Fr Phelim was ordained in 1996 in Mullaghbawn…
An independent investigation into the much-discussed encounter that went viral between Catholic high school students, a Native American tribal leader and members of another protest group on the Lincoln Memorial grounds in Washington in January found no evidence that the students of Kentucky’s Covington Catholic High School issued “offensive or racist statements”. A report on…
Following deadly protests against Haiti’s president and the drowning deaths of at least 28 people in an illegal crossing to the Bahamas, the country’s Catholic bishops have said all Haitians must come together for a wise solution to the country’s dangers. “We must wake up to take together the full measure of the danger that…
Last Stories by William Trevor (Viking, £14.99) Derek Hand The title of this posthumously published collection, Last Stories, signals that this is the final work from William Trevor who died in 2016. The title is doubly appropriate because the 10 pieces gathered here are imbued with a melancholy sense of things ending. Trevor as a writer…
Dear Editor, Prof. Stephen Bullivant suggests the Irish bishops follow their English and Welsh counterparts and reintroduce Friday abstinence (IC 7/2/2019). Until 1966, healthy adult Catholics had to abstain from flesh meat on Friday. In 1966, St Paul VI allowed for substitution of abstinence with certain good works. St John Paul II confirmed this in…
Make human beings a primary concern, urges Vatican official Left unchecked, unbridled greed and a thirst for profit leads down a slippery slope that endangers the earth and all who live on it, especially indigenous populations, a Vatican official said. Msgr Fernando Chica Arellano, the Vatican’s permanent observer to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the…
A view of the flu For history lovers and those who want to discover more of their own heritage, the National Museum’s Country Life department is offering a chance for attendees to learn about one of the most severe flus that hit the country. The Enemy Within – The Spanish Flu in Ireland explores the…
Joyce Duriga When the Vatican announced on February 15 that Pope Francis had signed a decree recognizing a miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed John Henry Newman, clearing the way for his canonisation, there was rejoicing in Chicago. The proposed miracle that God worked through the intercession of Newman in 2013 involved a…
Pope Francis has named Irishman Cardinal Kevin Farrell to a senior Vatican role that will see the Dublin native take on a key role between the death or retirement of the Pontiff and the election of his successor. In a communique this morning, the Holy See Press Office announced that Francis had appointed Dr Farrell…
Cindy Wooden Pope Francis has signed a decree recognising a miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed John Henry Newman, the English cardinal, clearing the way for his canonisation. The Vatican announced on February 13 that Pope Francis had signed the decree the day before. In the sainthood cause of Blessed Newman, Bishop Philip…