Pat O’Kelly Although it officially opens tomorrow evening, Friday, September 28, the 2018 New Ross Piano Festival is already under way. It began yesterday, Wednesday, September 26, with its Young Pianists’ Concert when a fledgling group, ranging in age from seven to 17, tried out the Steinway grand at the festival’s base – the…
Dear Editor, If ever there was a case of a picture being worth a thousand words, the map accompanying your analysis of changes in Clogher Diocese (‘Mission-focused parishes: a vision for the laity’ IC 20/9/2018) was it. Just 52 men in diocesan formation for formation across Ireland, and that’s including those men doing a propaedeutic…
Personal Profile Matthew Carlson speaks with a conflict-resolution activist Although Brian McKee may have seemed like any other lad growing up in Ireland, he was always a little different than most people his age. Brian grew up in the Passionist Holy Cross parish in Ardoyne, where much of his life revolved around his family,…
Elise Harris Despite the pain and suffering they have experienced, Catholics in the Baltic states can take hope in the steadfast care of the Virgin Mary, as depicted at the Gate of Dawn in Lithuania, Pope Francis said today. “The years pass, the regimes pass, but above the Gate of Dawn of Vilnius, Mary,…
The anger of people frustrated by the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI is affecting him and devalues his pontificate, according to letters written by the Pope Emeritus and published today in a German newspaper. “I can well understand the deep-seated pain that the end of my pontificate caused you and many others. But for some…
Some say that showbusiness is just fun and games, but for award-winning actor and iconic role model, Mark Wahlberg, it’s not all glitz and glam. Last week, Wahlberg posted an Instagram story of his full day that would put some monks to shame, as he wakes up at 2.30am, prays for half an hour, and…
A new pro-life Poster Campaign aims to ensure legislation regarding abortion in the North of Ireland (NI) will be dealt with by Stormont rather than in Westminster, with campaigners saying “the battle is on”. Churches across NI will be contacted by Precious Life who hope they will encourage parishioners to send the group’s postcards to…
Honouring a priest shot at point-blank range by the Mafia, Pope Francis has insisted that true happiness and a real change in Sicilian society will come only when people love and care for one another rather than trying to grab as much money and power as they can. “Having always leads to wanting. I have…
A prominent Dublin priest has defended having congratulated the ‘Yes’ side for having run a successful campaign in the abortion referendum, saying “people don’t listen to sore losers”. Speaking at the Kennedy Summer School earlier this month, Ballyfermot’s Fr Joe McDonald complimented Deirdre Duffy of the Together for Yes referendum campaign for the campaign’s “wonderful…
A Church of England (CofE) archbishop has been accused of hypocrisy after criticising Amazon’s tax practices, despite the church being one of its largest investors. In a homily last week the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, attacked the company for paying “almost nothing in taxes” and “leaching off the taxpayer”. Archbishop Welby also described zero-hour…