Chai Brady and Colm Fitzpatrick After shedding their footwear, the rocks can be quite cold on a pilgrim’s feet when they first step out of their bunk-bedded dorms on Station Island, which has been a place of Christian pilgrimage for centuries, but 48 shoeless hours later it becomes convention. Fortunately, the paths and rocks are mainly smooth –…
The Church in Congo have said emergency measures will remain indefinitely in place in parishes at risk of Ebola, and urged effective action against the disease by the government of President Joseph Kabila. “Although Masses are continuing, sacraments such as Baptism and Confirmation have had to be suspended,” said Msgr Jean-Marie Bomengola, secretary of the…
Matthew Carlson meets the unsung heroes that are carers Sometimes the people who give the most of themselves are the ones who receive the least recognition for what they do. Carers are one of these groups of people. Carers are unpaid persons, usually a family member, who help provide care to people with disabilities…
Matthew Carlson On May 31, An Post released a new stamp in honour of the 1,400-year anniversary of the death of St Kevin. St Kevin was an Irish saint, born in 498 in County Wicklow and played an instrumental part in the role of Christianity in Ireland and Europe. St Kevin reportedly died on June…
Dear Editor, 72% of online respondents to the recent The Irish Catholic poll said ‘Yes’ when asked if the church should step back, divest schools and prioritise Faith formation. But will we listen to this awakened majority? All our internalising of hostile media-shaming has led to an unhealthy loss of connection by Catholics with our…
Partnership study to investigate adult Faith New research to be carried out over a three-year period hopes to provide a broad picture of current practice in adult religious education and faith community development in Ireland today. The research will be conducted in partnership with DCU’s Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education and the Presentation Sisters. The announcement of a three-year…
Children’s Corner Matthew Carlson As summer begins, children and families will be spending more time outside, and the number of activities can sometimes seem quite limited. One thing you can do is build your own kite, a tool used by some of the smartest inventors in history. The kite is said to have been…
Youth Space Aisling Connolly recalls her experience at Taizé this year “A simple prayer is like a soft sighing, like a child’s prayer, it keeps us alert” – this is a quote by Bro. Roger, the founder of the monastic Taizé community located in the beautiful southern French countryside, expressing his belief in the centrality…
A vast majority of readers of The Irish Catholic believe that baptism should not be refused to the children of same-sex couples and that the Church should not reconsider this position. A poll carried out by this paper revealed that out of 670 votes, 81% of respondents believed that children should be baptised regardless of…
Aileen Murphy RLR Singers travelled from all corners of the diocese for the first gathering of the diocesan choir on June 7 to prepare for the Papal Mass being held at the end of the World Meeting of Families (WMOF) festival this August. They travelled from the Beara Peninsula, Corca Dhuibhne, from North Kerry and Kenmare…