Nigeria’s bishops have condemned repeated killings of innocent Nigerians by suspected ethnic militias in northeastern Nigeria and said President Muhammadu Buhari should resign if he can’t keep the country safe. The bishops condemned the murder of two priests and their parishioners during the celebration of Mass, at St Ignatius Catholic Church in Ayer Mbalom. Attackers…
Tynan celebrates rededication of St Joseph’s Church
The Parish of Tynan and Middletown gathered on Sunday, April 8 to celebrate the rededication of St Joseph’s Church, Tynan after six months of renovations. St Joseph’s, affectionately known as Tynan Chapel, was built on the hill of Mullaghard (from the Irish mullach ard meaning high summit) in 1813 and is one of the oldest pre-Catholic Emancipation churches in the Armagh Archdiocese.…
Polish faithful abroad called to integrate with local Church
Poland’s bishops said they no longer have enough clergy to minister to Polish people living abroad and urged emigrant Catholics to integrate more with the Church in other countries. “Even with a very large group of Polish priests, it isn’t possible to reach in a timely way every place where Poles are found,” said the…
The tragedies of tragedy in Ireland
The Adoption Machine by Paul Jude Redmond – foreword by Clare Daly TD – (Merrion Press, €16.99). Finola Kennedy The sub-title of The Adoption Machine is ‘The Dark History of Ireland’s Mother and Baby Homes and the inside story of how Tuam 800 became a global scandal’. The book also contains the author’s personal history.…
Ireland and the making of modern America
Lincoln and the Irish: The Untold Story of How the Irish Helped Abraham Lincoln Save the Union by Niall O’Dowd (Skyhorse Publishing, €20.67/$24.99) Peter Hegarty Niall O’Dowd has an original take on the American Civil War: without the 150,000 Irish soldiers who served in the his armies, Lincoln’s Union would have lost. The Irish-American publisher emphasises…
Stop swiping and texting – just talk!
Fr Vincent Sherlock The Notebook I got a message recently, one of those funny messages we so freely share with one another. It was a picture of two people looking at their smartphones and the caption ran: “I’m having a few people over to stare at their phones later if you want to come…
Abortion fails to teach people love – Missionaries of Charity
We all have a “grave responsibility” before God and the people around us to defend and protect innocent life, a prominent religious congregation has said. In a letter dated April 3, the Congregation of St Mother Teresa of Calcutta said that we experience tension and violence in areas all around the world, and that this…
Committed to values of Catholic social teaching
Dear Editor, Following your reports in recent weeks in relation to the forthcoming referendum on the Eighth Amendment we wish to make clear the position of the Society of St Vincent de Paul as an organisation. As on previous occasions, where there have been referenda or elections, the Society of St Vincent de Paul will…
Family News and Events
Magic in the forest Kids love nothing more than a day out where they can dress up and have fun with their friends and family. For the tenth year running, fairies and elves of all ages are being summoned to Rathwood in Tullow for a magical day out to remember. During this whimsical May 19-20…
Vatican roundup
Vatican watchdog reports ongoing progress in oversight The Vatican’s financial watchdog agency has reported continued progress in oversight, reporting and cooperation in its efforts to prevent suspected money laundering and the financing of terrorism. In its annual report for 2017, the Financial Intelligence Authority (AIF) confirmed a “robust reporting system and an effective application of the regulatory framework of the Holy…










