Part 2 of the chat with Natalie Doherty (@ParishCatechist) looks at the opportunities of engaging with families during the regular sacramental moments of parish life. Natalie and Fr Michael recently decided to try a new approach around the preparation for First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, looking to engage intentionally with the parents and families.…
Exclusive Vatican should reconsider plans to skip North, urge Protestant leaders Colm Fitzpatrick, Greg Daly and Martin O’Brien The Pope could help towards resolving political tensions in the North of Ireland and bring about the re-establishment of Stormont, a prominent Protestant minister has said. Dr Ken Newell, a former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland who played a…
In an unprecedented move, Pope Francis has appointed three female academics as consultants to the Vatican’s doctrinal watchdog, paving the way for women to have a more integral role in the Church’s central administration. The Vatican announced on April 21 that the Pontiff had named three women and two priests as consultants to the Congregation…
The parish priest of Oldcastle, Meath who bowled over the judges on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent on Saturday night (April 21), is all set for the next round which will be shot in mid May. Fr Ray Kelly (64) sang the REM song ‘Everybody Hurts’ to a packed auditorium. “It’s a song that’s near and…
Bishop Peter Lee Ki-heon of Uijeongbu has been waiting years for this moment, with the leaders of the two divided Koreas poised to meet for a historic summit just inside South Korean territory on April 27. Ucanews.com reported Bishop Lee, president of the Korean bishops’ Committee for the Reconciliation of the Korean People, released a…
Former US first lady Barbara Bush “was a model public servant and set a standard for her unwavering and loving devotion to both family and community,” said Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston Houston in offering his prayers and “heartfelt condolences” to the Bush family. Wife of the nation’s 41st president and mother of the 43rd…
Letter from Rome World Youth Day, a massive gathering of young people from around the world that’s become something like the Woodstock of the Catholic Church, was founded in 1985 for young people. Spokespersons say the January 2019 edition in Panama, however, also will be organised by young people themselves. Among the novelties the…
As referendum day approaches, Catholics will be told by all and sundry that they should vote according to their consciences. In a Western democratic society like Ireland, which values individual freedom and personal autonomy above all else, there is little difficulty in accepting the central role of ‘conscience’. Hardly anyone disagrees with that, because ultimately…
Water zorbing, tag archery and an obstacle course will be among the activities for the family at the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly’s family fun day this weekend. Parishes from all across the diocese are invited to the April 29 event, which is built around the theme ‘We are family’ and is part of the…
The Church in Germany said it would review its employment system after top European judges warned it could violate anti-discrimination laws by requiring employees to be religious. On April 17, the Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that demands for Church employees to have a “religious affiliation” should be subject to judicial review. Fr…