‘Mother
 Teresa’
 relic 
attracts 
crowds

Large crowds have been in attendance to venerate a relic of Mother Teresa, which is being brought across the island by the Knights of St Columbanus. It is in Ballaghdreen Cathedral, Co. Roscommon from today until Saturday, before being brought to Tuam Cathedral, Co. Galway until next Monday (June 26). From August 11 the Cathedral…

Much ‘heroism’ found in ordinary everyday life

Dear Editor, I read Bishop Denis Brennan’s comments on a vocation being “an adventure” with interest (IC 15/06/2017). Other newspapers who had covered Bishop Brennan’s homily at the ordination in Horeswood, Co. Wexford, had only mentioned his comments warning the new priest about having the “anger/hostility people have for the Church in general directed at…

Church aids students affected by London fire

Church agencies are helping London Catholic school students cope with the trauma of the Grenfell Tower fire. With pupils confirmed missing and the death toll rising the tragedy devastated the local community. John Paul Morrison, the Director of Education for the Archdiocese of Westminster, said the archdiocese was offering counselling to students. “What they have…

Pope 
calls
 for
 moment 
of
 silence 
after
 devastating 
Portuguese 
infernos

Pope Francis expressed his “closeness” to the people of Portugal after deadly forest fires killed over 60 people. After reciting the Marian prayer last Sunday in St Peter’s Square, the Pope mentioned the disaster, which occurred in the south-east of Coimbra. Three days of national mourning were declared after a severe heatwave, with temperatures in…

Dublin deacon to run national vocations office

One of Ireland’s first permanent deacons has been appointed to run the new National Vocations Office, which officially opens on July 1. Rev. Eric Cooney, who was ordained to the permanent diaconate for the Archdiocese of Dublin in 2012, will act as administrator of the new office. The office, which will be based in Maynooth’s…

Catholic
 nun
 charged
 with
 abduction

A Catholic nun has been charged with abducting tribal girls for religious conversion in India. Sr Beena Joseph, a member of the Carmelite Sisters of St Teresa congregation, was on her way to the Madhya Pradesh state capital of Bhopal from the eastern state of Jharkhand along with four tribal girls. She was accused of taking…

Bid to set a new record for Global Rosary Relay

Global Rosary Relay for Priests is striving to set a new record of global participation this week. 10 million are estimated to join in prayer for the Rosary Relay this year, according to Worldpriest. As midnight comes on June 23, the Feast of the Sacred Heart, the relay will begin in a new shrine in…