Pope Francis sent a congratulatory message to Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday coinciding with the United Kingdom’s celebration of the 70th anniversary of her reign. “On this joyful occasion of your Majesty’s birthday, and as you celebrate this Platinum Jubilee year, I send cordial greetings and good wishes, together with the renewed assurance of my…
Kenyan bishops urge free, fair and peaceful elections
Kenya’s Catholic bishops joined other religious leaders in calling upon the country’s politicians to ensure the forthcoming general elections, scheduled for August 9, are free, fair and peaceful. The prelates said they recognised “that myriad developments could emerge that could hinder peaceful, free, fair and credible elections. Let us all pray and call upon God”.…
Vatican Roundup
Vatican finance trial highlights pressure to finalise London deal The deal to acquire control of a London investment property was finalised under intense “psychological pressure,” according to Fabrizio Tirabassi, a lay official at the Secretariat of State who was questioned during a Vatican finance trial hearing on May 31. Enrico Crasso, a longtime investment manager…
A spiritual revolution for the elderly
Dear Editor, Anyone who has been following the live streaming of Masses during the pandemic and after, could not fail to have noticed that not only are many of the priests elderly, but almost without exception, regular congregations are made up of elderly men and women. Pope Francis is challenging us to look to the…
In short
Pilgrimage to Matt Talbot shrine organised A pilgrimage to the shrine of Venerable Matt Talbot to pray for freedom from addiction will take place June 12 from 2-4:30pm. The pilgrimage, which will finish in the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Sean McDermott St, Dublin, is to pray for freedom from addictions including alcohol,…
Mary McAleese to speak on the 17 Irish Martyrs
Mary McAleese, the former President of Ireland, is scheduled to speak on the Feast Day of the Irish Martyrs on Monday, June 20 at 7pm at All Hallows College in Dublin. Drawing from revelations explored in her latest release, The 17 Irish Martyrs, Dr McAleese will evocatively uncover the stories of the Irish martyrs beatified…
News in Brief
Our Lady of Clonfert Shrine recognised as a Diocesan Marian Shrine The Bishop of Clonfert and Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora, Michael Duignan travelled Tuesday to the Shrine of Our Lady of Clonfert to bless the recently renovated church and to consecrate its new altar. In recognition of the importance of the Shrine as…
Pope announces host of new cardinals
Pope Francis announced he will create 21 new cardinals August 27. The Pope made the announcement at the end of his “Regina Coeli” address May 29, telling the crowd in St Peter’s Square the names of the 16 cardinals under the age of 80, who will be eligible to vote in a conclave, and the…
Native peoples join Catholics for boarding school details
Native American tribal representatives are partnering with Catholic dioceses and religious congregations in uncovering vast amounts of information about the Church’s role in operating residential schools that for more than a century worked to assimilate Indigenous children into white society. Known as the Catholic Native Boarding School Accountability and Healing Project, or AHP, the effort…
Bishops push gun control following mass shooting
Some US bishops spoke out against the easy accessibility to guns in the country following a May 24 rampage that left at least 19 children and two of their elementary school teachers dead in Uvalde, Texas. “Don’t tell me that guns aren’t the problem, people are. I’m sick of hearing it,” Bishop Daniel Flores of…











