Many people will know us from the Word Magazine, Christmas Cards and our Lenten and November appeals at Donamon Castle and Kairos Communications and our Language School at Maynooth. Founded by St Arnold Jannsen, in Steyl, Holland, we have been sending young Irish missionaries abroad since 1938 from our Donamon House in Co. Roscommon. Initially,…
Vatican announces dates for next canonisations
The Vatican Press Office has announced the dates for the upcoming canonisations by Pope Leo XIV. The ceremony will take place on October 19 in St Peter’s Square. A total of seven people will be added to the list of Catholic saints. The new saints include the Armenian-Catholic Archbishop of Mardin, Ignatius Choukrallah Maloyan, who…
The Presidency and Maria Steen – A plea to widen the choices on the ballot paper
Dear Editor, For the life of me, I cannot understand the stance of Independent members of the Oireachtas and local county councils. As Shane Ross remarked in last week’s Sunday Independent, the three-horse line-up to date for the presidential race lacks lustre and is second rate. Maybe Sinn Féin will pull a rabbit…
Some Reflections on the Recent Interview of Pope Leo XIV from the Asian Perspective + Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David
By Elise Allen Pope Leo XIV’s first wide-ranging interview confirms what many of us in Asia have already sensed in his first hundred days: the Holy Spirit has given us a shepherd who listens first, then acts. His calm presence and pastoral clarity echo Pope Francis’s legacy of a synodal Church, yet he brings his…
What will be discussed at the upcoming Pre-Synodal Assembly
The Preparatory Document for the Pre-Synodal Assembly of the Synodal Pathway of the Catholic Church in Ireland has been released. Called ‘Baptised and Sent’ it lists the themes that will be discussed at the Assembly in Kilkenny Convention Centre on Saturday, October 18, 2025. We list the themes here directly from the document. Themes emerging…
‘Jellyfish and Eggs’ – a new bilingual children’s book
On Saturday, the Bundoran library hosted the launch of a vibrant new bilingual (English and Ukrainian) book, Jellyfish and Eggs, created by Irish, Ukrainian, and international children living in Bundoran, Co. Donegal. In it, young authors share their lives, dreams, and stories about the community they now call home. The book was published by Kids’…
Peruvians celebrate Pope Leo’s birthday with beloved local devotion from former diocese
A group of Peruvian expats in Italy celebrated Pope Leo XIV’s 70th birthday on September 14 in true local fashion, bringing a beloved popular devotion in Chiclayo to the Pope’s front door. Every year during his time as Bishop of Chiclayo from 2015 to 2023, Pope Leo would visit the shrine of Jesús Nazareno Cautivo,…
Statement from Mattie McGrath TD on his Nomination of Maria Steen for the Presidency of Ireland
It is with great honour and conviction that I confirm my support for Maria Steen in her campaign to seek nomination for the Presidency of Ireland. Maria Steen has long been a courageous and principled voice in Irish public life. Her unwavering commitment to the values of faith, family, and constitutional integrity has resonated with…
Art competition invites children to share perspectives on safety in the Church
The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI) is inviting young artists across the nation to submit original artwork that represents their idea of a safe and welcoming Church. The competition, entitled “A Safe and Welcoming Church Children and Young Person’s Art Competition” is open for the month of September,…
Priest warns of anti-catholic bias in Presidential Race
Fr Timothy Bartlett, speaking at a Mass in Knock for the charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) to look out for anti-Catholic bias in the Presidential race. Watch the full homily.









