A new mural of Our Lady of Knock is set to be created in St Patrick’s Cathedral New York, the Archbishop of New York, Cardinal Timothy Dolan has announced. The news was revealed by the cardinal after singer-songwriter Dana sang the hymn Our Lady of Knock at the St Patrick’s Day parade Mass over the…
Lack of diverse voices in media causing public alienation, says veteran journalist
Séamus Dooley, Secretary of the National Union of Journalists and former editor of the Roscommon Champion, has expressed disappointment about the lack of diversity of opinion in modern media and insisted that editors and producers need to take more risks in ensuring that more voices are brought to the table. Speaking on The State of the…
Risks posed by assisted suicide are ‘enormous’ says doctor
Commenting in response to the recent decision made by the Oireachtas Committee on Assisted Dying to recommend legalising assisted suicide and euthanasia in Ireland, Dr Miriam Colleran, consultant in palliative care at Naas Hospital and a member of the Hope Ireland group, a coalition of medical professionals and disability rights advocates who aim to bring informed perspectives to the…
Viewers in awe of the Capuchin charism
Viewers were left captivated as comedian Tommy Tiernan interviewed Capuchin Franciscan, Br Richard Hendrick on his popular Saturday night talk-show last weekend. The highly praised interview saw the pair discuss the eclectic topics of religion, love and Franciscan brewers. The brother-priest, who lives and works in Dublin, shared with Tommy that he was drawn to…
Environment Minister Ryan hears how Catholics are combatting climate change
The Laudato Si’ Working Group (LSWG) held an online meeting with Minister for Environment, Climate Action, Communications and Transport, Eamon Ryan last month where the role of local faith groups in their efforts to combat climate change and other environmental issues with state agencies was discussed. During the meeting the LSWG highlighted the commitment of the Irish bishops…
For Ukrainians, there is still hope within horror
For a generation born after a certain period in Europe, war and its perverse consequences have thankfully not been all too intimately known. In fact, the vast majority of Europe’s inhabitants – save the likely elderly of World War II and the middle-aged products of the Cold War and The Troubles – have largely been…
World must be responsible for legacy left behind in climate change battle – Trócaire lecture
Speaking at the St Patrick’s College Maynooth Annual Trócaire Lecture, Fr Agbonkhianmeghe Orobator SJ, the former President of the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar, warned that we must collectively commit to assuming “responsibility for the legacy we will leave behind once we leave the world” and that modern Catholic social teaching can inform Catholics…
Church leaders in Holy Land condemn ‘wanton attack’ in Gaza
After a disputed incident in which more than 100 Palestinians were killed while attempting to access humanitarian aid in Gaza, Church leaders in Jerusalem have condemned what they described as a “wanton attack” and called for a ceasefire. In a March 1 statement, the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem pointed to the February…
Bishops signal support for ‘No, No’ votes in care and family referenda
The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference has said the upcoming referenda relating to the definition of family is “likely to lead to a weakening of the incentive for young people to marry” and has urged people to oppose the two proposed amendments to the Constitution in the March 8 referenda. In their statement, the bishops said…
Accord prepared 7,262 couples for marriage across Ireland in 2023
New data from Accord, the agency of the Irish bishops’ conference concerned with supporting the sacrament of marriage, shows that 7,262 couples were prepared for the Sacrament of marriage across the island of Ireland in 2023, and the figure for 2022 was 7,470 couples.