The Church teaches that every baptised person not yet confirmed can and should receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, writes Cathal Barry
Cathal Barry
30 graduate from novel catechetics course
A group of 30 parishioners from the Diocese of Elphin have graduated from a novel three-year catechetics course. The graduates are the first in the West of Ireland to complete the Maryvale Institute’s three-year Adult Studies in the Catechism of the Catholic Church course, co-ordinated by Justin Harkin, Director of Pastoral and faith Development in…
Social media becoming ‘harsh and dehumanising’ for Catholics, Primate warns
Archbishop Eamon Marin has warned that social media is becoming a “harsh and dehumanising” environment for Catholics. Noting that “more and more journalists, members of the Church and other people with a public profile, have had to stop using social media as they have become victims of vitriol and abuse”, the Archbishop of Armagh said…
American Idol winner Carrie reveals her ‘strong’ faith
Country music star Carrie Underwood has spoken of her “strong” faith in God. The 2005 American Idol winner also revealed her goal as a parent is to raise her son as a “loving” Christian. The Jesus, Take The Wheel singer spoke to People magazine about the importance of faith to her family: “We want to…
James Bond could have been a priest
Everybody’s favourite spy could just have easily been a priest had he not chosen the life of a deadly assassin. In Spectre, the latest instalment of the popular James Bond series, the British spy reveals he had considered a vocation to the priesthood. At one point in the film, ‘Bond-girl’ Madeleine Swann asks the agent…
Irish Church shouldn’t ignore existence of evil – exorcist
A world renowned exorcist has warned the Church in Ireland not to ignore the reality of evil in the world. In an interview with The Irish Catholic, Fr José Antonio Fortea Cucurull insisted that the presence of evil, through the work of the Devil and evil spirts known as ‘demons’, was real. The Spanish priest…
Debunking the myths of demonology
World renowned exorcist Fr José Antonio Fortea Cucurull explains the tricks of the trade to Cathal Barry
The Sacrament of Confirmation
The Church teaches that the baptised are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit by the sacrament, writes Cathal Barry
Nursing homes failing residents’ religious needs
More needs to be done to ensure the spiritual needs of elderly priests and nuns living in non-religious nursing homes are catered for, a member of the Church’s Healthcare Council has warned. Sr Pat O’Donovan, Executive Secretary of Irish bishops’ Council for Health Care, said that while much of the care provided in such healthcare…
Number of Modular homes ‘inadequate’, charity claims
A leading homelessness charity has criticised as “inadequate” the Government’s aim to have just 22 of the planned 500 modular homes on stream by Christmas. A spokesperson for the Peter McVerry Trust told The Irish Catholic that “it is quite disappointing”. “There are question marks around how quickly they are going to be rolled out.…