The man who presided over a surge in vocations for the Dominican order here has warned that many potential candidates for the priesthood are being cast aside because they don’t fit a particular mould. Fr Gerard Dunne OP, who was the Director of Vocations for the Irish Dominicans from 2000-2014, told The Irish Catholic that…
Fr Martin Whelan tells Cathal Barry about the key role priests play in the sacrament
Chaplains working in Catholic schools have urged stressed students sitting important State exams to turn to prayer to help them cope. Belvedere College SJ chaplain Trish Carroll told The Irish Catholic that “faith when times are difficult can be a linchpin for many students”. “Within my work as chaplain, I try to foster the spirit…
A new catechetical initiative will see the whole diocese learning together, Bishop Kevin Doran tells Cathal Barry
The Church teaches that a bride and groom should prepare themselves for their marriage by receiving the Sacrament of Penance, writes Cathal Barry
‘Celibacy is a huge gift to the Church’
An Irish priest who was part of the commission that advised Pope John Paul II on the possibility of women deacons in 2002 has welcomed Pope Francis’ call for further study on the issue. Fr Tom Norris, who previously served as a member of the International Theological Commission, said the issue of women deacons “needs…
Newly-appointed Health Minister Simon Harris has pledged to improve the quality of hospital food. Among other goals, he lists this as among his priorities for his term in office, and so he should. Nutrition, after all, should be among everybody’s priorities when it comes to tending to your overall health. Exercise plays a key role…
The Church teaches that marriage between baptised persons is a true sacrament, writes Cathal Barry
A founder of the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) has expressed frustration that many Irish priests are unwilling to embrace the radical agenda of the leaders of the organisation. Redemptorist Fr Tony Flannery – who has now stepped down from the helm of the group – said the leadership of the ACP had on occasion…