The Church teaches that Christ is made visible through the ordained ministry, writes Cathal Barry The redemptive sacrifice of Christ is unique, according to the Church, is accomplished once for all; yet it is made present in the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Church. “The same is true of the one priesthood of Christ,” the Catechism…
Police in the North have launched an investigation after a pro-life campaigner claimed she was “pushed” by a Sinn Féin member at an Easter Rising commemoration. According to The Irish News, Catherine Sewell said she and her husband Ryan were manhandled as they tried to distribute anti-abortion leaflets at the event in Carrickmore, Co. Tyrone,…
A prominent republican priest has strongly rebuked Bob Geldof’s remarks comparing the leaders of the 1916 Rising to jihadi suicide bombers. Fr Joe McVeigh, who is based in Co. Fermanagh, told The Irish Catholic that the controversial singers’ comparison was “outrageous”. “Normally I do not pay much attention to anything Geldof has to say. He…
A leading priest-theologian has hailed the role of Catholic education in helping Catholics in the North overcome decades of employment discrimination. Fr Niall Coll, who lectures at St Mary’s University College in Belfast, told The Irish Catholic that “Catholic education in the North can be rightly proud of its role in helping young people from…
St Patrick’s College in Maynooth is offering a suite of new scholarships to people interested in undertaking further studies in theology in a bid to attract more “quality” students to the college. The college’s president, Msgr Hugh Connolly, told The Irish Catholic he was “excited” by the new bursaries “because they will bring in some…
The Order of Malta has insisted it is “not disappointed” despite not being invited to take part in the 1916 centenary commemorations on Easter Sunday. A spokesperson for the Order of Malta confirmed to The Irish Catholic that its ambulance corps was not invited to take part in the State’s ceremonial parade at the weekend…
A particularly early print deadline recently meant the number of hours’ sleep this columnist got the night previous fell well shy of the recommended amount. The amount of sleep needed to function the next day varies from person to person. While the average adult needs about eight hours of sleep each night, some people need…
Holy Orders is the sacrament of apostolic ministry, writes Cathal Barry Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church. As such, the Church teaches that “it is the…
Cathal Barry takes a look at who receives and who administers the Sacrament of the Sick The Church teaches that Anointing of the Sick “is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death”. “Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness…
Cathal Barry takes a look at the Church’s new pastoral guide to Confession Dioceses across the island of Ireland reported large numbers participating in Pope Francis’ worldwide promotion of the Sacrament of Confession as part of the ‘24 Hours for the Lord’ initiative earlier this month. Ahead of that initiative, the Pontifical Council for Promoting…