The voices of the silent majority of parents who want to send their child to a local parish school must be heard in the ongoing debate on education, the head of a group representing Catholic schools has insisted. This comes following revelations that 78% of people support the Church having a role in continuing to…
A close confidant of the Pope has revealed how he felt touched by the ability of the Pontiff to reach across the sectarian divide in the North. Austen Ivereigh, who has co-authored a book with Francis as well as being acknowledged as one of the Argentine Pope’s most authoritative biographers, said his recent experience in Belfast…
A Supreme Court ruling dismissing an appeal by the Minister for Education against two homeschooled students excluded from the Leaving Cert calculated grades scheme has been welcomed by home-schooling parents. Wicklow-based Jaclyn Ascough, who has spent more than 20 years homeschooling her seven children – three of which she still teaches – said the ruling…
Consecrated life has a unique offering to a world ‘broken by hopelessness’, Chai Brady hears Pope Francis encouraged those who support consecrated life to look to the future with confidence, as he said hope continues to prevail, in a December message to some 60 members of the Vatican Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and…
There is a “grace-filled art in forgiving and remembering” the bishop of the Diocese of Derry has said on the 50th anniversary Mass of Remembrance for the victims of Bloody Sunday today. In his homily, Bishop Donal McKeown said it takes “a wise heart to look at the rubble of what has been shattered in…
Housing charity Threshold has warned that debt accrued during the pandemic as well as job losses will put further pressure on renters during the housing crisis as society reopens. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, CEO of Threshold John-Mark McCafferty said that those most affected by the pandemic, including staff in the hospitality industry, are more likely…
The Diocese of Down and Connor presented nine schools across the diocese with the annual ‘Spirit of Catholic Education Award’ to pay tribute to the “inspiring work” they have done. The ceremony was held in St Mary’s University College on Monday, January 24, during Catholic Schools Week, which runs from January 23-30. It was organised by the…
Homelessness support and prevention services predict no improvement as Ireland becomes more inhospitable for the vulnerable, writes Chai Brady Continued lack of housing, inflation and the stalling of construction during Covid has heightened the housing crisis, pushing Ireland further away from its targets. While the Government has introduced a range of policies to support people…
Ashling Murphy was remembered for her great faith, talents and the love she brought to her friends and family at her funeral on Tuesday in St Brigid’s Church in Mount Bolus, Co. Offaly. Parish priest of Kilcormac and Killoughey Fr Michael Meade said of Ms Murphy, “in life she cherished the Gospels”, and that the…
Following the discovery of “collusive behaviour” in the North between members of the RUC, the UDR and paramilitary loyalist group the North Antrim UDA, an Irish priest has said the Police Ombudsman’s report was “damning”. Fermanagh-based Fr Joe McVeigh said the findings of Operation Greenwich, which looked at 19 murders carried out by the group…