The new bishop of Achonry, ordained on Sunday, called on the faithful to “go out to where Christ is calling us”. Bishop Paul Dempsey’s episcopal ordination took place in the Cathedral of The Annunciation and St Nathy, Ballaghaderreen, Co. Roscommon. The principal consecrator was Archbishop Michael Neary of Tuam, assisted by Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo,…
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín TD has welcomed Fine Gael’s ‘baby box’ initiative but says that a cute video on social media does little for struggling families. Deputy Tóibín said: “It’s all well and good for a Fine Gael senator to put up a cute, well-choreographed video of himself talking about the struggles of parenthood, but…
With restrictions ongoing, many parishes are in deep financial trouble, writes Chai Brady While the tired old canard of priests always talking about the need to raise parish funds persists, many clerics are in fact reluctant ever to raise conversations about money. The fact remains, however, that parishes cannot run on goodwill alone and the…
Focus Ireland have called for a reintroduction of eviction bans and rent freezes due to recent Covid-19 restrictions as new figures show an increase in homelessness from 8699 in June to 8728 in July. The charity warned of a potential bigger increase in the coming months. Pat Dennigan, Focus Ireland CEO, said: “As children across…
A unique Sunday Vigil Mass was celebrated at Eoghan Rua GAA grounds in Portsteward, Co. Derry with about a 100-person strong congregation. It took place in mid-August on the club pitch. Attendees included Matthew who recently received his First Holy Communion and several parishioners who had been cocooning from the coronavirus who were attending Mass…
An Irish missionary priest who has served in Africa for more than 40 years has said that people are hopeful as churches in South Africa, which had been badly hit by Covid-19, begin to re-open. Fr Seán Mullin CSSp, originally from Kilconly near Tuam in Co. Galway, is a school and hospital chaplain but is…
Exclusive Everyday life is becoming increasingly difficult for Christians in Lebanon An Irishwoman who works in Beirut has warned that the people of Lebanon have lost hope amidst anti-government protests in the wake of a deadly explosion that killed hundreds of people and has been widely blamed on political corruption. Anna Sophia Gallagher [pictured], originally…
An NBA (National Association of Basketball) player in the US has said that the Bible “will help bring us close together and get past skin colour”. The Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac, who is black, was the first NBA player to stand for the national anthem after the league was postponed for 20 weeks due…
Chai Brady hears about the tensions and trauma following Lebanon explosion Lebanon continued to lead international headlines this week after an explosion at Beirut’s port claimed the lives of hundreds of people in a country wracked by inflation and accusations of a corrupt, now defunct, government that had “utter disregard for the value of Lebanese…
A Dublin pub which facilitated parents who weren’t allowed to attend their children’s Confirmations due to Covid-19 by livestreaming the Mass on their TVs is gearing up to host more family members for Communions next week. The Kingswood Lodge, which is across the road from the parish church, helped parents mark the occasion as a…