Distributors are “freezing out” promoters of a major pro-life film, according to promoters, making it likely many Irish cinema-goers won’t be able to view it locally. UnPlanned has already been viewed by about two million people across 12 countries and tells the story of Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood clinic director and her decision…
Gambling laws in the North of Ireland don’t take the issue of problem gambling seriously enough, which has “serious consequences” for individuals and families, a charity and former addict have said in the wake of new findings. A report examining the issue was required under the recently passed Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Act, which found…
A Kildare parish will join Ireland’s 14th Culture Night this year for the first time with an evening of poetry organised by their parish pastoral council. ‘Poetry to Make You Think’ will feature poems from some well-known poets including Seamus Heaney, WB Yeats, Mary Oliver, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Warsaw Shire, Emily Dickinson and Drew Dillinger.…
A staple of Irish Masses is under pressure, writes Chai Brady Trouble is brewing for the prolific missalette, a staple in many parishes across the country, as Ireland’s national liturgical group, academics, priests and laity lambaste it for a plethora of reasons. Millions of missalettes are printed every year by a variety of publishers,…
Disposable missalettes distract congregations and limit priests in their choices for Sunday Mass, liturgy experts have warned, urging parishes to get rid of the weekly missalettes. “Commercially produced missalettes that include the texts of the readings and the full text of the Eucharistic Prayer are not true aids to the Sunday celebration,” Fr Danny Murphy…
Amidst renewed uncertainty around Brexit and an attempt by Westminster to impose abortion on the North, Archbishop Eamon Martin has announced plans to lead prayers at the Papal cross near Drogheda to mark the 40th anniversary of the visit of St John Paul II to Ireland. Speaking at Mass in Newry, Co. Down at the…
Irish missionaries based in turbulent Hong Kong are split on whether the military will take to the streets once more as fears of intervention from mainland China grow. Hong Kong has been wracked by increasingly violent mass protests for several months, with millions taking part. Irish Columban Fr Michael Cuddigan SSC told The Irish Catholic:…
A large group of devotees of Little Nellie of Holy God have been refused access to her grave in Cork by a security firm engaged by new owners of the land. A tense stand-off between security guards and pilgrims occured over the weekend, resulting in gardaí being called to the scene. About 100 people attended…
Chai Brady discusses Hong Kong’s mass protests and fears of military intervention Large-scale protests have caused massive disruption in Hong Kong with the unpredictable situation continuing to draw the gaze of international communities. Speculation that an imminent military intervention from Beijing continues to grow. Protestors have used several forms of civil disobedience to highlight…
Personal Profile Working in South Africa for almost 50 years, a Franciscan friar has been teaching and shepherding despite many challenges, including Apartheid, in a land that is very much “missionary territory”. He taught in the National Seminary of St John Vianney in Pretoria for 35 years in total, which was difficult in several…