The Archdiocese of Armagh has begun a ‘virtual pilgrimage’ to Lourdes today to reach out to the 550 of pilgrims due to travel there this week but due to the coronavirus pandemic the pilgrimage was cancelled. Organisers have instead decided to conduct it virtually using social media channels. This will be available to watch through…
A Dublin priest who has been offering ‘carpark Confessions’ has said there has been a great response with dozens of people coming to receive the Sacrament. Fr Pat McKinley of Springfield/Brookfield/Jobstown parish, who is the Vicar Forane over Tallaght Deanery, has been offering Confessions in the car park of St Mark’s church with another priest…
Chai Brady discusses Mater Dei’s findings on the religious feelings of young people North and South The need for religious education and research on young people’s relationship with religion is more important than ever to dispel myths and understand how they really feel, according to the Director of the Mater Dei Centre for Catholic…
Over the weekend the leaders of Ireland’s Christian Churches asked the Executive in the North to reopen churches for private prayer, as they are currently closed due to government restrictions despite many churches that can maintain health guidelines in the south staying open for that purpose. It is expected the Church will also be bringing…
Britain’s secretary of state for the North exceeded his powers by introducing liberal abortion regulations the region’s chief legal adviser has said. Under the European Convention on Human Rights protection must be given to the rights of those opposed on religious or philosophical grounds, Attorney General John Larkin QC, said, and it is doubtful that this was…
Irish sports star Ciara Mageean has said “Faith and family mean a lot to me” and that it is important people have something in their lives they can “look towards for that little bit of strength”. She said her Faith is part of who she is – something she drew from her grandmother who died…
A year on from the tragic death of journalist Lyra McKee clergy have said restoring Stormont was a “fitting tribute”, as her “passion was to bring together people who think they are divided”. Fr Martin Magill PP of St John’s Parish on the Falls Road and Fr Stephen Forde, Dean of Belfast released a joint…
The northern bishops have written to members of the region’s assembly to voice their opposition to new regulations regarding abortion, insisting it must be debated “as a matter of urgency”. They said the current regulations, which were brought in due to legislation passed in Westminster, must be formulated to reflect the position of the majority…
Priests tell of ‘heart-breaking’ Covid-19 ministry A Co. Kildare-based priest has spoken of the moving and humbling experience of helping to bring peace and consolation to patients suffering from coronavirus through the grace of the Sacrament of the Sick. Fr Seán Maher described ministering to patients isolated from their loved ones as visiting “the wounded…
A Belfast-based priest has decried the “despicable” actions of fraudsters trying to con vulnerable people out of their money by pretending to collect parish envelopes. This comes after the Diocese of Down and Connor reported that certain “unscrupulous individuals” were offering to take weekly parish envelopes – which currently aren’t being collected. Fr Paddy McCafferty…