An Irish nun committed to empowering young women in one of the world’s most volatile countries has received an award in recognition of her vital work. Wicklow-born Sr Orla Treacy, of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as the Loreto Sisters, was given the Societal Impact prize as part of the DCU…
Questions of Faith If all the bread and wine in the world disappeared overnight – and could no longer be made, would we be able to celebrate the Eucharist? Assuming that the Church wouldn’t make a special case to change its rules on this matter given the bizarre circumstance, the answer is no. It’s…
An outspoken pro-life advocate is encouraging others with the same convictions to not be “silenced” in the face of intimidation or bullying. 21-year-old student Gavin Boyne is urging the pro-life community to be resilient in the face of criticism after he received online abuse and a death threat for sharing his views. “I’m a little…
It’s all in your head anyway! The Camino is more than just a physical trail, writes Colm Fitzpatrick As I walked through the town of Arzúa on a blistering hot day, a message engraved into a wooden post stopped me in my tracks. It read: ‘Why go to Santiago – it’s all in your…
The Annual ‘Fan the Flame’ Mass for all children who received the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Diocese of Derry during the past year was celebrated in Celtic Park GAA Ground earlier this month. The Mass also marked the end of their primary education. Around 3,000 young people from Donegal, Derry and Tyrone attended, many…
While for Catholics, calling a priest ‘Father’ seems like a non-issue, for many other Christian denominations, this practice is seen as unbiblical. The accusation is an understandable and thought-provoking one, given that Jesus says: “Call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven” (Matt. 23:9). These words couldn’t…
A national assembly or synod which listens to the experience of the laity could help alleviate the current crisis the Irish Church is facing, a prominent Jesuit has said. Fr Gerry O’Hanlon SJ said that the Church in Ireland is at a “crisis” point and that a national assembly or synod which draws together religious…
Despite various reports last year that Dublin’s World Meeting of Families would cost up to €40 million, the festival’s Secretary General has confirmed that “it came in under budget”. Fr Timothy Bartlett told this newspaper that WMOF cost under its €20 million budget and that the final figures of the event will be available to…
After gaining the title of undisputed lightweight women’s champion over the weekend, it seems Bray-native Katie Taylor is thankful not only to her family and fans, but also to God. The famous Irish boxer defeated Belgian fighter Delfine Persoon in Madison Square Gardens over the weekend, securing the WBC green belt. In the lead up…
Questions of Faith There are plenty of religious artefacts, statues and artistic pieces which elicit intrigue, wonder and sometimes confusion. One object that fits into this category is the Moses – a sculpture by the famous Italian artist Michelangelo Buonarroti – which is housed in the church of San Pietro in Vincoli in Rome.…