Dear Editor, Like many, I see no theoretical reason for celibacy in the case of secular priests. However, given the low salaries paid, how are the costs of a priest’s wife and family to be met let alone the problem of increasing the scale of property owned by the diocese or parish in order to…
Courtney McGrail
Reconciliation where you find it
Shannon’s Fr Tom Ryan PP hears the confession of a shopper in Shannon’s Skycourt Shopping Centre during this year’s ‘Mercy on the Mall’ event. Photo: John Cooke.
Almost 40% intend to see Pope in Ireland
Nearly 40% of people in the Republic plan to see Pope Francis when he visits Ireland in 2018, a new poll has found. Conducted by Ipsos/MRBI on behalf of The Irish Times newspaper, the poll is the first since the announcement that the Pontiff will travel to Ireland for the World Meeting of Families. Overall,…
Mercy on the Mall again a great success
Staff Reporter Shannon’s second ever ‘Mercy on the Mall’ event was a “tremendous success”, the local parish priest has said. Following the success of last year’s event in Skycourt Shopping Centre, diocesan clergy were contacted this year by the centre’s management, Fr Tom Ryan PP told The Irish Catholic. “Skycourt management got calls asking when…
Michael O’Sullivan RIP
It was with sadness that The Irish Catholic learned of the sudden death of Michael O’Sullivan, father of our Managing Director and publisher, Garry O’Sullivan. Mr O’Sullivan (73) was a retired member of An Garda Síochána and died in his home in Wicklow Town on December 11 surrounded by his loving family. He is sadly…
In praise of books at Christmas
Fr Conor McDonough OP In the far-east of Switzerland – la Suisse orientale, as the French speakers in the West charmingly call it – lies a town bearing the name of an Irish saint: St Gallen, a disciple of Ireland’s single greatest contribution to Europe, St Columbanus. The abbey that gave the town its name…
Religion has been ‘relegated to the margins of society’
Dear Editor, There isn’t much joy manifested in Greg Daly’s experience at the AGM of the Association of Catholic Priests as outlined in his article ‘Priests at risk: problems and practicalities’ (IC 24/11/16). Considering that many of these problems are caused by a lack of vocations to the priesthood it is surprising that no mention…
Armagh Reception
Garath Keating, Lord Mayor of Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon District Councils, with parish administrator Fr Peter McAnenly and Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh at a reception for representatives of St Patrick’s Cathedral Parish.
Surviving family Christmas
John Reid explores the challenges of Christmas as experienced by more and more people
A question of Constitutional rights
Dear Editor, In 2017 or 2018, we can expect to have a referendum on repealing the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (or the rights of the unborn). While there is an opinion that abortion is acceptable in exceptional circumstances, the questions foremost in my mind must be the following: Why is it an indictable offence…