Dear Editor, I recently finished the three-day pilgrimage to Lough Derg (my second visit) – a particularly challenging time due to the wet and cold weather, but nonetheless the spirit of Lough Derg was as strong as ever. During my stay I was able to do some research for my theology dissertation which was in the…
Courtney McGrail
Encyclical reviews ignore teaching on human ecology
Dear Editor, What has Laudato Si achieved? The Pope’s intent is to address the dignity and duties of life in the created order. There are arguably three achievements. Firstly, he lends a ‘Pope Francis’ tag of support to the prevailing, secular, fashionable, ‘green’ worst-case contentions, not yet backed by a scientific consensus. Second, two main…
Catholic seminarians must be sound
Dear Editor, I refer to your headline on July 2, “Bishops rebel over Maynooth seminary ‘heave’.” Catholic seminarians must be sound – doctrinally, morally, spiritually and humanly. They must be scrutinised, by competent authorities, to ensure they, if judged worthy to be ordained, will be integrated and competent servants of the People of God. It…
Remarried Catholics welcome at Mass
Dear Editor, There is a need to tell those Catholics who have divorced and later invalidly married that they are most welcome to attend Mass, thus offering thanks for all the gifts they continue to receive. Indeed, they are obliged to attend Mass on Sundays just as all Catholics are obliged, whereas a Catholic is…
Award for The Irish Catholic columnist
Dr Andrew O’Connell, a columnist with The Irish Catholic, has been named as a First Place winner in the 2015 Catholic Press Awards in the United States for his contribution to the Best Regular Column on the Spiritual Life. Dr O’Connell’s contribution was a reflection on the canonisations of Pope John XXIII and Pope John…
Traditionalist ‘Dominicans’ come to Dublin
A talk will be given on the apostolate of the Fraternity of St Vincent Ferrer in the Central Catholic Library on Tuesday July 21 at 6.30pm. Named after the famous medieval preacher, the fraternity is a French community based in Mayenne which uses the traditional Dominican liturgy and is dedicated to the Dominican charisms of…
Mary Duff supporting Drogheda Dominicans
Country music star Mary Duff will perform a concert in St Magadelen’s Church in Drogheda to support the campaign to prevent the closure of the Dominican church. The Irish folk singer will lead the performance in the ‘Stand by your church’ concert with special guests on September 18 at 8pm to mark the one-year anniversary…
NFL star doing it ‘Jesus’ way’
American football star Russell Wilson has revealed that he and his popstar girlfriend Ciara plan to remain abstinent from sex until they are married. The quarterback, who is known for his religious beliefs, said that the couple wanted to live out their relationship “Jesus’ way” because of their Christian faith. The Seattle Seahawks player said…
Omagh priests held at gunpoint
Two priests were held at gunpoint during a robbery at St Joseph’s Church, Drumragh in Co. Tyrone on Saturday. Msgr Joseph Donnelly and Fr Piotr Zimnoch were held by assailants in parochial houses in Omagh when two men entered the properties, one carrying a suspected firearm, looking for money. A police spokesperson said both men…
Parish supporting grieving families
The local parish is rallying in support of grieving families in Co. Laois devastated by a car crash that saw the loss of three young lives. Martin Brophy, Orla Curry and Angela Kelly died in the early hours of Sunday morning when the car they were travelling in crashed at Middlemount on the Rathdowney to…