Islamist terrorist violence such as Paris experienced in January is a daily reality in Cameroon, according to Maroua-Mokolo’s Bishop Bruno Ateba (pictured). “What happened in Paris during the attacks there is something we experience here every day, and yet nobody in the world says anything about it,” he told the Catholic agency Aid to the…

54% of German priests go to Confession no more than once a year, and 42% don’t pray – outside of Mass or the Divine Office – even once a day, according to a survey released by the German bishops’ conference.  8,600 German Catholics including about 4,200 priests from 22 dioceses, were surveyed between 2012 and…

Pope to visit Cuba enroute to the USA in September Pope Francis will visit Cuba on his way to the United States this September, according to Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi, who said the Holy Father has “received and accepted the invitation from the civil authorities and bishops of Cuba”. Visiting both countries on the…

This year marks the 20th Bealtaine festival. Organised by Age & Opportunity the annual festival celebrates creativity as we age and is believed to be the world’s first of its kind. Bealtaine has grown to be one of the country’s biggest arts festivals, with an estimate 120,000 people taking part in this event. All across…

The Synod Hall in Armagh was packed to capacity as people gathered for a special evening: “Great people, great stories, come and listen.” The evening, organised by the Diocesan Vocations Team, saw two people sharing their vocation stories. The first speaker was Bro. Ronan Lennon, a St John of God Brother who has worked in…

A photographic exhibition highlighting the work of the Irish Potato Coalition set up by Vita, the Irish NGO fighting against hunger and climate change in Africa, was opened on The Mezzanine, Terminal 1 in Dublin Airport by President Michael D. Higgins. Supported by Irish Aid, the Irish Potato Coalition is a research-led programme that works…

Thai Children’s Trust Ireland has sent a message of thanks to readers of The Irish Catholic for their generous response to its Lenten appeal to help feed orphaned and abandoned children on the Thai-Burma border. The Feed a Future campaign asked people to support its nutrition programme by giving a €40 donation, or €1 a…

The Hugh O’Flaherty Memorial Society is inviting nominations for the 2015 Hugh O’Flaherty International Humanitarian Award as part of the 8th annual memorial weekend in honour of the Monsignor, which will take place from Friday October 30 to Sunday November 1 in Killarney, Co. Kerry. Msgr O’Flaherty was dubbed the Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican…

St Colman’s Society for Catholic Liturgy is hosting the Fota VIII International Liturgy Conference in Cork from July 4-6 on the subject of the priesthood of the baptised, entitled ‘A chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation: Aspects of the Priesthood of Baptism’. The conference speakers over the weekend include Prof. Dieter  Böhler, from Germany…

Cork Scripture Group has celebrated its second graduation with 19 graduates from the parishes of Ballingeary, Bandon, Bantry, Drimoleague/Drinagh, Dunmanway, Kilbrittain, Newcestown, Schull and Timoleague completing the two year Diocesan Certificate in Biblical Studies. The group received diocesan certificates signed by Bishop John Buckley of Cork and Ross, who was unable to attend, but sent…