It is imperative that steps are taken to “climate-proof” society, Prof. John Sweeney of NUI Maynooth said at a recent inter-church climate justice event held in Letterkenny Regional Cultural Centre, Co. Donegal. The event, which drew a crowd of more than 80 people from different churches, was co-hosted by Eco-Congregation Ireland and Raphoe Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Group. Prof.…
Courtney McGrail
Two archbishops celebrate Venerable Fr John Sullivan SJ
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin was the main celebrant at a Mass in St Francis Xavier’s Church, Gardiner Street in Dublin to celebrate the recognition of Fr John Sullivan SJ (1861-1933) as Venerable Servant of God. The church was packed to capacity as people of all ages came to celebrate the recent declaration by Pope Francis of…
Scholarships for Sligo summer school launched
Transition and fifth year students from Roscommon CBS took centre stage with their principal, Fiona Gallagher, and chaplain, Msgr Charles Travers, as they assisted Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin to launch a series of scholarships for the Star of the Sea Summer Schools for senior post-primary students that will take place in Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo,…
Hundreds attend assembly of four Dublin parishes
The parishes of Hartstown, Huntstown, Blakestown and Mountview in Dublin got together to focus on the future in St Ciaran’s National School where Mary Kearney led a full day with over 200 parishioners. The gathering was a natural progression for the four communities already working together offering courses, retreats and training etc with the assistance…
Indians say conversion was not a motive behind Teresa’s kindness
Indians have condemned claims that Blessed Teresa of Calcutta’s sole aim in helping the poor was converting them to Christianity. Speaking at the inauguration of an orphanage and women's home run by a Rajasthan-based NGO, nationalist leader Mohan Bhagwat, a fundamentalist Hindu, said “here we will not provide service like that rendered by Mother Teresa.…
Former Vatican chief appointed new Archbishop of Malta
Former Vatican chief prosecutor Charles Scicluna has been named as the new Archbishop of Malta. Born in Toronto, Canada in 1959, Dr Scicluna began working in Rome as Substitute Promoter of Justice for the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura before becoming Promoter of Justice for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF).…
A man of deep and abiding faith is mourned
Father Theodore M. Hesburgh, who has died aged 97, has been honoured in death by a host of American luminaries. “His deep and abiding faith in a loving God, and in the power of our shared humanity, led him to join the first-ever United States Civil Rights Commission, and join hands with (the Rev. Martin…
People of the Central African Republic are ‘the new Israelites’
An archbishop in Central African Republic has likened the people of his country to Israelites wandering in the desert, and urged them to use the pope's planned autumn visit to escape from their “prolonged crisis”. In a Lenten pastoral letter, Bangui’s Archbishop Dieudonne Nzapalainga, president of the national bishops’ conference, said that “the harsh ordeal”…
Latvian Christians doubt NATO guarantee
Just weeks after the Latvian government announced new security measures, including the reintroduction of conscription, Catholic leaders have expressed concerns about possible Russian aggression. Speaking on behalf of Latvia’s bishops’ conference, Msgr Paul Klavins said NATO forces have given Latvians a “sense of greater protection” but added that many doubt how NATO’s collective defence guarantee…
Praying for an end to brutality
Iraqi Christians attend Mass at a church in Baghdad. Pope Francis has said Catholics are "praying urgently that the intolerable brutality" Iraqi and Syrian Christians are suffering "may end as soon as possible."