Bishops criticise refugee camp closures Kenya’s bishops have added their voices to calls by the Jesuit Refugee Service and others for their government to reconsider plans to close refugee camps and repatriate refugees. The government announced its plans on May 6, claiming that the refugees posed a security threat, particularly from Somali Islamist group al-Shabab. Welcoming how the government…
Courtney McGrail
Papal visit could see ‘significant’ gesture – Archbishop Martin
Staff reporter Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has predicted that a 2018 papal visit could see a “significant” gesture of reconciliation from Pope Francis. Speaking at a press conference in Rome this week to launch the theme of the World Meeting of Families, Dr Martin said “I think that a visit to Northern Ireland, even a short visit,…
News in Brief
New general secretary for CPSMA Seamus Mulconry has been appointed as the new general secretary for the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association (CPSMA). CPSMA chairman Martin Hanrahan welcomed the appointment saying Mr Mulconry’s experience as former director of Philanthropy Ireland “will greatly support boards of management and principals of Catholic primary schools as they seek to meet the many…
Ireland’s holy places of pilgrimage
Wells, Graves and Statues: Exploring the Heritage and Culture of Pilgrimage in Medieval and Modern Cork City by Louise Nugent and Richard Scriven (Create Space Independent Publishing, €13.50)
No punches pulled in this reflection on Irish Catholicism and the Fifth Commandment
Violence, Politics and Catholicism in Ireland by Oliver P. Rafferty SJ (Four Courts Press, €45)
Learning to be leaders
Arooja Hussai, Katie Feeney and Jennifer Moran report on their experience of the CEIST Student Leadership Conference
Polish army to police WYD finale
The Polish army will help provide security during World Youth Day, a spokesman has said. The July 31 meeting on the last day of the Pope’s visit to Krakow for the Catholic festival will take place in meadows near the city that could be difficult to protect and difficult to evacuate in an emergency, as…
Catholic children may be turned away from faith schools
Staff reporter Children from Catholic families may be refused places in Catholic schools if a new admissions policy is adopted. A new group consisting of leading Catholic educationalists and barrister Patrick Treacy, is seeking a change to the admissions policy of Catholic schools to reflect the changed nature of Irish society. The Faith in Our Schools…
Inquest into nuns’ fatal road crash
An inquest is set to be held into the deaths of Belfast nuns Sr Bridgett Marie Duddy and Sr Frances Forde who were killed in a road crash involving an unmarked PSNI vehicle in Newry in 2014. A preliminary inquest was held into the deaths of the two Sisters of Mercy in Belfast last week,…
D&C parishes ‘Growing in Faith Together’
The group from Ardglass parish who won the treasure hunt in the Co. Down town at the Living Youth ‘Parish GIFT fun day’ on Sunday for the southern parishes in Down & Connor, to celebrate the completion of the parish-based faith programme: Connie Harney (leader), Patrick Gordon, Grainne Wills, Eimear Teggart, Kelly Lennon, Ryan Devlin…