Protestant and Catholic clergy are asking a federal judge to order that they be allowed to minister to immigrants in a holding facility at the headquarters of the Trump administration’s enforcement surge in Minnesota. US District Judge Jerry Blackwell will hear from attorneys for Minnesota branches of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the United…
Cobh Parish, Co. Cork has launched an appeal for the parish community to contribute to the parish priests’ income through their annual collections, as they reported a “significant shortfall in the income from these specific collections.” The appeal, posted to the parish Facebook site on March 14, outlines the current allocation of parish funds, noting…
John Furlong of Crooke, Co. Waterford was honoured with a Papal Benemerenti medal, presented to him by Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan at a special Mass over the weekend. The Papal Benemerenti medal, awarded by Pope Leo, honours laity with exceptional dedication to the Catholic Church and community. Mr Furlong’s contribution to parish life, specifically his service…
Laity and clergy in Armagh are preparing to gather for a historic archdiocesan congress on youth, family and faith this weekend, March 20-22. The congress, which invites people to reflect upon what it means to be “St Patrick’s people in Ireland today”, focuses on seven priorities identified in conversations with young adults, young families and…
Darragh Kelehan’s journey towards running prayer groups, pilgrimages to Medjugorje, and Life in the Spirit seminars has not been linear. Mr Kelehan, who was born and raised in the Catholic faith in Blanchardstown, turned away from God in his adolescence, and it took him 21 years and the ability to completely surrender himself to bring…
On February 28, Israel and the US launched massive air strikes against Iran. The following day, Pope Leo XIV responded during the Angelus prayer with the words: “Stability and peace cannot be achieved through mutual threats or weapons that bring destruction, suffering and death, but only through reasonable, authentic and responsible dialogue.” He appealed to…
As Scotland nears a final vote by the Scottish Government’s Assisted Dying for Terminal Ill Adults Bill, the country’s bishops are expressing “deep concern” about the proposal. In a statement released on March 10, the bishops noted the Scottish Government’s response to an amendment which sought to introduce provisions allowing organisations – including hospices, care…
In Spain, the government has awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to the winners of an architectural competition to “redefine” the Valley of Cuelgamuros – a Franco-era monument formerly known as the Valley of the Fallen – amid legal battles aimed at stopping the project. The monument was originally built to commemorate the victims of the Spanish…
More than 10,000 Austrian university students have signed a petition demanding that the Austrian National Union of Students (ÖH, by its German acronym) abolish its so-called “Repro Fund,” a program that uses mandatory student fees to finance abortions. The petition, organised by ProLife Europe in partnership with CitizenGo, was formally submitted on March 11 to…
Pope Leo XIV has spent his first night in his new quarters in the Apostolic Palace. On Saturday evening, lights were visible in the small windows above the Pope’s official residence. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed that Leo XIV would move into the premises – which had been available to his predecessors – on Saturday…