Pastoral development worker Frances Rowland on responding to the changing needs of her diocese In conversation with The Irish Catholic, pastoral development worker Frances Rowland shared stories of collegiality, openness, and formation from the Diocese of Kerry, highlighting the changing needs of parish life in the diocese she has worked in for over 20…
Church must support universities in fight for dignity of work, says dicastery secretary
The role of the university in the fight for magnificence of humanity is “absolutely to be recovered,” said Bishop Paul Tighe of the Dicastery for Culture and Education during a June 17 panel on Pope Leo’s recent encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas. Speaking during the panel with Dr Linda Doyle, Provost of Trinity College Dublin, and Loyola…
A new face to serve the permanent diaconate in Cork and Ross
After preparing for the permanent diaconate for the past number of years, Paul Ryan of Co. Clare was ordained as a permanent deacon to serve the people of the Diocese of Cork and Ross on Sunday, June 21 at the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Timoleague. The new deacon was ordained…
Dublin church invites growing community of young Catholics through its doors
Whitefriar Street Church in Dublin city centre will welcome young adults on July 12 for a one-day conference and day of reflection on living as disciples in contemporary Ireland. The conference, titled ‘Made for More – Say Yes. Go Deeper. Live Differently’ will include keynote addresses, a personal witness, a panel discussion and opportunities for…
Church child protection office sees decrease in new allegations
The latest annual report from the Church’s child protection office shows a decrease in the number of new clerical child abuse allegations reported to it. There were 178 total allegations reported in the last nine months of 2025 with the vast majority of alleged incidents dating back to the period 1960 to 1990. The previous…
New York bishops say gender-neutral language law ‘mocks the foundation of the family’
The New York state Legislature passed a bill that replaces the words “mother” and “father” in some state laws with gender-neutral language, a move that New York’s bishops say will further “muddy what is true and good.” The bill, passed by the state Assembly in March and by the state Senate on June 2, now…
Ahead of runoff, Church concerned about political violence in Colombia
Colombia’s highly polarised presidential election has become a source of concern for the nation’s Catholic Church, which has released a number of statements during the process in an effort to steer Catholics away from the paths of violence and irrationality. The upcoming runoff, scheduled for June 21, will pit right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella…
Pope Leo welcomes statement from Bishops’ Conferences of Ireland, Scotland, England, Wales for Day of Life
The Bishops’ Conferences of Ireland, Scotland and England and Wales published a joint statement for the 2026 ‘Day for Life’, which will take place on June 21. The statement is titled, The Wonder of the Child in the Womb – Reflecting on the humanity of the unborn. The message to the bishops was delivered by…
Holy Rosary Sisters remember founder at birthplace in Tipperary
The Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary remembered the birthday of their founder Bishop Joseph Shanahan last weekend, gathering in Dublin and at his birthplace in Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary. Bishop Shanahan founded the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary in 1924, as Bishop and Vicar Apostolic of Onitsha in southeast Nigeria, where he had been…
All-Ireland Rosary Rally biggest Catholic event in Ireland since Pope Francis visit
An estimated 13,000 visitors travelled to Knock Shrine last Saturday for the 41st All-Ireland Rosary Rally. This made it the largest gathering of Catholics in Ireland since Pope Francis’ visit in 2018. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Cork secondary school teacher and MC for the event Christine O’Hara explained why the rally drew the interest…






