With traditionally Protestant areas particularly affected by the rise in ‘no-religion’ in the 2021 Northern Ireland census, an anthropologist has suggested that it could be the “backlash” of a more liberalised population against Protestant conservative influence. Speaking to The Irish Catholic newspaper, Dr Hugh Turpin of the Oxford School of Anthropology & Museum Ethnography said…
The annual and liturgical calendars are useful roadmaps for directing our attention and efforts in the spiritual life, writes Jason Osborne The slow descent into autumn is well underway in the northern hemisphere, with the darkness creeping a little further at the beginning and end of every day, the cold beginning to seep back in…
The Dominican charism continues to attract men to the order, with recent novices bringing the total number of student brothers in formation to 16. Reporting This comes as the Irish landscape for vocations grows increasingly challenging, with vocations to religious life generally in decline. Speaking to The Irish Catholic newspaper, vocations director for the Dominicans…
Pope Francis received the leadership of the Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders group September 29, commending them for their work around the world in helping to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The meeting took place in Pope Francis’s private apartment in Rome to discuss how school communities “can help to create a world that…
Northern Ireland’s surge in people claiming to be non-religious is a reminder of just how much explanation is required when it comes to understanding unbelief, writes Jason Osborne The recent census results from Northern Ireland revealed an astonishing increase of 7.3% in those claiming ‘no religion’ – from 10.1% in 2011 up to 17.4% in…
Bereavement support workers dealing with grieving people have called for a wider education in Ireland about the complex issue, insisting that modern culture allows less space for grief. Issue Sr Helen Culhane of the Children’s Grief Centre in Co. Limerick said she believes that previous generations handled the issue in a more supportive way. In…
The first direct evidence that babies in the womb react differently to different smells and tastes by looking at their facial expressions has been presented by Durham University. Researchers found that babies exposed to carrot flavour showed more “laughter-face” responses while those exposed to the flavour of kale showed more “cry-face” responses. The study took…
The Children’s Grief Centre has released a new bereavement toolkit to better help primary school teachers support their communities through grief, writes Jason Osborne Since 2009, the Children’s Grief Centre in Co. Limerick has been offering a support service for children, young adults and their families affected by death, separation or divorce. Established by Sister…
The Knights of Columbanus launched their inaugural Ladies of Faith & Courage Awards in Ely House, Dublin on Saturday September 24, with four “exceptional” women of faith and courage receiving awards. Supreme Knight Brendan McCann said that at the heart of the initiative “the Knights wanted to honour exceptional women of Faith and Courage who…
Marcus Freeman, head coach of the University of Notre Dame’s football team, has announced that he converted to Catholicism after his home parish published an announcement welcoming Mr Freeman into the Church in its parish bulletin. According to sources, Mr Freeman entered the Church at the end of August, before the start of the college…