The theft of the gold rosary that Mary, Queen of Scots took to her execution is a “very tragic loss” for Catholic history, a curator has said. Jan Graffius, the curator of the Stonyhurst Collections, made the comment after police reported that thieves broke into Arundel Castle in West Sussex, southern England, on May 21, stealing…
Bishops in the Republic have been urged to trust priests in parishes with decisions around holding First Holy Communion and Confirmation ceremonies. It comes after the Department of the Taoiseach sent a circular to the Church hierarchy advising they postpone the ceremonies of First Holy Communion and Confirmation for May and June, to be resumed…
NET Ministries Ireland has continued to place God in the hearts of young people around the island, with a large number of missionaries finding their vocations to religious life and marriage in recent years. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Executive Director Tony Foy said that over the past 18 months, six young men have entered…
The Sacrament of Baptism is continuing in every diocese in the Republic except for the Archdiocese of Dublin, The Irish Catholic has found. Baptisms are continuing on a smaller scale in every diocese around the Republic, and in the North, while they remain prohibited alongside First Communion and Confirmation in Dublin archdiocese. However, a baptism…
A new report has revealed that Churches will be “vital” in helping to restore “individual and community wellbeing” and building resilience. The research, carried out by the University of York in England, saw over 5,500 people surveyed from across a range of backgrounds, and the results disclosed the impact closing churches had on social contact…
Last time saw swimming discussed, but this week we take to the hills, writes Jason Osborne In the last feature, I discussed the mental and physical (and spiritual, too) benefits of open-sea swimming, but this week we’ll cast our eyes to the hills. One of the best things to come of the pandemic is a renewed appreciation of…
World-famous conservationist Dr Jane Goodall was announced Thursday May 20 the recipient of the prestigious 2021 Templeton Prize. She is the first ethologist and fourth woman to win the prestigious award, worth over $1.5 million (€1.2 million). Considered a leading expert in chimpanzees, Dr Goodall joins Mother Teresa, the first recipient of the award, and…
As more Europeans are vaccinated and coronavirus cases continue to decrease, organisers of the upcoming 52nd International Eucharistic Congress in Budapest, Hungary, are optimistic that pilgrims will be able attend the event in September in person rather than online. At a news conference in Budapest May 13, the organisers told journalists they are preparing for an “offline…
An Irish nun in the Holy Land has called on the Irish Government to use its influence to help restart the stalled peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. Sligo-born Sr Bridget Tighe told The Irish Catholic that the underlying problem beneath the current flare up is that “There is no peace process anymore” between…
Spirit Radio host Wendy Grace has hit out at the “unnecessarily cruel” restrictions on maternity care throughout the pandemic. The restrictions include the exclusion of fathers from attending pregnancy appointments and the early stages of labour. Nervous Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Mrs Grace said she is seven months pregnant herself with her third baby,…