If the Church is to capture the attention of a new generation, it has to catch up with and invest in its faithful youth, Jason Osborne hears The announcement of a national synod from the Irish bishops has piqued the interest of the Irish Catholic world, with more than a few people expressing deeply held…
The student Knights of St Columbanus at Queen’s University Belfast undertook a walk, run or cycle from Bangor to Bobbio, Italy, this Lent in an attempt to raise funds for St Vincent de Paul. The initiative took inspiration from the pilgrimage route of their patron – St Columbanus – and sought to complete the equivalent…
A task force composed of clergy, religious and laypeople has been established by Archbishop Dermot Farrell to prepare an assessment of the needs of the people of the Archdiocese of Dublin as they emerge from the Covid crisis. He has done this in recognition of the fact that the Church in Dublin “faces challenges” which…
The Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Waterford and Lismore have called for the easing of restrictions on public worship in messages released last night. Archbishop Dermot Farrell of Dublin used his homily for the Chrism Mass to “emphasise to Government the importance of the earliest possible return to the public worship”. He also warned…
Famed Italian poet Dante Alighieri’s contribution to Christendom is “insurmountable” and cannot be underestimated as a renewed appreciation of his work commemorates the 700th anniversary of his death. Fr John Harris OP of Newbridge told The Irish Catholic that the role his works have played in art and literature was to “open up the visage…
A move to allow paid leave to mothers and the fathers following a miscarriage or stillbirth is “one that I’d welcome here,” according to Niamh Uí Bhriain of the Life Institute. This comes on the back of New Zealand’s introduction of just that following a vote in parliament in what is one of the first…
After a long and arduous Lent compounded by lockdown, some Easter activities can breathe new life back into your house, writes Jason Osborne If Lent is a challenge every year, it has been an arduous slog this year in particular. We’ve already given up so much that we took for granted, and we found ourselves…
A three volume tome dedicated to the Sistine Chapel brings the latest technology to bear on Michelangelo’s masterpiece, writes Jason Osborne Anyone seeking to capture an artwork of the profundity, immensity and timelessness of the Sistine Chapel should expect to encounter unprecedented challenges, and that’s exactly what Nicholas Callaway and Manuela Roosevelt of Callaway Arts…
As we approach Holy Week, a couple of activities can help families hold fast to their Lenten resolutions, writes Jason Osborne The end of Lent is rapidly approaching, and it would be all too easy to let our guard down now. In particular, children who are just beginning to grow into the liturgical life of the…
A new survey carried out has shown that almost half (47%) of regular Mass goers would attend Mass today if they could, despite the ongoing pandemic. The poll, which was commissioned by the Iona Institute, found that 57% of regular Mass-goers went again over Christmas, and over 24% of the overall population. The same research…
