The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland has awarded an Irish missionary nun an Honorary Fellowship of the Faculty of Public Health in recognition of her 42-year contribution to healthcare in Sierra Leone. Mayo-born Sr Hilary Lyons graduated as a doctor from UCD in 1952, nine years after joining the Missionary Sisters of the Holy…
Mags Gargan
Focusing on the family
Knock shrine’s Family Focus Week will begin at midday on July 9 with a blessing of young children at Knock Basilica, launching a programme of events to support and encourage families in all aspects of family life. The programme will include workshops on topics as diverse as addiction, worry, parenting, grief, and faith transmission, while…
Honorary doctorate for longest serving bishop
Bishop Anthony Farquhar, Ireland’s longest-serving bishop (ordained in 1983) who recently retired as Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor diocese, received the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (DLitt) for distinguished services to Ulster University and the community. He is pictured here with Professor Deirdre Heenan Provost (Coleraine and Magee) and Dr James Nesbitt, Chancellor.…
Ardoyne priest disappointed loyalist camp deal rejected
A priest based in Belfast’s Ardoyne has expressed disappointment at a missed opportunity to broker a deal between the Orange Order and Catholic residents which would have led to the dismantling of a neighbouring Loyalist protest camp. Former Methodist president Rev. Harold Good, who witnessed the decommissioning of IRA weapons in 2005 with Fr Alec…
Little Bray’s big heart
Mags Gargan reports on the vibrancy to be found in the parishes of Bray deanery in Dublin archdiocese
Silver jubilee for faithful fundraisers
Mags Gargan visits a Dublin school which is the top fundraiser for Trócaire in Ireland
Govt claims of direct provision progress rejected
NGOs supporting refugees and asylum seekers have strongly rejected Government claims that “significant progress” has been made in implementing recommendations for reform of the direct provision system. Last week the Department of Justice and Equality issued a progress update on the Report of the Working Group on Improvements to the Protection Process, which claimed…
Crowds flock to thank the patron saint of lost things
St Anthony was a man of “missionary zeal” who is a “challenge and encouragement to us to help renew authentic faith in Jesus among those who find it hard to find God”, said Archbishop Diarmuid Martin at Mass in St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral on the feast of St Anthony of Padua on Monday night. About 8,000…
Bogus Mass cards will finally be banned
The section of the Charities Act which protects against the sale of bogus Mass cards can now be enforced following the withdrawal of an appeal to the Supreme Court by a Mass card trader. The Irish Catholic first raised concerns about so-called trafficking in Masses in 2008 when it emerged that many pre-signed Mass cards…
Belfast priest to ‘redouble’ peace efforts after threats
Fr Gary Donegan undeterred in community work by threats from dissident republicans