The Filipino cardinal tipped by many as a possible successor to Pope Francis has described Irish missionaries as a blessing for their work with the “poorest people in the Philippines”. Cardinal Luis Tagle was visiting Ireland last week to conduct the clergy retreat for the Diocese of Meath and during his stay he paid a…
Mags Gargan
Parish system ideal for integration
The UN Special Representative for International Migration has said that the parish system in Ireland is the best method for facilitating the integration of refugees. Peter Sutherland, a Dubliner and former Attorney General, gave the annual Trócaire lecture in Maynooth last week on the migrant crisis, which he described as the “great challenge of our…
Derry seminars for priests and chaplains
Thornhill Ministries in Derry is hosting a workshop by Fr Hugh Lagan SMA for those working as chaplains, in healthcare teams or pastoral teams, and a seminar specifically for clergy. Fr Lagan is a native of Maghera, Co. Derry, a priest with the Society of African Missions and a clinical psychologist. He is currently…
The Asian Pope Francis
Mags Gargan meets the Filipino cardinal tipped to be the next Pontiff
De La Salle schools’ presentations
The De La Salle Mission Council in Ireland organised a schools’ presentation for eight primary and secondary schools recently. Schools from Macroom, Castlebar, Dundalk, Waterford and Dublin submitted a variety of projects on the theme: Who is St John Baptist de la Salle? Over a hundred students and teachers displayed and edited their projects in…
Activity camps for the summer
Mags Gargan looks at the options for keeping children entertained during the school holidays
Relics of St Anthony returning to Ireland
Large crowds are expected to turn out for the saint of lost things, when the relics of St Anthony of Padua return to Ireland next month. Last time the relics of St Anthony visited Ireland there were traffic jams in cities and towns around the country as devotees flocked to honour the much-loved 13th Century…
Pop queen Lady Gaga defends her rights as a believer
Pop icon Lady Gaga has defended her right to speak about her Catholic faith after receiving what she felt was a criticism from a Catholic culture website. The singer, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, posted a photo to her Instagram account with her posing with Fr John Duffell of Blessed Sacrament Church in New York and…
Cork to celebrate 91st Eucharistic Procession
Archbishop Michael Neary will preach at the 91st annual Eucharistic Procession in Cork to mark the Feast of Corpus Christi. Cork’s Eucharistic Procession began in 1926 and has become a major part of the Church calendar in the city. It will be led by Bishop John Buckley and an invitation has been offered to the…
Where there’s a will…
No one likes to plan for their own death but writing a will is the best way to ensure your loved ones are taken care of after you’re gone. Without one you will have no say in what happens to your assets and hard-earned savings. So if you have been putting it off, then here’s…