The Archbishop of Armagh has called for “the shocking increase in levels of childhood poverty” in the North to be a priority in the upcoming Assembly election. Archbishop Eamon Martin led a delegation from the Northern Ireland Catholic Council on Social Affairs (NICCOSA) for the first official meeting between representatives of the Catholic Church and…
Music superstar Justin Bieber said he has God to thank for his ‘Male Artist of the Year’ award at the weekend. Picking up the gong, along with the Best Fan Army prize, at the iHeartRadio Awards in California, the Canadian singer songwriter said: “[Thanks to] God… I’ve experienced some tough times. I think all of…
The Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail is hosting a community walk and talk to the Boheh Stone – a unique Neolithic feature in Co. Mayo – on Monday, April 18. This is a guided walk led by local archaeologists and is an opportunity to experience the amazing ‘Rolling Sun’ phenomenon, where the sun appears to roll down the…
Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare & Leighlin launched a pocket guide to the Sacrament of Reconciliation at the opening of the Door of Mercy in St Fintan’s Church, Mountrath, Co. Laois on Sunday. The guide, which has been supplied to every parish, is an accordion style leaflet that folds up neatly to fit in a wallet…
Two Irish seminarians at the Pontifical College in Rome have been ordained as deacons this week, after serving for Pope Francis at the Easter Vigil in St Peter’s Basilica. Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry ordained Rev. Malachy Gallagher (32) from Coleraine, Co. Derry and Rev. Bill O’Shaughnessy (28) from Castledermot, Co. Kildare at the Basilica…
Despite seeing terrible suffering, children’s hospital chaplain Sr Julie Buckley has never lost faith in God, writes Mags Gargan Sr Julie Buckley SMR is head chaplain at the Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street in Dublin. Originally from Cork she started off her nursing training in the Richmond Hospital, in Dublin, before returning to Cork to…
“The security situation now seems out of control and people are forced to live in an atmosphere of fear” Exclusive Irish missionaries working with the beleaguered Christian minority in Pakistan have said a recent upsurge in violence has heightened fears and left the community extremely vulnerable. At least 72 people were killed and over 300…
Mags Gargan examines the complex relationship between faith and gender New research shows that globally women, especially among Christians, are generally more religiously devout than men. These findings will come as no real surprise to anyone who has looked across the pews during Mass on any given Sunday in Ireland and seen the obvious gender…
A computer game has helped Derry students learn more about their local cathedral, Mags Gargan reports An innovative project in a Derry school has brought faith and technology together, with students using a computer game to build a detailed, 3D virtual version of the city’s cathedral. The world famous video game Minecraft has been made…
Parish activity in public spaces can be a kind of “neutral ground” allowing Catholics to reconnect with the Church, a priest involved in a Tralee outreach exercise has said. ‘Mercy in the Square, Mercy in Manor’ saw priests from Tralee and neighbouring parishes, as well as Killarney’s Franciscan community spending six hours over last Saturday…