Sheila O’Leary, retired sacristan of St Finbarr’s Oratory, Gougane Barra in Co. Cork was honoured recently as a Dame of the Pontifical Equestrian order of St Sylvester. It was a fitting honour for Sheila O’Leary who gave so much of her time to the church. On December 29, Sheila was surrounded by her daughters Pauline…
Mags Gargan
Limerick bishop launches book on mercy
Bishop Brendan Leahy has launched a new book which considers the subject of mercy, not only through a careful reading of relevant Scripture passages, but by exploring revealing extracts from literary classics and examples from popular culture. The book, The Message of Mercy, is written by Amalee Meehan, who works in faith development at the…
Ossory launches new Confirmation programme
The Diocese of Ossory has launched a Confirmation Retreat Programme which is led by teenagers as instructors and guides to the Confirmation children. Named ORC (Ossory retreat programme for Confirmation) the new programme is based at St Mary’s Cathedral Campus, Kilkenny and is being co-ordinated by Fr Brian Griffin, a newly-ordained priest, along with at…
Bishop Larry Forristal celebrates diamond jubilee
A celebration was recently held in Gowran Abbey Nursing Home in Co. Kilkenny to mark the diamond jubilee of Bishop Emeritus of Ossory, Bishop Laurence Forristal writes Jimmy Rhatigan. It was a happy, convivial occasion, a light and easy celebration of 60 years in religious life with an afternoon of prayer, banter and a few…
Youth leading youth to heart of the Church
Mags Gargan meets the new National Director of Youth 2000 Last October, Youth 2000 elected Belfast-woman, Lana Wilson as its new National Director. Youth 2000 is a Catholic youth organisation that organises lively faith festivals, retreats, prayer groups and other events for young people aged 16-35 across the island of Ireland. It began as one…
Death of Bro. Raphael Weston
Sadness has been expressed on the death of Bro. James Weston FSC. James P. Weston was born in Castlebar, Co. Mayo in 1925. After attending primary school he entered the De La Salle boarding school in Castletown, Co. Laois and from there he joined the De La Salle Brothers and was given the name Bro.…
Golfing legend Christy O’Connor Jr found solace in faith
Irish golfing legend Christy O’Connor Jr’s strong faith “came to his rescue” after his teenage son’s death, his funeral was told on Tuesday. The 67-year-old, known for playing a lead role in Europe’s Ryder Cup win in 1989, had been on holiday in Tenerife when he died in his sleep on Wednesday, January 6. At…
Strong faith drove civil rights activist
A strong sense of faith inspired veteran Derry civil rights campaigner Paddy ‘Bogside’ Doherty, according to tributes paid to the 89-year-old who died at home last week following an illness. Paddy Doherty was a driving force behind the Inner City Trust which rebuilt many of the buildings in Derry destroyed during the Troubles. His close…
Fota IX international liturgy conference
St Colman’s Society for Catholic Liturgy has announced that the Fota IX International Liturgy Conference will be held in Cork, from July 9-11 this year. The subject of the conference is ‘Liturgy and Scripture’and will be explored by a panel of experts drawn from the United States, Germany and Ireland. For further information contact Hon.…
Clergy host festival to promote listening
An inter-denominational festival aimed at promoting cross-community friendship and reconciliation will be launched by the main Christian churches in Belfast later this month. Now in its fourth year, the 4 Corners Festival, which runs from January 28 to February 7, grew out of conversations between Fr Martin Magill, parish priest at Sacred Heart parish, and Rev.…