New research by the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO) shows that securing accommodation was the most important factor in helping a person move away from criminality. The ICPO, a pastoral outreach of the Irish Bishops Conference, works with approximately 1,200 Irish people imprisoned in more than 30 countries around the world, offering information, support…

A group of 130 students from across the Diocese of Cloyne and a neighbouring diocese were presented with a Pope John Paul II Award at a ceremony in Mallow Community Youth Centre. The students came from St Mary’s Secondary School, Mallow; Patrician Academy; Mallow; St Mary’s High School, Midleton; St Colman’s Community College, Midleton; St…

In this Year of Consecrated Life the parish of Drumlish/Ballinamuck in Co. Longford responded to Pope Francis’ call to ‘Wake up the World’ by arranging a special celebration to honour the priests and religious who were natives of the parish. Organisers said it was relatively easy to put on paper the names and photos of…

World renowned singer and composer, Fr Liam Lawton, will perform a Christmas concert in Galway in aid of COPE Galway for their work with the city’s homeless. The concert is presented by the Sacred Heart Messenger magazine and the Jesuit Centre of Spirituality and Culture and will take place on Tuesday, December 15 at St…

The Redemptorist community in Limerick is asking people to donate food and toys for its annual Christmas Hamper Appeal. Last year, 6,000 hampers were distributed across the city and county at a cost of €130,000. The appeal is a partnership between the Redemptorists, the St Vincent de Paul and others including Friends of the Elderly,…

This week the Church of Ss Peter and Paul’s Clonmel launched a new CD performed by the parish choir and organ at a function in the Parochial House. The idea for the CD came from parishioner and local businessman, Willie Nagle. In wishing the project every success, Canon Brendan Crowley PP said: “The Church of…

Bishop Ray Browne of the Diocese of Kerry has launched ‘Celebrating the Funeral Liturgy’, a resource for parishes and people preparing the funeral of a loved one. It is an amended version of a resource used throughout the diocese. This new version contains an explanation of the Christian symbols used in the funeral liturgy, a wide…

Advocacy organisation calls for ‘leadership’

The PSNI has advised parishes to take steps to prevent the theft of lead from church rooftops after a spate of recent robberies in Derry city.  The theft of a large quantity of lead from the flat porch roof of St Columba’s Church, Long Tower, was discovered when workmen went to repair a leak in…

St Kieran’s College, Ossory’s diocesan college, has offered the Department of Education and Skills a site for the relocation of two schools for Kilkenny City.  Fr Dermot Ryan, President of St Kieran’s College said the offer “continues the tradition of the commitment of the Diocese of Ossory and St Kieran’s College to excellence in education…