“It will change the way of life here in the short term, but God only knows what the longer term is going to be.”

A religious charity advocating for the rights of refugees has called on the Government to formally announce an acceleration in the processing of asylum applications. Eugene Quinn, National Director of the Jesuit Refugee Service said the Government “seems to have informally given prioritisation to processing applications for people living in direct provision for five years…

Over the weekend the Diocese of Kerry launched a diocesan recruitment drive for young people aged 18–35 years to participate in World Youth Day next year. The international youth event will take place in in Krakow, Poland from July 25 to August 1 and the theme is ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain…

Mairead McGuinness MEP and Vice-President of the European Parliament welcomed Irish bishops to the European Parliament on a special information visit to the EU institutions last week. Ms McGuinness said she was “delighted” to welcome the 15 bishops, eight support staff and diocesan personnel and that “it is important that the European institutions maintain an…

Trócaire, the overseas development agency of the Irish Bishops’ Conference, is holding Masses of remembrance this month for friends and supporters of the organisation who have passed away and who generously left a gift to Trócaire in their will. The first Mass took place in Belfast on Monday and a second Mass will be held…

Bishop John Mc Dowell, Church of Ireland Bishop of Clogher, was the guest speaker at the Annual General Conference of Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Clogher. The conference of clergy and co-workers was held in the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan. The theme of Bishop McDowell’s keynote address was ‘Personal Reflections on Ministry’. Recalling his formative…

A large number of young people recently gathered on Lough Derg to spend a weekend in retreat on Ireland's island of pilgrimage. The retreat was organised by Youth 2000 Ireland, who were welcomed to the island by the sanctuary's prior, Fr Owen McEneaney. More than 120 youngsters travelled from all parts of the country to spend the weekend in prayer…

Young people were to the fore at the annual concelebrated Mass of St Feichin in Abbey parish, Co. Galway through the music and through the prayers of the faithful. The prayers were composed and read by the five first Holy Communnicants in the parish. Chief celebrant was Fr John Hickey CC Abbey with seven concelebrants.…