“Red tape gone mad” is now preventing priests and other religious ministers making hospital visits from finding out if any of their parishioners have been admitted. Traditionally clergy could access a ‘religious list’ at hospital receptions which gave patients’ names, addresses and religions so that they could ascertain if any parishioners had been admitted. Over…

A parish Mass for the Year of Consecrated Life in the Church of Our Lady of the Wayside in Jenkinstown, Co. Louth coincided with the fact that the Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa were celebrating the 80th anniversary of the foundation of their mother house, Mount Oliver Convent. Parish Priest of Lordship & Ballymascanlon, Fr…

Broadcaster Charlie Bird has described Irish missionaries as “incredible, remarkable people” and said that Irish people would be as “proud” of them as he is if they had the opportunity to meet them.  Speaking at the launch of a DVD that he filmed in the Philippines and South Korea featuring missionaries and their work, Mr…

The military chaplaincy has launched a prayer book app specifically for those working in the Defence Forces and their families. The app is based on the Mingy Prayerbook, which was published in the 1990s to provide personnel with prayers and reflections during training that they could fit into a pocket or wallet.  Available from the App Store,…

Urgent reform of the direct provision system needed to address existing barriers to integration

Bishop Kevin Doran has announced that the Diocese of Elphin has begun to plan for an “exciting” new development for Catholic second level education. The bishop unveiled plans for a new amalgamated second level school in Athlone which will cater initially for 500 students with the hope of expanding to 800 over a five-year period.…

The Irish Missionary Union (IMU) is to host a number of lectures on ‘modern mission’ this month. Celebrating 50 years since the publication of Ad Gentes (To the peoples) which set a new agenda for Catholic missionary activity for the rest of the century, the IMU will host seminars every Thursday throughout October. The talks…

A leading third level Catholic college has opened a new studio classroom exhibition featuring art work produced by children from local primary schools. The exhibition at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick features artwork from students of St Mary’s Primary School, Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School and Presentation Primary School. The focus of the studio classroom…

Knock Shrine has launched a series of faith renewal events. The new programme of events are part of Knock Shrine’s Witness to Hope project, which aims to put Knock at the centre of faith renewal in Ireland, as well as promoting the shrine as an internationally renowned site for pilgrimage.  The initial programme includes one-day…

Catholics working in the field of medicine are set to discuss current medical ethical issues at an upcoming meeting. The Irish Catholic Doctors Association (ICDA) are inviting doctors, nurses, pharmacists, ethicists and students to their lecture on medical ethics on October 17. The lecture takes place at Jury’s Inn, Parnell Street in Dublin at 2pm…