Irish priest tells of Nepal quake terror as world rallies to its aid

Lay visitation teams have completed the impressive task of calling to over 4,000 homes in Arklow, in an initiative to encourage practising Catholics and to welcome lapsed Catholics back to the Church. The project in the Co. Wicklow town was organised by the Parish Pastoral Council, with the help of the Legion of Mary in…

Campaigners for the ‘no’ side have called for action from the Government and ‘yes’ advocates, against an unlawful nationwide campaign of destruction of their marriage referendum posters. ‘Yes’ activists have posted videos and photographs from across the country of ‘no’ posters being defaced, torn down and destroyed, and a Dublin hotel has offered a 50%…

To celebrate the 14th centenary of the death of St Columban, members of the Friends of St Columban are planning to run the Women’s Mini Marathon to raise money for homeless charities. The Friends of St Columban is a group of lay people and Columban missionaries inspired by St Columban’s love of Christ, who try…

The Minister for Health has apologised to parents in the support group Every Life Counts for his remark that unborn children with life-limiting conditions were “dead” in the womb. Speaking in the Dáil last December on a private members’ bill tabled by Clare Daly, Minister Leo Varadkar expressed support for abortion in cases of fatal…

A pilot programme offered by an initiative of the Irish Bishops’ Conference has seen a number of parishes across the island offer an alternative to the Confirmation pledge this year, which some parishes feel has become “outdated”. The Confirmation Commitment was created by the Pastoral Response to Substance Misuse in answer to requests from parishes…

The North’s Justice Minister has been accused of “the worst form of discrimination” against unborn children with disabilities, following his recommendation for abortion in cases of life-limiting conditions. Following a public consultation process, Minister David Ford has proposed legislating for abortion in cases of fatal foetal abnormality, but not in cases of rape or incest.…

Mourne Abbey ‘won’t be found wanting’ – parish priest

A Co. Wicklow woman asked to co-ordinate the work of a Vatican abuse commission, has put her appointment down to the leading example shown by the Irish Church in improving safeguarding standards. Emer McCarthy-Cabrera, who worked at the Vatican Radio English section for 13 years and was tasked with translating Pope Francis’ first words into…