A new lay-led initiative is aiming to put a structure for evangelisation in place in Ireland, modelled on a successful movement in the States. A mission team from FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) has been invited to Ireland as part of The Summit ’17, which takes place at Croke Park Conference Centre in Dublin…
Woman tells of eight-year long ordeal Pope Francis has been called on to visit a direct provision centre during his expected trip to Ireland next year, in order to highlight the treatment of asylum seekers. Fr Paddy Byrne, a curate in Portlaoise parish who ministers to the residents of the Montague Hotel, a direct provision…
The faithful are being encouraged to celebrate ‘National Holy Wells Day’ as an opportunity to pray for global access to clean water rights. National Holy Wells Day is an initiative of Loving Sister Earth and Columba Community, Derry and will be celebrated on Sunday, June 18. Appealing to Ireland’s long and rich tradition of praying…
Misean Cara, the charity that processes the funding for Irish missionary organisations, has launched a new strategy setting out the priorities to ensure the future of the Irish missionary approach to development. The new five-year plan focuses on key areas of education, healthcare, sustainable development and human rights. The strategy is based on a global…
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin greets Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria on his visit to Dublin. Photo: John McElroy
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has expressed his “humanitarian concern” for Ibrahim Halawa, an Irish citizen still awaiting trial in Egypt after four years of imprisonment. The Archbishop of Dublin used the visit of Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria as an opportunity to highlight the 21-year-old’s case in front of the Egyptian ambassador during a meeting at…
Organisers have issued an appeal for at least 3,000 volunteers to assist with the planning and organising of the World Meeting of Families (WMOF) and expected papal visit to Dublin next year. More than 1,500 people have expressed an interest in helping, but twice that number is needed to form part of the operational team…
Actor Sean Bean, who has taken on one of his most “nerve-wracking” roles playing a hard-working Catholic priest, has said he discovered through his experience how “selfless” priests are. Known for action roles in Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings, in a new six-part BBC drama written by Jimmy McGovern the actor plays…
The independent watchdog which monitors handling of abuse allegations in the Irish Church has seen its “sharpest decline” in allegations since it started keeping records. The National Board for the Safeguarding of Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI) received 86 new allegations during the period 2016/2017. The allegations include 72 relating to sexual…
The beatification of Dubliner Fr John Sullivan SJ, a convert from Anglicanism, has been hailed as a sign of reconciliation in Ireland. The first ever beatification in Ireland was held in the Jesuit Church on Gardiner Street on Saturday with Cardinal Angelo Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, as chief celebrant.…