Pope Francis will address the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on November. The Parliament’s president, Martin Schultz, made the announcement last week and the Vatican immediately confirmed it. According to Fr Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, Pope Francis will travel to Strasbourg and back to Rome the same day, and his brief trip should not…
Mags Gargan
The legacy of Dr Ian Paisley
Dear Editor, The legacy of the late Dr Ian Paisley has been the subject of much comment. A summing-up of the legacy from the Catholic point of view is that for 40 years, Dr Paisley assisted in stopping Catholics getting civil rights. Of course, he did so as the popular voice of deep feelings on…
Catholics in Libya said to be ‘trapped and helpless’ in latest chaos
“There’s much lawlessness now, and we have no protection or security.”
Ukrainian bishops tell West not to be accomplices in ‘sin of murder’
Ukraine's Catholic bishops have warned their country is now "flowing in blood," and urged Western governments not to become "accomplices in the sin of murder" by failing to support it. "This peaceful sovereign nation has been subjected to a direct military intervention by a northern neighbour – hundreds of units of heavy weaponry and technology,…
Latin American families challenged by poverty, violence, social norms
Poverty, violence and changing social norms are causing the disintegration of the family structure across Latin America, church workers in the region said in advance of the October gathering of bishops in the Vatican to discuss pressures families face. From liberalising marriage laws and persistent domestic violence to migration trends sending a record number of…
Patriarchs urge Westerners to ensure Christians can remain active in the Mideast
Islamic State extremism that “threatens the very survival of Christianity”.
New retirement house for missionary sisters
“Irish missionaries have made a tremendous contribution to the image of Ireland around the world,” said former Taoiseach John Bruton, performing the opening ceremony of Shanahan House, the new retirement home for the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary. The building in Artane, Dublin was erected to meet an urgent accommodation need and is where the sisters come…
Belfast hosts a Bible Convention
Archbishop Eamon Martin conducted a short service commissioning Fr Antony Perumayan as the National Coordinator of the Syro-Malabar Faithful in Ireland, during the annual Abhishekagni Bible Convention at the Dominican College in Belfast from August 20-24. The event included a five-day spiritual retreat conducted by Fr Xavier Khan Vattayil and is organised by the Syro-Malabar…
Catholics take part in ‘Praying in the sea’
Catholics in Dublin and Cork took part in ‘praying in the sea’ events in solidarity with people suffering from the impacts of climate change. Members of seven Dublin Christian churches took part in an inter-church prayer event organised by Eco-Congregation Ireland (ECI) on Killiney Beach, Co. Dublin, while Sisters of Mercy from Pairc a Tobair were…
Kerry parish celebrates 150 years
Kenmare parish is celebrating the 150th anniversary of Holy Cross church with a programme of events running to November. The celebrations began last Friday with the launch of the book Holy Cross Church Kenmare 150 (1864 – 2014), A Social and Local History by Canon Tom Looney. The festivities continue this month with a parish…