Over 250,000 people from across the island of Ireland are expected to attend the annual National Solemn Novena at Knock Shrine this month, which is celebrating 135 years since the Marian apparition.    The theme this year is ‘Witness to Hope’ and will see two novena sessions daily at 3pm and 8.30pm, and workshops or…

World Missions Ireland (The Work of the Pontifical Mission Societies) has appointed Fr Maurice Hogan as its new National Director.    Fr Hogan is a member of the Missionary Society of St Columban (Columban Fathers). Ordained in 1965, he has served as a missionary in Japan and more recently in Hong Kong before returning to…

It has been revealed that Fr Francis Browne SJ, best known for photographing the last images of the Titanic in 1912, was a decorated hero following World War I.    A new book has outlined how the Cork-born priest served on the western front, ministering to shell-shocked soldiers and the seriously wounded for more than…

A Co. Tipperary priest has praised the local community for coming together to take action  against the drugs problem in the town, following the death of a number of young people from  the area.    Fr Tom Corbett PP was among over 1,000 people who attended a meeting in Roscrea on  Monday to discuss what…

A Limerick city community has pulled together in an act of solidarity to clean up their parish church following an act of vandalism last week.  The local community was left in shock when vandals threw large cans of different coloured paint at the main door of Our Lady of Lourdes church and a statue of…

 A court case taken by the head of the Marie Stopes Centre in Belfast against a prominent pro-life campaigner has been adjourned until September.    Bernadette Smyth (pictured), Founder and Director of Precious Life, has denied claims of harassment made by Dawn Purvis, Director of Marie Stopes Northern Ireland, between January and February this year. …

On Sunday, July 20 an outdoor Mass in the grounds of Rockwell College marked the 150th anniversary of Spiritan presence in the Tipperary school. The attendance of several hundred people included current and former students of the school and their parents, Spiritans attached to the Congregation’s communities in Rockwell and elsewhere, as well as staff…

Parishes in Ireland are being asked to join with churches across the world in celebrating Creation Time from September 1 to the Feast of St Francis on October 4. Creation Time is an opportunity for Christians to reflect on the wonder and mystery of Creation and to choose better ways to relate to Creation, reflecting…

The Church of the Assumption in west county Dublin is very proud of its claim to have the longest serving promoter of The Irish Catholic in Ireland. The sprightly Nicky Brennan is the proud bearer of that achievement and it will be very hard to find someone who can beat his record of over 70 years promoting the…

Dingle parish history celebrated