Michael Kelly is an award-winning writer and broadcaster specialising in religious and social affairs. Born and raised in Northern Ireland, he attended the Pontifical University St Patrick’s College, Maynooth where he obtained degrees in philosophy and theology and the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome where he studied social institutional communications. From 2002-2005 he was an Editor in the Central Information Service of Vatican Radio. In this role, he travelled with Pope St John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI on overseas trips. In 2005, he returned to Dublin to take up the position of Deputy Editor with The Irish Catholic newspaper, succeeding as Editor in 2012. He is a regular contributor to programmes on RTÉ, BBC, UTV, CNN and Al Jazeera. He also have extensive experience offering media training and coaching in the voluntary sector. Mr Kelly is a weekly columnist with Ireland’s largest-selling secular newspaper the Irish Independent and has been published in The Irish Times, the Irish Examiner, The Irish News, The Guardian, Our Sunday Visitor, Catholic World Report, the National Catholic Reporter and the National Catholic Register. He writes from Ireland for Catholic News Service of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Micheal finished his stint as Editor of The Irish Catholic in January 2024 and has taken up the position of Director of Public Affairs for Aid to the Church in Need Ireland.
Pope Francis has encouraged young men to have the courage to embark on a vocation to the priesthood if they feel that God is calling them to ministry. Speaking during his traditional Eastertide Regina Caeli message from the Vatican this afternoon, pope Francis also called for more international cooperation to deal with the coronavirus pandemic.…
Two separate polls show that Americans are relying more on their faith to help persevere through the coronavirus pandemic. The Pew Research Centre, in a survey released April 30, showed that nearly one-fourth of all Americans say their faith has grown stronger during the pandemic, while only 2% said it had grown weaker. Catholics, according…
A top Polish historian has questioned claims by German researchers that newly opened Vatican archives contain information damning the role played by Pope Pius XII during World War II. “This team has the advantage of having been to these archives, and we must face the truth calmly if some major new discovery is made,” said…
I n our Catholic tradition we often speak of the communion of saints as that spiritual union between the members of the Church on earth and those of us who have died in God’s friendship. Death is not the end for us, and those who have gone before us remain a part of us and…
Pope Francis has appealed to people not to allow life’s disappointments to paralyse them and cut them off. Leading the recitation of the traditional Eastertide Regina Coeli via video-link from his library, the Pope reflected on the Sunday Gospel of the disciples meeting Jesus on the road to Emmaus. “It is a story which begins…
The Vatican has released the text of two new Marian prayers which Pope Francis is encouraging Catholics to recite as part of the Rosary in this time of pandemic. It comes on the eve of the month of May – a time traditionally dedicated to devotion to the Mother of God. In a letter published…
Archbishop Eamon Martin has welcomed a decision by the northern Executive to lift coronavirus restrictions that had closed cemeteries in the region. Politicians were under increasing pressure to make the move and Archbishop Eamon was amongst Church leaders who appealed to the First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill on Thursday to…
Archbishop Eamon Martin has welcomed a decision by the northern Executive to lift coronavirus restrictions that had closed cemeteries in the region. Politicians were under increasing pressure to make the move and Archbishop Eamon was amongst Church leaders who appealed to the First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill on Thursday to…
Ireland has been quick to congratulate itself on the response to Covid-19, but for all the rhetoric there is precious little evidence that talk of solidarity extends to nursing homes, writes Michael Kelly When this current pandemic passes – and pass it will – undoubtedly many people will breathe a sigh of relief. Those…
I feel blessed under lockdown that within the allocated two kilometres from my home in Dublin are two beautiful churches which remain open for prayer despite this pandemic. As part of the permitted daily exercise, I always make a short visit to either Holy Cross in Dundrum or the Church of St John the Evangelist in…