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.
Archbishop Eamon Martin has paid tribute to priests and pastoral workers who are reaching out to those who feel frightened and vulnerable during the coronavirus pandemic. Speaking at Mass this morning in the Cathedral of Saints Patrick and Colman in Newry, the country’s most-senior Churchman said “it is heart-warming to note the large number of people,…
Up to 30 priests have died in Italy as a result of the coronavirus pandemic gripping the country, according to the official newspaper of the Church there. Avvenire – the publication of the Italian bishops’ conference – reported that 28 priests were confirmed to have died from Covid-19, while two others died before they had…
Praying his traditional Sunday Angelus via a videolink Pope Francis called for all Christians to respond to the coronavirus pandemic “with the universality of prayer, of compassion, of tenderness”, adding, “Let us remain united. Let us make our closeness felt toward those persons who are the most lonely and tried”. Pope Francis – who normally…
Archbishop Eamon Martin is to lead the consecration of Ireland and her people to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for protection from the coronavirus pandemic. The Primate of All-Ireland has invited bishops, clergy and the faithful to join him in praying the 12noon Angelus on Wednesday March 25 – Feastday of the Annunciation. The act…
National broadcaster RTÉ has announced plans to air daily Mass in response to coronavirus measures that have meant that many public celebrations of the Eucharist have been suspended. RTÉ will broadcast Mass every weekday at 10.30 from St Eunan’s and St Columba’s Cathedral, Letterkenny, on RTÉ News Now. The broadcasts will continue at least until 29th…
With most Masses cancelled, this is the first St Patrick’s Day since I was an infant that I was not physically at the Celebration of the Eucharist. And yet in tuning in to my parish’s online Mass at Newman’s University Church in Dublin I felt very connected and the ancient faith seemed very much alive.…
Churches around Ireland are to sound their bells across the country today, St Patrick’s Day as most Masses remain suspended over fears around coronavirus. The Government announced last week that public celebration of the country’s patron saint would not take place this year and most public Masses are not going ahead – the first time…
In the year 304, the Emperor Diocletian forbade Christians – on pain of death – from possessing the Scriptures, from gathering on Sundays to celebrate the Eucharist and from building places in which to hold their assemblies. In Abitene, a small village in present-day Tunisia, 49 Christians were taken by surprise one Sunday while they…
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks is one of the foremost religious thinkers in the English-speaking world. Yet, he wears his considerable depth lightly. When we meet in his home in the London suburb of Golders Green, he is warm and hospitable. The first thing one notices in the house is the enormous dining table. Meals and table…
During the visit of Pope Francis in 2018 the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar gave a first-rate speech to the Pontiff in Dublin Castle. In contrast, Francis’ input was weak and he was let down by his speechwriters on such an important topic as Church-State relations in contemporary Ireland. Mr Varadkar’s speech was something of a lap…