As the Jubilee Year of Hope draws to a close, priests at Ireland’s major pilgrimage sites say conversations are already under way about what might come next, following a year in which Knock, Lough Derg and Croagh Patrick were linked through a shared pilgrim passport and commemorative pin that encouraged cooperation and renewed interest in…
The permanent diaconate in Ireland is steadily growing, with new ordinations, expanding formation programmes and increasing confidence about the role deacons play in the life of the Church. Fr Eddie McGee, national director of the permanent diaconate, said that 26 men were ordained this year alone, bringing the total number of ordained deacons in Ireland…
Bishop Fintan Gavin has said a year-long process of prayer, listening and discernment across the Diocese of Cork and Ross is now providing a clear pastoral direction for the year ahead. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, the bishop said the initiative, which began in September with the feast of St Finbarr at Gougane Barra, was…
Homelessness has risen to another record high, with almost 17,000 people now living in emergency accommodation, including more than 5,300 children, according to the latest figures from the Department of Housing. The November data shows 16,996 people were homeless, an increase of 230 in one month and nearly 12% over the past year. Child homelessness…
The director of Mean Streets and Silence sees his life as a journey through fear, failure, and the surprising grace found in ordinary moments There is a moment early in Scorsese on Filmmaking and Faith when Martin Scorsese recalls what he asked Pope Francis back in 2018: “Holy Father, How can a human being…
Young Catholics are not looking for easy answers or a watered-down faith, according to Bishop Fintan Gavin of Cork and Ross. Instead, he says, they want clarity, challenge, and to be taken seriously by the Church. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Bishop Gavin said one of the clearest messages to emerge from listening to young…
Evangelium Ireland has said there is a growing hunger among young Catholics for apologetics, as the organisation confirmed that its 2026 annual conference will take place in Cork. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Evangelium’s public relations officer James Bradshaw said this year’s annual conference in Maynooth highlighted a strong appetite for discussion, reasoning and formation.…
Across Ireland those working in ministry with young people a reporting signs of renewed openness to faith. Thomas Starkie of NET Ireland says the past year has revealed a deep hunger among young adults for prayer and belonging. Reflecting on his time on mission, he described how modest beginnings grew into genuine communities of faith.…
Sixty years after its publication, Nostra Aetate remains one of the most significant documents of the Second Vatican Council, with enduring relevance in a world marked by religious diversity, Bishop Brendan Leahy has said. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, he described the 1965 declaration as “an extremely important document… a tremendously important document” despite its…
As Christmas is celebrated across the country, the priests from Ireland’s major pilgrimage sites are encouraging people to slow down, make space for God, and rediscover the quiet heart of the season amid its festivities. Fr Richard Gibbons PP of Knock Shrine acknowledged that Christmas can be a difficult time for many families. “This time…