No One Was Paying Any Attention to the Sky: Flannery O’Connor and Modernity, by Damian Ference (Wiseblood books, US$11.00 / €9.50) Flannery O’Connor was a remarkable writer, who was born and passed her short life in the state of Georgia, a region beset by its “Southern Gothic” heritage, a history of slavery and passionate division,…
In January 2025, Mount Melleray Abbey, a Cistercian (or Trappist) monastery nestled at the foot of the Knockmealdown Mountains of Co. Waterford, closed its doors after nearly 200 years. Once home to over 150 monks – a bustling hub of agricultural and spiritual life – the abbey dwindled down to just six monks at the…
The Cistercian monks of Mount Melleray have confirmed that discussions are underway with a “like-minded community” regarding the future use of the historic abbey. In a statement, Dom Rufus Pound OCSO, Superior of the Abbey of Our Lady of Silence, said that while many groups had expressed interest since the monks’ departure was announced in…
Lough Derg has closed its traditional three-day pilgrimage season with a total of 4,040 pilgrims, up 11% from last year. Fr La Flynn, Prior of the pilgrimage island, attributed the increase in part to the Jubilee Year and the Pilgrim Passport initiative linking Lough Derg with Croagh Patrick and Knock. “One in five pilgrims this…
“Maureen didn’t die with her family around her. She died alone, far from home, in circumstances that are now being questioned by those who loved her most. We need to ensure that vulnerable individuals and our family members are protected under Irish legislation,” said Aontú TD for Mayo, Paul Lawless, describing the tragic death of…
The announcement from Pope Leo that St John Henry Newman will be declared a Doctor of the Church has been celebrated by church leaders. Finally, the saint is to be placed among the most revered teachers in the Catholic tradition. Even James Joyce said that no one has ever written prose like Newman’s. Here in…
As Ireland marks 250 years since the birth of The Liberator, Daniel O’Connell, Church leaders have hailed his enduring legacy of peaceful leadership and deep faith. Bishop Ray Browne of Kerry spoke at the commemorations in Cahersiveen, near O’Connell’s birthplace. “Daniel O’Connell was an exceptional leader of the Irish people,” he said. “His total commitment…
Over 600 young people from across the Irish dioceses travelled to Rome for the Jubilee of Youth (July 28 – August 3), joining over 1 million peers from around the globe for a week filled with prayer, catechesis, reconciliation, and celebration. Pilgrims took part in major events including a Penitential Day at the Circus Maximus,…
Archbishop Eamon Martin has described the worsening environmental crisis at Lough Neagh as “a microcosm of the greater issues surrounding our common home,” highlighting the growing need for spiritual renewal and ecological responsibility in care for creation. The Archbishop visited the lough, joined by fellow members of the Irish Church Leaders’ Group for a day…
At St Columba’s Church, Longtower, Derry, the parish has been involved in a five-day workshop on sacred iconography, led by master iconographers Panagiotis and Demetrios Christodoulou from Thessaloniki, Greece. Organised by the Honora School of Iconography, in partnership with the Association of Iconographers in Ireland and St Columba’s Parish, the gathering has brought together people…