Ms Susan “Una” McCann has celebrated her 100th birthday, marking a century of life rooted in faith, family and community in west Belfast. Born on March 31, 1926, in Cavendish Street, Ms McCann has lived most of her life within sight of Clonard Monastery, which has remained central to her life of prayer and service.…
Pedro Esteva
Ireland at the crossroads of a global Church, theologian says
Ireland is increasingly becoming a meeting point of global Catholicism rather than simply a country shaped by its past, a leading theologian has said. Speaking at the Loyola Institute Trinity College Dublin, Prof. Massimo Faggioli argued that the centre of the Catholic Church is shifting away from Europe, with profound implications for Ireland. “Catholicism was…
Divine mercy must ‘comfort and afflict’, says Bishop McKeown
“Divine mercy comforts the afflicted at the same time as afflicting the comfortable,” writes Bishop Donal McKeown. Writing to The Irish Catholic ahead of Divine Mercy Sunday, Bishop McKeown reflected on what it means to live as an Easter people today. “The heart of the early church’s preaching was simple – Christ died for our…
Maynooth meeting highlights changing face of formation
The formation of future priests in Ireland is expanding far beyond traditional theological study, a meeting at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, has heard. At a recent gathering of formators and Church partners, Rev. Sean Corkery, Coordinator of Human and Pastoral Formation at the National Seminary, outlined how seminarians are now trained in a wide range…
Pilgrim Paths Week gathers pace on Ireland’s ancient pilgrim routes
Pilgrim paths across Ireland are set to come alive this Easter as part of Pilgrim Paths Week 2026, a nationwide series of guided walks celebrating the country’s ancient routes and drawing people into a shared experience of reflection, community and renewal. From the slopes of Kerry to the lakeshore of Donegal, the week (April 3–12)…
Dawn Masses bring Easter morning to life across Ireland
Dawn Masses are set to take place across the country this Easter Sunday, offering early risers a chance to mark the Resurrection. Fr Paul Prior, PP of Mullagh & Cross, Co. Cavan, said the celebration, now in its second year locally, has already struck a chord with parishioners. “As the liturgy progresses, the sun rises…
‘Flame of faith’ still burning says Armagh Bishop
Youth uptick is small and fragile but very real Even amid crisis and change, the “flame of faith” in Ireland has not gone out a gathering of young people in Armagh have been told. “Those who have the flame of faith burning… can find a way to reach out once again,” said Bishop Michael Router,…
Prayer, witness and invitation key to vocations, say dioceses
A number of Irish dioceses are stepping up efforts to encourage vocations to the priesthood, with “Come and See” events taking place over the coming weeks and months, including gatherings in Knock on March 28, Thurles on April 11, and Galway on May 10. The initiatives are part of a wider push to invite men…
Young Catholics show ‘hunger’ for faith at Cork conference
A strong sense of “hunger” among young Catholics was evident at this year’s conference organised by Evangelium Ireland, which brought 115 participants to Cork for a day of talks, discussion and Mass. Held at the Clayton Hotel Silver Springs, the event marked the first time the group’s annual conference has taken place outside Dublin. Speakers…
First American pope may face ‘collision course’ with US politics, theologian says
The election of Pope Leo XIV could place the Catholic Church on a “collision course” with US political movements, a leading theologian has warned. Prof. Massimo Faggioli, professor of ecclesiology at the Loyola Institute in Trinity College Dublin and a prominent scholar of global Catholicism, told The Irish Catholic that the unprecedented election of a…