When Isabel Vaughan-Spruce stood silently praying near an abortion facility in Birmingham, she did not expect to become a test case for the limits of public expression. Yet a few years on, her case remains ongoing, with a trial expected later this year under the UK’s buffer zone legislation. What began as a single arrest…
The former Presentation Convent lands in Portlaoise have been officially reopened following a two-year redevelopment, delivering 52 social housing apartments for people on the long-term homeless waiting list in Co. Laois. The site, originally established by the Presentation Sisters more than 200 years ago, had fallen into dereliction by the late 20th century. After the…
The Diocese of Clogher has celebrated the ordination of Fr Stephen Sherry to the priesthood on Vocations Sunday, April 26, in St Macartan’s Cathedral, Monaghan. Originally from Tullycorbet, Co. Monaghan, Fr Sherry was ordained by Bishop Lawrence Duffy in a ceremony attended by clergy, family and parishioners from across the diocese. His ordination marks the…
The Diocese of Kerry is undertaking a major overhaul of its pastoral approach with a renewed focus on youth ministry built around local leadership, parish networks, and national collaboration At the centre of this shift is the first ‘Conference of Possibilities’, recently held in Killarney, which brought together more than 20 organisations working with young…
More than 140 home-educated children from across Ireland took part in the sixth annual Catholic Home Education Awards on April 18 in Ardee, Co. Louth, with around 180 people attending. “The awards are about recognising the hard work and talents of home-educated children, but also about bringing Catholic homeschooling families together,” organiser Stephen Tyrrell said.…
Pope Leo’s visit to Africa brought a “great sense of joy” to Irish supporters of Mary’s Meals, after the pontiff was presented a T-shirt and mug with the charity’s logo during the papal flight. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Ms Patricia Friel, Executive Director of Mary’s Meals Ireland, said the Pope’s reaction to the gifts…
A series of ongoing court cases across the UK and Ireland are drawing renewed attention to how abortion buffer zone laws are being enforced, ahead of this year’s March for Life on Bank Holiday Monday, May 4. In Northern Ireland, Pastor Clive Johnston appeared in court on April 22 in a high-profile case under the…
Forming ‘saints and scholars’ in today’s world Faith formation and intellectual formation should grow together, according to Grace Cantillon-Murphy, director of Mater Dei Education.Speaking to The Irish Catholic ahead of her talk, ‘A New Generation of Saints and Scholars’, Ms Cantillon-Murphy said that faith and reason must go hand in hand. “A saint seeks truth…
The Irish Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (EOHSJ) has marked its 40th anniversary with a commemorative Mass celebrated at Holy Cross Abbey. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Dr Stephen Dorgan, Chancellor of the Order in Ireland, described this as “an amazing milestone of service” to Christians in the…
Seven years after From Fire, by Water first appeared, Mr Ahmari is not especially interested in retelling his conversion story. The memoir, which traces his journey from post-revolutionary Iran through atheism and into the Catholic Church, is now being released in a UK edition with a new preface. But speaking to The Irish Catholic, Mr…