I said to her, what’s the problem? You don’t want to have a caesarean section. And she said, ‘Why are you so bent on the caesarean section? You haven’t even checked to see whether I can have a baby.’” The woman had already undergone two previous caesarean sections. Medically, a third was necessary. Attempting a…
“There isn’t a date fixed because there’s still some reflection going on… but certainly it’ll be short term rather than long term,” a senior diocesan official has said of plans to introduce new pastoral areas in the Diocese of Cloyne. Canon James Moore told The Irish Catholic that the proposals are still being refined ahead…
“People get a great sense of belonging,” a Redemptorist priest told The Irish Catholic, as a triduum marking the 300th anniversary of St Gerard Majella drew strong crowds in Dundalk this week. Fr Brendan Callanan CSsR said the celebrations, held to mark the saint’s birth in 1726, reflected a devotion that has endured locally for…
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.…
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 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…
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 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 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…
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,…