If you spend any time in Catholic circles online, you may have seen the images: small groups gathered across Ireland, Rosary beads in hand, kneeling in prayer in the public square. The images came from the recent Rosary Rallies organised by the Irish Society for Christian Civilisation and its Ireland Needs Fatima campaign. According to…
More than 1,000 Catholics gathered in Dublin over Pentecost weekend for the Ignite Ireland conference, headlined by US theologian and author Dr Scott Hahn. The Dominican-backed event, held at The Convention Centre Dublin on Saturday, May 23, brought together Catholics from parishes, ministries, movements and religious communities across the country under the theme ‘Turning Embers…
An organiser of hundreds of public Rosary Rallies across Ireland has said the gatherings show Catholics are “rediscovering the value of devotion to Our Lady”. The 586 rallies, organised by the Irish Society for Christian Civilisation and its Ireland Needs Fatima campaign, marked the 109th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima. Speaking…
A case against pro-life campaigner Claire Brennan under Northern Ireland’s abortion safe access zone law has been dismissed, with Ms Brennan saying she is “ecstatic” that the case is over. Ms Brennan, who has been supported by Christian Concern, had been accused of breaching the law outside Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. The dismissal comes amid…
Excitement is growing across the Diocese of Cloyne ahead of its first priestly ordination in nine years, as Whitechurch native Rev. Tiernan Burke prepares to be ordained to the priesthood on the Feast of Pentecost. The ordination will take place in St Colman’s Cathedral, Cobh, at 3pm on Sunday, May 24, marking a joyful moment…
Before Fr Luke Macnamara OSB became a monk of Glenstal Abbey, Scripture scholar and Dean of Theology at Maynooth, he trained in medicine. At the bedside, where illness reached into questions of identity, fear and faith, he learned to listen. He said: “There was a huge emphasis on the doctor-patient relationship and listening to the…
Lough Derg’s Prior has encouraged pilgrims to make space for God as the island’s Three Day Pilgrimage season begins, saying the Lord often speaks to people in ways they do not expect. Fr Laurence ‘La’ Flynn, who marks 50 years of priesthood this July, told The Irish Catholic that the ancient pilgrimage remains a powerful…
Students are turning to theology because it helps them engage with the “big questions” facing the modern world, according to Fr Luke Macnamara OSB, Dean of Theology at St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Fr Macnamara said theology continues to speak deeply to young people at a time of uncertainty. “While…
The pro-life campaign warns of lack of scrutiny More than €50 million in Irish taxpayer funding was channelled to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) between 2019 and 2024, a parliamentary reply has revealed, prompting calls from a pro-life group and a senator for greater scrutiny of how overseas aid is spent. The figure –…
Liberal societies risk entering a “new dark age” if they lose the ability to argue through controversial questions with reason, courage and restraint, Prof. Nigel Biggar told an audience at University College Dublin. Speaking at the Dublin Lectures on Free Speech and Academic Freedom, Prof. Biggar said the culture wars are not superficial disputes but…