Renata is a Brazilian journalist who holds a Master’s degree in Journalism with first-class honours, completed in 2023. She joined The Irish Catholic in April 2024 as a multimedia journalist, where she brings a fresh, international perspective to storytelling through a range of digital platforms.
The Irish Church is facing a period of distress with the numbers of active priests dropping every year, as more and more priests are retiring and ordinations are not happening at the same pace. Many dioceses are receiving help from foreign priests, but Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois Paul Connell said that is “not the…
The Irish Church has been facing a big clerical challenge in the past few years, with many priests retiring – rightfully – at the age of 75. This challenge is not related to the retirements, but the lack of available priests, as ordinations are not occurring at the same pace. Recently, Ireland witnessed a positive…
Parishioners in Culmore, Derry have been worrying about the future of their local church since 2022, when Derry Diocese decided to close the church following the Sisters of Mercy’s decision to sell the church building they rented to the diocese. A group of parishioners appealed to the Vatican but received the news the diocese’s decision…
After six years with no entrant for the priesthood, Clogher Diocese welcomes its first seminarian. He is a former teacher in his 20s, and is entering the propaedeutic year this month. Gary Carville, Clogher Diocesan Communications Officer said this is the answering to all the prayers and hopes “that others will continue to answer the…
The Focus Ireland annual report 2023 was released this week. In the last year, the charity had an increase of 12.5% in the number of people supported compared to the 2022 report, and an increase of almost 10% in the number of households supported. That is 1,757 households helped to either keep their home or…
Like the Shroud of Turin, the sacred object for The Virgin of Guadalupe is a piece of fabric, with an image imprint believed to be miraculous. The Patron of the Americas and Queen of Mexico, Our Lady of Guadalupe presented herself as the Mother of God on a Mexican hill in the 16th Century. Juan…
For the very first time, the relics of St Bernadette of Lourdes will be on a pilgrimage to Ireland. The relics will visit every diocese in the country from September 4 to November 5. Each diocese will have their own schedule to celebrate the saint. Fr Gerard Fox, spokesperson for the Saint Bernadette Relic Pilgrimage…
Using a new X-ray technique, Italian researchers proved the Shroud of Turin dates from the time of Christ. Initially, it was believed the burial garment, which has the imprint of a man killed by crucifixion, was only 700 years old, but this new study showed it is actually dated from 2,000 years ago. With a…
The Season of Creation, the annual Church period for environmental discussions starts next month. Fr Sean McDonagh, Columban priest and ecologist said priests should have more biology and ecology teaching during their studies in Seminary. This period in the Church calendar is dedicated to renew the relationship between humanity and the Creator. It will start…
Saint Bernadette Special Many miracles are attributed to St Bernadette and the Shrine in Lourdes. People travel to Lourdes from all around the world to be cured from all sorts of illnesses. Ireland has a long connection with the French town, dating back to the 1880s, when the first English-speaking pilgrimage was organised. Terry Clarke,…