Priests around the country have been taking precautions due to the threat of the flu and coronavirus. While some efforts have been made in asking the congregation to pray for peace instead of offering a handshake and changing out holy water, many priests are wary of causing panic in their parish. Fr Tom Clowe PP…
A prominent number of young people were present at the Divine Mercy Conference over the weekend. Speaking with The Irish Catholic, they said they had found new strength in their faith by joining communities in college and realising they were not alone. Jack Ryan from University College Cork (UCC) said he had been private about…
For one West Cork priest, the Church is about people –although a little cement never goes astray, writes Róise McGagh Fr Jeremiah Donovan began his journey when he joined the Congregation of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate in 1959. His work took him from West Cork to Goiás in central Brazil. Here he…
Roise McGagh reveals eleven tips on making your spring clean a breeze It might not really feel like spring at the moment, with the only hint being brighter evenings. However, that doesn’t mean it’s a bad time of year to clear out the cobwebs and declutter. You’ve made it through a gloomy January and most…
Children’s Corner Are you a budding magician or maybe even fully grown one? Magic tricks are great fun for everyone and often have an element of science involved in their secret methods. In this trick you will make water totally disappear from a cup. This is based on science so get your goggles on, but…
Personal Profile “I work in the healing industry.” “It all began in Bundoran I suppose around 1985,” says Fr Noel Conlon. People would call to him and he would pray with them. Word quickly spread around the area, and “nearly overnight there was an awful crowd coming,” he tells The Irish Catholic. Fr Conlon, known…
The RDS was packed with people of all ages at the weekend for the Divine Mercy Conference. The three-day event is in its 29th year and ran under the theme ‘Deliver us from evil’. This was spoken about extensively by guest speakers which included Primate of All Ireland and Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin, Fr…
We have moved too far away from traditional fasting says a Glenstal Abbey monk. Fr Fintan Lyons OSB, has said “I feel we have gone too far in avoiding the older practice of fasting from food; in the Church’s tradition it was associated with feasts, the fast before the feast, and based on what the…
Trócaire has defended its commitment to a low carbon footprint after it came in for criticism for the volume of paper used for their Lenten campaign. Fr Ted Sheehan of Glounthane Parish in Cork has said he has complained to the charity every year for the last four years – asking them to reduce the…
There might just be something beneficial in our old traditions, writes Róise McGagh This Ash Wednesday falls on February 26, meaning Lent is just around the corner. So, if you’re thinking of sticking to tradition this year, this might be a good time to decide what it is you can live without. Many people opt…