Pro-life TD’s and Senators have formed a new group to challenge the Irish humanitarian crises of abortion, euthanasia and other life and dignity issues. The Oireachtas Group for Life and Dignity (OLDG) was co-founded by independent TD’s Carol Nolan and Peter Fitzpatrick and launched Wednesday, 2 December. Carol Nolan Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Carol…
The diocese hope to engage 100 youth representatives across the diocese as part of a three-year youth initiative, ‘The Way Forward’. In a statement, Ferns diocese said their aim is to “develop exciting and engaging programmes that our young people will want to be involved in; Caminos, yearly Retreats, Trips, Pilgrimages, JPII awards, School and…
Famed Welsh chorister Aled Jones speaks to Ruadhán Jones about faith, Christmas and his new album With his features still youthful and boyish, it’s not hard to link Aled Jones as he is today with the fresh-faced 15-year-old who shot to fame for his performance of Walking in the Air. A cover of a song…
Ruadhán Jones explores how religious orders around the country celebrate Christmas We are blessed in Ireland by the presence of so many different religious orders, men and women. Cistercians, Benedictines, Dominicans, Franciscans and many, many more – each have a lively presence, even if it’s one we may not always see. The way in which…
With just a week to go to Christmas, many parishes have pulled out all the stops to ensure that as many people as is safely possibly can attend Mass. Many areas reported large socially-distanced queues of parishioners applying for tickets to attend one of the many extra Christmas liturgies. A lot of priests have decided…
Parishes have had to innovate to meet the demand for Mass, setting up booking systems, putting on extra Masses and appealing for charity in response. St Eunan’s Cathedral St Eunan’s Cathedral Letterkenny told The Irish Catholic that they usually have 4,000 attendees over Christmas Eve and Christmas day. They know they can’t cater for all…
Ruadhán Jones explores a little-known Christmas treasure by JRR Tolkien JRR Tolkien exists in the minds of many as the creator the 20th century’s great epic, The Lord of the Rings. Epic in the breadth of its world building, epic also in the span of its action and, finally, epic in the scope of its…
Aontú leader and TD Peadar Tóibín opens up about faith, cancer and the future of the Church, writes Ruadhán Jones Aontú leader and Meath TD Peadar Tóibín made a name for himself in 2018 when he and one other Sinn Féin TD refused to toe the party line over the question of abortion. He was…
The project leaders believe the example of Italian teen Bl. Carlo Acutis will inspire the youth of Cork through a new online course. The diocese of Cloyne launched their four-month online project aimed at 13-18-year olds on December 8. Fr Eamonn Roache, one of the project’s organisers, told The Irish Catholic that the project was…
The ‘O Antiphons’ are one final burst of Advent before Christmas, writes Ruadhán Jones Today marks the beginning of the final octave of Advent, the last eight days before Christmas. Today also marks the beginning of the ‘O Antiphons’, a series of antiphons which lasts until December 23. These ancient antiphons have been sung in…