Work is almost complete on a new maternity ward in Turkwel, Kenya, following a donation of €105,000 by a Ballineaspaig Parish, Cork. Clare McCutcheon of Ballineaspaig’s Faith in Action (FIA) group was involved in organising the “huge fundraising” drive for the ward. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, she said the project “evoked generosity in people I’ve…
Eight Cork parishes will be the first to provide a secure online donation system in the diocese of Cork and Ross. In an online statement, the diocese explained that the new measures were being trialled to combat the “substantial reduction” to priests’ salaries and parish incomes. Before the pandemic, “people have made it possible for…
There’s a fine line between disordered eating and an eating disorder writes Ruadhán Jones Many of us might have felt the urge to padlock fridge and cupboard doors over lockdown. Boredom, stress and the ready availability of food were a tricky trio to overcome. But while that kind of eating might be frustrating, it wouldn’t…
New mural unveiled as devotion to Sr Clare grows An Irish nun who died while helping children flee an earthquake in Ecuador has been hailed as a saint for a new generation of young Catholics as devotion to her continues to spread. A new shrine to Sr Clare Crockett was unveiled in her native Derry…
Banned under lockdown, we can now return to the sacraments but not as we knew them writes Ruadhán Jones Typically, almost 17,000 children are confirmed every year in the Archdiocese of Dublin alone. Only a minute percentage of these have been able to take place thus far. Similarly, during lockdown thousands of weddings were cancelled…
Former world no. 1 Serena Williams has revealed in an interview that she has used the Covid-19 lockdown to study the Bible, having previously described faith as her secret weapon. In an interview on her return to tennis following the restrictions, Ms Williams said the virus gave her the time to reflect on the scriptures.…
Following the “frustrating” theft from their orchard, the sisters of the Priory of St Benedict in Co. Cork were delighted with the unexpected good that came of it. The priory in Cobh is home to an order of contemplative nuns, who welcome the public to their chapel and Bible Garden. But the sisters recently discovered…
Two nursing homes owned by the Sisters of Charity were closed suddenly, taking staff, residents and the nuns themselves by surprise, sources say. The closure of Dublin nursing homes St Monica’s and St Mary’s and convalescent home Caritas was due to economic constraints. The sisters released a statement saying they “are very concerned about what…
Men are often forgotten victims of domestic violence writes Ruadhán Jones Lockdown brought issues of domestic violence to the fore, with social distancing measures restricting victim’s access to help, support and refuge. Consequently, Gardaí and abuse helplines reported increases of between 25-33% over the lockdown period. The majority of domestic violence victims are women and…
Personal Profile Fr John Bracken is the parish priest of Holy Cross Church, Dundrum, but much of his ministry is devoted to helping people look beyond his office, and that of the other clergy. “It’s one of my great annoyances, that people “see” the priest. I mean, obviously there’s a difference, but there’s not a…