The Mexican Bishops’ Conference (CEM) announced the launch of a ‘Citizen Accord for Peace’, which aims to “overcome the dynamics of violence and destruction of the social fabric” in the country.
Foreign news in brief
Ruadhán Jones
15 students begin seminary studies
Some 15 students began formal seminary studies for the priesthood for Ireland’s 26 diocese in September, almost double the previous year.
Vatican roundup
The international community must cooperate to advance disarmament rather than embrace the “false security” offered by nuclear weapons, the Vatican’s foreign minister said.
Historic synod gathering ‘big moment’ for Church in Ireland to galvanise Faithful
The historic synod gathering in Rome which gets underway next week, being seen as the most significant Church gathering this century, is a “big moment” for the Church in Ireland to galvanise the Faithful to communicate “the richness of our tradition”, Irish participants have said. However, the Synod of Bishops on Synodality which begins on…
Christians in the Holy Land must be free to worship without threat of violence or provocation – Tánaiste
Christians in the Holy land must be free to worship without the threat of violence or provocation, the Tánaiste has said. Tánaiste Mícheal Martin’s comments come after he met with the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and visited the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which houses the tomb of Christ, during his visit to the…
Bishops’ Civil War pastoral letter caused ‘hurt and anguish’ – Archbishop Eamon
A 1922 pastoral letter from the Irish bishops caused “hurt and anguish” among families about the Irish Civil War, which has lasted down to today, Archbishop Eamon Martin has said. Speaking at the annual conference of the Catholic Historical Society of Ireland, the Primate of All-Ireland said that the bishops’ failure to “publicly speak out…
Speculation of merger ‘rife’ in Mary Immaculate College
Speculation that Mary Immaculate College (MIC) could merge with University of Limerick (UL) is “rife” among staff, sources have told The Irish Catholic. The speculation comes after President Eugene Wall announced his retirement at the end of the forthcoming academic year in an email to staff. Prof. Wall’s five year tenure comes to an end…
Parishes need lay leaders doing more than ‘Sunday service’
We must be careful to avoid turning laity into mini-priests, writes Ruadhán Jones We reported last week that dioceses are pushing ahead with lay-led funerals, a move that is welcome in some respects and a sign of painful decline in others. The painful decline in the number of vocations to the priesthood is an ongoing…
Parish celebrates 200 years of strong Christian witness
Over 600 Rathmines parishioners celebrated the parish’s 200th anniversary on Saturday, September 17, with a Mass and reception in the Church of Mary Immaculate Refuge of Sinners. Fr Andrew O’Sullivan, parish priest in Dublin, celebrated the anniversary Mass, which the parish spent months preparing for. A number of museum and reliquary displays, including one exhibiting…
Relics of ‘model for the young’ Blessed Carlo Acutis visit Knock
The relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis, described by Pope Francis as a “model for the young”, drew thousands to Knock Shrine for Mass and veneration. Principal celebrant at Mass was the bishop of Blessed Acutis’ hometown of Assisi, Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, who along with Msgr Anthony Figueiredo accompanied the young man’s relics on a tour…