There was a time – it encompassed most of the 1980s – that Catholic publishers weren’t very interested in what the largely unknown Fr Joseph Ratzinger of Germany had to say about Christian morality, the mystery of the heart of Christ, the role of religion in post-Marxist Europe or, for that matter, any other topic.…
The future of the island of Ireland won’t be secured by merely changing borders or politicians, Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown has warned. Drawing comparisons to the Holy Land in Jesus’ time, Bishop McKeown said that “local rulers would not guarantee a wonderful country, if those leaders were not people of wisdom and humility”. “Similarly,…
Faith in film The Christmas and New Year’s period is a great time to sit down as a family and watch a film. But it’s not always easy to agree on what to watch, or to know what is suitable for younger children and what isn’t. So here’s a suggestion, a lovely animated film which…
An almost 400-year-old Irish chalice used throughout periods of persecution has been returned, Ruadhán Jones writes There were two Franciscan friaries in Co. Leitrim, one in north Leitrim and the other in south Leitrim. Creevelea friary was set up in the year 1508 beside the village of Dromahair in north Leitrim and Muintir Eolais friary…
In one of his last official acts as Taoiseach, TD Micheál Martin officially opened a refurbished centre of Catholic education in Cork. The Edmund Rice Centre, Mardyke House, was blessed by Bishop of Cork and Ross Fintan Gavin, and reopened before Christmas following extensive refurbishment undertaken by the Christian Brothers. In a wide-ranging address, the…
A large crowd processed through Wexford town with a statue of Our Lady to mark the feast of the Immaculate Conception. The Faithful who gathered December 8 prayed the rosary as the candlelit procession made its way from the Franciscan Friary. The feast, which celebrates Mary’s immaculate birth without the stain of original sin, is…
Sending Christmas cards is associated with better mental health, especially among Christians, a study from the University of Limerick has shown. The study found that depressed people were less likely to send Christmas cards than non-depressed people. Sending Christmas cards is “more than just the exchange of pleasantries and good wishes over the festive season”,…
Churches in the North have been invited to apply for a relief scheme aimed at combatting the energy crisis. The North’s Department for the Economy told The Irish Catholic that churches are eligible for the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, along with businesses, voluntary and public sector organisations. “The Energy Bill Relief Scheme is being run…
Faith in film The undisputed Christmas classic is It’s A Wonderful Life. The 1946 drama tells the story of an upright businessman, George Bailey, who needs the intercession of an angel to understand the true meaning of his life. It’s a decidedly Christian story from an era that was unashamed to be so. Through his…
The diet and fitness expert tells Ruadhán Jones about her faith, family and Christmas traditions It’s not very often that you’ll hear a diet and fitness expert and instructor saying, “it’s quite good to over-indulge”, but that’s what Rosemary Conley CBE told me. Of course, to put this in context, the famous originator of the…