Padre Pio relics to visit Down and Connor The Diocese of Down and Connor will bring the relics of St Padre Pio to the diocese from November 6-11 to mark 20 years since he was declared a saint. Pope St John Paul II canonised Padre Pio in 2002, drawing crowds of an estimated 300,000 to…
What’s the point of Christmas without Christian symbols like a crib, Dublin-based priests have asked after the cancelling of the traditional nativity scene outside the Lord Mayor’s residence in Dublin. The live animal crib, which has been a fixture outside the Mansion House since 1995, will be replaced by a “winter wonderland” in plans announced…
We must respond to the “urgency” of the Gospel to create a new expression of the Faith in a secularised cultured, said the new Bishop of Ossory. Bishop-elect Niall Coll said Ireland has a “long history of Christian witness” and “we have to believe the Holy Spirit is with us, that we’re going to do…
Catholic schools’ bodies welcome developments in SPHE course, but warn it ignores ethos, writes Ruadhán Jones The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment’s (NCCA) draft SPHE curriculum for Junior Cycle has been criticised by Catholic bodies for “ignoring” schools’ rights to govern their own ethos, although they welcome developments in other areas. The Association of…
Personal Profile A ski trip might seem a strange way to engage young people in the Faith. But that’s how Áine Blake got involved in the Legion of Mary. Now volunteering in the women’s homelessness hostel, the Regina Coeli, she says the work has helped mature her faith. After college, Ms Blake moved to Dublin…
Faith and integral human development combine to create “authentically” spiritual people, Prof. Eamonn Conway has said. Hear of reality “When we realise that what lies at the heart of reality is loving relationality then we realise that the concept of integral human development is unavoidable for Christians,” the Irish theologian said October 26. Prof. Conway…
Sisters of Mercy celebrate final profession Sisters of Mercy, family, friends and colleagues gathered on Sunday October 9 in Mercy International Centre, Baggot Street, Dublin, to celebrate the Perpetual Profession ceremony of Sr Máire Hearty RSM. Sr Brenda Dolphin, Provincial Leader of the South Central Province, thanked everyone who had journeyed alongside Sr Hearty to…
The Government is not giving equal treatment to churches over proposed energy grants, a number of priests have said, warning it could lead to church closures. Churches will not receive grants to be given to businesses, schools and public amenities proposed as an emergency measure to tackle the energy crisis. “I think it’s wrong,” said…
Irish missionaries have warned that many people could die of starvation in South Sudan if they don’t receive food and medicine urgently. They have called on Ireland to aid the most vulnerable “to keep them alive”. Flooding and the legacy of a bitter civil war have left the African nation facing “hard times”, Irish Spiritain…
The Irish bishops’ conference have shot down a proposal to set up regional arbitration panels to help priests when they face canonical or legal issues. The panels, proposed by the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP), would have facilitated “respectful dialogue” between priests, “competent experts in relevant disciplines” and bishops. In a letter sent to all…