The Covid-19 pandemic and restrictions devastated rural communities, leaving some towns lying empty and derelict, but parishes now say they are hopeful of a summer boost having “weathered the storm”. Fr John Joe Duffy of Creeslough, Co. Donegal, told The Irish Catholic “it’s tearing the heart out of rural communities to see them lying empty…
Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has criticised the uncertainty caused by “substantial delays” in processing applications for the minister of religion visa. The Cavan-Monaghan TD told The Irish Catholic that there are “substantial delays” and he knows from situations he has dealt with in his constituency it causes hardship on the person applying. “It does…
The award-winning Irish composer and musician Phil Coulter said that he thanks God every day for having been able to make a living from his talent. Speaking on Miriam O’Callaghan’s Sunday with Miriam, Mr Coulter said he is very grateful for the fact that he was born with the “rare gift” of his musical talent.…
More than 3,000 single people in Dublin are in emergency accommodation, the highest number on record Focus have said, as homelessness continues to rise. Figures by the Department of Housing show 9,492 people homeless in February, including 3,256 single adults in Dublin alone, a rise of 342 from January. The number of families in homelessness…
As the North’s Assembly election nears, Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said that Stormont is not working and he is confident his party offers a realistic alternative. Mr Tóibín added that republican communities in the North are “frustrated” and “shocked” by Sinn Féin and the SDLP’s position on abortion and civil rights. Election The North’s Assembly…
Personal Profile Dr Dermot Kearney, past president of the Catholic Medical Association (CMA) UK, believes that we must always be prepared to invite people to talk about faith and spirituality. His Catholic faith has helped him deal with the challenges being a doctor presents and he wants to share that gift. Irish born but based…
Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz hopes to shed light on human trafficking with his new sculpture, Ruadhán Jones learns “When the Vatican asks you to do a sculpture, you have a tendency to drop everything you’re doing and dive right into it,” Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz says. He should know, having previously unveiled his sculpture ‘Angels…
Bishop of Kilmore Martin Hayes said in a pastoral letter that initial synodal conversations have revealed a “crisis of faith” reflected in the level of participation in the liturgies. The diocese “must find new ways in which our faith can be expressed in life-giving liturgies that will engage people”, Dr Hayes said in his March…
Personal Profile Fr Declan Lohan, a priest of the Galway diocese, says that he didn’t appreciate Christ or the Church in the first part of his life. He developed this appreciation over time, first through the Legion of Mary and Youth 2000, and now through his work as a parish priest in Renmore, Co. Galway.…
While Pope Francis and bishops around the world will consecrate themselves and all humanity to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, they will include the phrase, “especially Russia and Ukraine”. In the text of the Pope’s prayer sent to chanceries around the globe so that bishops can join the Pope March 25, a key passage for…