Pope Leo XIV’s first extraordinary consistory (January 7–8 , 2026) looked, felt, and even sounded like a deliberate return to two defining instincts of Pope Francis’s pontificate: synodality and mission. But it also hinted at something more strategic than stylistic imitation. Leo is using the world’s cardinals not as stage dressing for a new reign,…
The Church of the future will only be vibrant if families on fire with their faith are willing to evangelise communities, Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown has said. He was speaking at the funeral Mass of Fr Eugene Hasson (70), parish priest of Drumragh, Co. Tyrone, who died after a short illness. Remaking on the…
Catholic Schools Week 2026 takes place from January 18-24 and it’s theme is ‘Normal Lives, Called to Holiness’. According to the Catholic Education Partnership, (CEP), “Catholic Schools Week 2026 celebrates the extraordinary call to holiness in the midst of ordinary life. Inspired by Pope Francis’s reflection on St Carlo Acutis—the first millennial saint—this year’s theme…
The Catholic Church formally concluded the Jubilee Year of Hope with the closing of the Holy Doors of Rome’s four papal basilicas, culminating on January 6 with the sealing of the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica by Pope Leo XIV. After a jubilee year not seen for centuries — with one pope opening the…
Pope Leo XIV and the bishops of Venezuela have urged prayer, calm and respect for national sovereignty following the US military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and transferred them to the United States to face federal narcoterrorism charges. Speaking at the conclusion of the Angelus prayer in St…
Pope Leo XIV urged young people to remain open to God’s call in a video message to thousands attending the SEEK 2026 conference, took place January 1–5 in Columbus, Ohio, Denver and Fort Worth, Texas. “Be open to what the Lord has in store for you,” the Pope said, encouraging participants to reflect on the…
Welcome occasional Massgoers with open arms The world and its mother came to Mass on Christmas Eve. Rarely was such a crowd seen, not only in the local church but in neighbouring parishes too. It seems Christmas Eve is now what ‘a good Sunday’ once was. And, unusually now, the church was full of children…
The Board of Management of St Flannan’s College, Ennis, Co. Clare, recently announced the appointment of a new principal, Donal Cahir, a native of Kilnamona. Mr Cahir joined the staff of the diocesan school in 1999 and was appointed deputy principal in 2017. He succeeds Fr Ignatius McCormack, who worked with him in managing the…
In a new book released this month, A Synod Diary -Sixty Days That Shook the Church- author and academic Michael W. Higgins recalls his first Vatican Synod, The Extraordinary Synod of Catholic Bishops from November 24 to December 8th, 1985 called to review the twenty years that had elapsed since the conclusion of Vatican II.…
One of the oldest Lay Dominicans in Ireland was granted a Papal Award for a lifetime of service to the Church and numerous charities. James Joseph Tohill, also known as J.J., aged 92, is a retired Belfast businessman and accountant. Mr Tohill is a member of St Brigid’s Parish in South Belfast and received the…