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…
An Irish religious leadership body has called for the immediate release of children and teachers abducted from a Catholic school in Niger State, Nigeria. The Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland (AMRI) said it fully supports efforts to secure the safe return of those kidnapped from St Mary’s Catholic School in the…
Archbishop Eamon Martin has condemned an antisemitic attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach in Sydney, which left 15 people dead, urging Christians to counter prejudice and hatred wherever it appears. Speaking during the annual Christmas Carol Service in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland said the…
In the physiotherapy room at the Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) hospital in Amman, Jordan, Iyad (17, Palestine) is laughing as he is passing a football with his friend Hossam (21, Iraq). It’s part of Iyad’s physiotherapy session. “It helps me a lot when Hossam joins,” says Iyad. “We joke a lot, but we…
When we think about the legacy we will leave behind, it’s not just about material possessions—it’s about the values we hold dear: love, compassion, and care for those most in need. One of the most profound ways to live those values beyond our lifetime is by making a will and considering a legacy gift to…
Be remembered for continuing Sr Stan’s vision of hope for a kind, loving future… Dear The Irish Catholic reader, Take a moment to step back in time with me and reflect on Sr Stan’s life and legacy. Sr Stan was born Treasa Kennedy on June 19, 1939, near Lios Póil on the Dingle Peninsula.…
As the homelessness crisis in Cork worsens, one local woman shares how she hopes to help Cork Simon make a difference. Since Ann Wixted first moved to Cork over 40 years ago, plenty has changed. For starters, the Dublin native has fallen head over heels for the real capital in ways she never imagined. “We…
A gift in your Will can bring that same hope and healing to other families facing childhood cancer and other serious illnesses. Please consider leaving a gift in your will to help children like Fióna. Childhood cancer entered the O’Reilly family’s life in the most unexpected way. One ordinary morning, while dressing her 14-month-old daughter,…
For over 75 years, Rehab Group, has been a steadfast presence in communities across Ireland. What began as a small initiative in Dublin has grown – guided by compassion and purpose – into one of Ireland’s leading disability charities. Today we are proud to support more than 12,000 people every year, in over 257 locations…