Fr Frank O’Loughlin, an Irish-born priest and former seminarian of All Hallows College in Dublin, led a Mass outside the Alligator Alcatraz immigrant detention center last week, marking his 60th jubilee while protesting US. immigration policies. The 83-year-old priest, long known for his work with migrant communities in Florida, drew more than 100 supporters to the…
Catholic officers in the PSNI are more likely to come under investigation for misconduct than their Protestant colleagues, snapshot figures provided to the Policing Board show. While Catholics make up just over 32% of the police workforce, Data from the Professional Standards Department (PSD) reveal that they accounted for almost 42% of officers being investigated…
The Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell has called attacks on members of the Indian community here as “completely and utterly despicable”. Dr Farrell said he will be writing to all parishes and parish councils and to schools to support communities and the gardaí. Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Archbishop Dermot Farrell said a small number…
Irish humanitarian Gena Heraty remains in captivity after being abducted from the NPFS compound in Kenscoff, Haiti, along with seven others, including a child. A native of Co. Mayo, Ms Heraty has worked in Haiti for over 30 years, leading a special needs programme for vulnerable children. During his Sunday Angelus, Pope Leo XIV made…
Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin announced diocesan appointments taking effect from September 6. The appointments are as follow: Rev. Sean McArdle, SM, PP Louth, to retire. Rev. Brian Slater, Adm. Donaghmore, to be PP Donaghmore. Rev. Emanual Fasakin, MSP, CC St Patrick’s Cathedral Parish, Armagh, on loan from the Missionary Society of St Paul Congregation,…
Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly of Cashel and Emly has called on Irish people to be “much more missionary” in their own country and to take a more proactive role in Church life. Asked about the recent RTÉ documentary The Last of the Irish Missionaries, which focused on the legacy of Irish religious working abroad, Archbishop O’Reilly SMA…
Irish missionary nun Sr Mary Lucey has been awarded the Presidential Insignia for Meritorious Achievement by Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema in recognition of her decades of service to poor communities. Sr Mary, now semi-retired in Castleisland, Co Kerry, spent 31 years working in Pemba and Kalomo, where she led projects to empower marginalised families. Her…
The Government is to establish a Commission of Investigation into historical allegations of sexual abuse in schools across the country. The investigation will cover all types of schools, not just those under Catholic religious patronage. Details were confirmed by Minister for Education Helen McEntee following Cabinet approval on Tuesday. The move follows a scoping inquiry…
In one of his last acts, Pope Francis conferred the Order of Saint Gregory the Great award on Martin and Carmel Naughton, the Association of Papal Orders in Ireland has announced. The formal conferral of the papal honours will take place in late August at a Mass and ceremony in Dublin by the Bishop of…
The Church must do more to promote Catholic weddings, says the Bishop of Kerry, after recent figures showed a further decline in the number of couples choosing to marry in a Catholic ceremony. Last weekend, Bishop Ray Browne noted that less than half of weddings in his diocese now take place in a church. The…