Martina Purdy When Andrew Black was a boy, his mother would often say: “As long as you have your health, son…”. And he would nod in agreement. But years later, when he became a chaplain in a Belfast hospital, having been ordained a priest, he was meeting people, who no longer had their health, people…
“The Church should be a bridge between marginalised people and the community”, Bishop of Kilmore Martin Hayes, who is also the Bishops’ Conference Liaison Bishop to the Irish Prison Service has said. Some of these marginalised people “often forgotten” by society are prisoners. “Of course, we have to acknowledge the fact that they would have…
Known for its extensive collection of religious books and gifts, the historic Veritas store on Abbey St will close its doors in the first week of January 2025, following the sale of the building, according to sources close to Veritas. Despite repeated attempts from The Irish Catholic to contact management for clarification on the closure,…
The COP29 conference has concluded on November 22, and the final agreement commits $300bn per year from richer countries to the Global South to develop climate plans. “When inflation is taken into account this is a minimal increase from the commitment of 100bn made in 2009,” Trócaire said in a statement. Which falls short on…
It’s that magical time of year again! The air is filled with festive cheer, and the familiar sights of holiday advertisements are everywhere. Are you ready to experience the true essence of Christmas? Mark your calendars for a visit to the Moving Crib—Dublin’s most magical hidden gem—opening its doors from November 28, 2024, to January…
A TD has described moves by political parties to abolish the mandatory three-day waiting period to access abortion medication and to extend the 12-week limit to allow for abortion on request as “monstrous” and “barbaric” and asked “is 40,000 abortions since 2019 not enough?”. Responding to the Labour Party and People Before Profit’s proposals to…
Sr Fiona Pryle Coming up to the elections, Ireland has a chance to do something radical! Will violence against women be on all the manifestos of the political parties and will they give a commitment to provide proper refuge spaces in each county? We, the voting public can hold our politicians accountable when they appear…
Historian and broadcaster Gabriel Doherty died at the age of 56 last Friday, November 8. Mr Doherty was a lecturer at the University College Cork School of History and a widely published historian, he edited two books and contributed to many articles and historical journals. Mary E. Fitzgibbon, a spokesperson for Ireland Stand Up, a…
Global leaders have gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) since November 11, the event will continue until November 22. Ahead of the conference, Bishop of Kilmore and Laudato Si’ coordinator of the Bishops’ Conference Martin Hayes urged Irish negotiators in Baku “to be, on our behalf, generous of spirit in recognising the…
The Sunday Gospel Dn 12:1-3 Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11 Heb 10:11-14, 18 Mk 13:24-32 Fr Joshua J. Whitfield Jesus is on the “Mount of Olives opposite the temple area” talking about the end of the world (Mk 13:3). That’s significant because according to prophecy it is from the Mount of Olives that the…