The outrage after the controversial funerals last month of three men from Tallaght who were allegedly connected to a burglary gang was understandable, but there is a bigger question about Irish people, tradition and Catholic funerals that must be answered in modern Ireland. Namely, do people truly understand Catholic funerals? At one of the funerals…

Two major United Nations’ conferences on climate change are taking place in Autumn 2021. The first one, on biodiversity, takes place in early October in China. The second, the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) takes place in Scotland in November, with Pope Francis in attendance. The Pope has frequently expressed the importance of care for…

This year is the third in a row that Youth 2000’s summer festival will be online. But while the traditional residential retreat isn’t possible, the organisers are working hard to bring young people together “who love the Lord, who love the faith, who love the Church”, the national director of Youth 2000 tells me. Confession…

The Covid-19 pandemic has become a monolith in our minds, spreading like a blanket over the entire globe. But its smothering embrace is not as uniform as we might think. Each country and region faces its own, unique challenges. I spoke to missionaries in Taiwan, Cambodia and Uganda about their experiences, which were a mix…

With a month of summer left, Ruadhán Jones reflects on the ideal Catholic long read The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien has a broad fan base, within and outside Catholic circles, but due to its length – 900 pages and some – it can be off-putting. For many, Peter Jackson’s film adaptation is…

Ireland has some of the worst gambling rates, with the effects of lockdown on addiction expected to be felt for years to come, Chai Brady hears A study released this month found that Irish people are the fourth biggest gamblers in the European Union and while this may be hard to believe, for a Cuan Mhuire…

The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. In last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus miraculously fed people by multiplying loaves and fishes. In John’s Gospel miracles are usually called signs. In today’s Gospel (John 6:24-35), Jesus asks the people to see the miracle of the bread as a sign of something greater, to move on to…

Fr Raymond Hickey OSA will be remembered for his love of Nigeria and its people, writes Fr Justine John Dyikuk Following the death of Irish Augustinian Fr Raymond Hickey, who answered the call home in the early hours of July 9, eulogies have been pouring in from people from all walks of life. Typical among…

Using technology to fly millionaires to space is symbolic of a culture of waste, Chai Brady hears Billionaire Sir Richard Branson’s flight into the fringes of space as part of his new private space tourism company is symbolic of a “culture of waste” according to an Irish Jesuit. Fr Kevin O’Higgins SJ, who spent half…

People with disabilities are often left behind in society but Christian Blind Mission has been working to ensure they are supported as the pandemic worsened their situation, Chai Brady writes The rights of people with disabilities in the developing world were “abused” during the pandemic as many of them were disproportionately affected by restrictions, according…