Catholicism is growing extremely rapidly in Africa. Despite this fact the Church faces new challenges on the continent. It has become clear that Africa will be the largest battleground in Christian persecution over the next decade. In many ways Africa is already the largest battleground. It is estimated that more Christians are killed for their…

Our faith is not virtual and is not something to be moved online, writes Bishop Tom Deenihan The current restrictions on public worship are both understandable and necessary and also enjoy public support. The escalation of Covid-19 during the past few months has been a source of fear and huge concern. However, I must also admit that…

While mother and baby homes were a product of a cruel and unforgiving culture towards unmarried mothers, some women found compassion and kindness, writes Jason Osborne The final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes cast further light on the disturbing treatment of many women and children in institutions throughout the…

Role of youth, women and inter-diocesan relations are some of the focuses of the future, writes Chai Brady Changes are coming in the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly and although some of them may be “painful” there will be discussion and dialogue, with everyone facing it together as a Church community. Following a statement in…

Cold war novel Conclave is a reminder JPII’s significance for the Church and the world, writes Ruadhán Jones Conclave, the new fictional account of the election of Pope St John Paul II, opens in the recent past – 27 April, 2014 to be exact. It’s a significant day for the Catholic Church. On that day,…

The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. We will be commencing Lent next Wednesday. Because the churches are closed you may not be able to receive the blessed ashes, although some parishes will have sachets of ashes available for collection. With or without the ashes, you can still observe Lent. During Lent we are…

Director of Vocations Ireland Margaret Cartwright tells Ruadhán Jones about an exciting initiative to highlight vocations In January 2017, Pope Francis told a vocations conference in Italy that the Church urgently needs to “bring into the Christian community a new ‘vocational culture’”. The Pope closed his speech that day by praying that those present would…

Discerning a life in the priesthood or religious life is a win-win whether they work out or not, Chai Brady hears A lot of young men in Ireland are afraid to put themselves forward for the priesthood or religious life and it may come from a fear of commitment or failure, according to the vocations director…

Friends and family of the popular Armagh priest tell Ruadhán Jones about Fr McKeever’s remarkable character There’s one thing that everyone who met him agrees on; Fr Joe McKeever was a remarkable man and a great character. Colm O’Farrell, a pupil and later close friend of Fr McKeever, says that “if you’d have been with…

The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. A song that comes down to us from the days of slavery in USA is the voice of a suffering people. “Hard times, hard times come again no more.” It’s a sentiment many of us can relate to in this difficult period. It’s hard to keep going.…