Late medieval Dublin had a thriving religious life, Greg Daly is told With a dearth of men in formation for the priesthood in modern Ireland, and with the national seminary having made national headlines in recent years for decidedly undesirable reasons, it is perhaps unsurprising that different models of priestly formation are being pondered…
A staple of Irish Masses is under pressure, writes Chai Brady Trouble is brewing for the prolific missalette, a staple in many parishes across the country, as Ireland’s national liturgical group, academics, priests and laity lambaste it for a plethora of reasons. Millions of missalettes are printed every year by a variety of publishers,…
Faith-based schools have an important role in the future, but we have to stand up for them, writes Michael Kelly The religious landscape in Ireland has changed dramatically in recent decades. Perhaps nowhere was that more evident than in the contrasts between the visit of St John Paul II in 1979 and that of…
Knock Novena The ‘post-modern’ or ‘post-religion’ era doesn’t exist, Chai Brady hears Modern youth movements and shrines are becoming increasingly important in the ‘new evangelisation’ of the Western world as parish churches attract fewer and fewer people, according to a high-ranking Vatican prelate on a visit to Ireland. Archbishop Salvatore ‘Rino’ Fisichella, President of…
Knock Novena Over 100,000 people flocked to Knock Shrine for their nine-day annual Novena, and with this year marking the 140th anniversary of the Apparition, some people voiced concerns about the loneliness prevalent in the lives of young people. Beginning on August 14, featuring a seminar given by former Taoiseach John Bruton, it ends…
Youth2000 Over the weekend Youth 2000 hosted its annual Summer Festival in Clongowes Wood College. The four-day festival was a celebration of faith, friendship and fun and was attended by 1000 young people from every county and diocese in Ireland and beyond! The four days included celebrations of Mass, Confession, a Praise and Worship…
Dom Mark Patrick Hederman OSB discusses the deafness of modern humanity to mythology I suppose my appreciation of myth must come from not having been to school myself until I was nine years old. This allowed me time to experience the world as a child in the way a child naturally relates to it. Imagination…
Parishioners in Derry and Tyrone donned their hiking books this month as they faced a daunting ascent in the Donegal mountains. As a fund-raiser for Derry’s St Eugene’s Church, Glenock, the parish of Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone, organised a sponsored climb of Mount Errigal. The two groups of climbers rose to the challenge. The “early birds”…
Tens of thousands of young faithful descended on Bosnia and Herzegovina last week to celebrate Medjugorje’s Youth Festival which is now in its 30th year. It comes after a ban on pilgrimages organised by Catholic dioceses and parishes was lifted under a papal decree on May 12. Earlier this year Pope Francis gave the Vatican…
A group of about 50 young people took to the streets of Germany this summer on a pilgrimage said to be an “integral part” of youth ministry in their diocese. Living Youth, developed by the Diocese of Down and Connor, brought the young pilgrims to Bavaria from July 28 to August 3. According to the Director…
Greg Daly
Chai Brady
Michael Kelly
Colm Fitzpatrick