Limerick’s Bishop Brendan Leahy said the union of young and old in peace, reflection and prayer on the annual diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes was a spiritually enrichening and special experience for all involved. Over 500 pilgrims, including 120 young people from the diocesan youth programme, travelled to Lourdes from Limerick last month. For many of…

The vision of modern Irish saints needs to be told, Martin O’Brien learns   By any standards, Dr Gladys Ganiel, a distinguished Queen’s University Belfast academic, formerly of the Irish School of Ecumenics, Trinity College Dublin, must be among the most remarkable Americans ever to have made their home in Ireland. One of the foremost…

Claims that the Vatican has whitewashed a history of women priests and bishops must be taken with a pinch of salt, writes Greg Daly   “It used to be said that facts speak for themselves,” observed the English historian E.H. Carr in his classic 1961 book What is History? “This is, of course, untrue,” he…

Uplifting stories are the true source of inspiration and courage, writes Joanna Moorhead   It’s tempting, when you’re a journalist, to name-drop the famous people you’ve met. I’ve worked in newspapers for three decades, so there have been a few. Martin Sheen was gorgeous; Geri Halliwell was interesting. Damian Lewis was the best lunch date…

Ordination of Bishop Fintan Gavin of Cork & Ross Diocese Chai
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Duddy   Hundreds of parishioners laughed as outgoing Bishop John Buckley ribbed that visitors from Dublin would be happy in Cork as they were “simply travelling from one capital city to the alternative capital”. Jokes were always expected as the ‘rebel…

Our society demands productivity, but we can’t let our faith conform to this, writes Ben Swanson   A little while ago I found a little golden ring. I was going up the stairs in my house and it was there sitting on one of the steps. It was thin, it had a break in it, and…

Hannah Harn learns about the history of the Jews of Iraq   As of 2016, Ireland was home to fewer than 3,000 Jews. “In the region of Munster, we have about 95 people on a day to day basis and we’ll meet up occasionally,” said Aida Phelops of West Cork. Ms Phelops is a speaker…

This month, hundreds of people from the Diocese of Waterford and Lismore travelled as part of the annual diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes. Now in its 61st year, 485 people made the journey, with 94 sick pilgrims as part of the group. Noting that all in attendance enjoyed the trip, Bishop Phonsie Cullinan told The Irish…

A new book on meditating on Jesus’ love comes from hard-won experience, writes Martin O’Brien   You come from a conversation with Jim Deeds uplifted and refreshed. Those who have attended the retreats he has recently conducted at Lough Derg (with his friend and fellow author Fr Brendan McManus SJ) or listened to his talks…

Being the child of donor-assisted reproduction can be like having an invisible disability, Susan Gately is told   Joanna Rose was conceived in 1971 using an anonymous sperm donor. She found out when she was eight. Her dad was crying. “I wouldn’t let it go until he told me what the matter was.” As they…