Long before he was the successor of St Peter, Pope Leo XIV had a different name to the faithful of St Joseph the Worker Parish in Chulucanas. “We called him Fr Robertito, because we were very close to him,” Elena Lozada Seminario told the National Catholic Reporter inside the church where a then-30-year-old Fr Robert…

Christmas is a sacred time marking the birth of Christ and the dawn of Christianity. In Ireland, preparations begin weeks, and for some, months in advance. After Halloween, children write to Santa, and families make travel plans from faraway places to reunite for the festivities. Traditional celebrations include a four-course meal of chicken soup, roast…

Each person has their own favourite part of the Christmas celebrations. Some people love the food, while for others, the decorations bring joy and colour to a dark, cold month. For Daniel O’Donnell, the best part is Christmas Mass. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Mr O’Donnell said he loves “the services at Christmas. I love…

In 2018, Declan Hannon became the first Limerick man in forty-five long years to climb the steps of the Hogan Stand and raise the Liam McCarthy Cup, as a county starved of success finally reached the promised land after generations of hurt. From there, Limerick would go on to enjoy a remarkable period of dominance,…

In the modern GAA, few names evoke such power and presence as Hegarty. Immediately, images of the towering figure of Limerick’s six-foot-six giant in the half-forward line spring to mind. With colossal strength and the finesse of a craftsman, Gearóid Hegarty has combined wristwork, skill, and agility with raw athleticism to become one of the…

Matt Talbot lived in stirring times; the Lockout of 1913, the First World War, The 1916 Rising, The War of Independence, The Civil War. Some believe mistakenly that these events didn’t impact on him. Although it’s true that no checkpoint would keep him from daily Mass, he was well aware of the intense suffering that…

Halfway through Advent, when Christians are invited to look for hope in darkness, The Irish Catholic spoke to Roscommon native Sr Margaret Hosty, who’s been living in Brazil for 40 years and founded an organisation to support people living with HIV/AIDS. Speaking about Christmas celebrations, Sr Hosty recalls her first December 25 in the south…

I write these words in Rome on the first day of my new appointment as an official of the Dicastery for the Clergy at the Holy See. It is a privilege to be here in this city that has so much history, culture and global significance, attracting millions of pilgrims and tourists from all over…

Few families in Derry football carry a legacy as enduring as the Bradleys. Born in Glenullin and raised just eight miles away in Kilrea, brothers Paddy and Eoin grew into two of the most recognisable Gaelic footballers of their generation, their journeys shaped long before they ever pulled on a county jersey. Paddy, the elder…

Julieann Moran shares how 2026 will be a year of practical engagement and initiatives to help communities share the Good News as synodal practices are embedded across parishes and dioceses Following on from the Assembly in Kilkenny on 18th October, and listening closely to the feedback from all involved, we are now moving into the…