There is no doubt Pope Benedict will leave a lasting legacy as a teacher and theologian, writes Chai Brady in Rome A misty, cold morning greeted mourners the day of Pope Benedict XVI’s funeral Mass and the chill did not leave the air as thousands streamed into St Peter’s Square for what would be a…

Sport and religion overlap in that they can teach people values and understanding, writes Gerard Gallagher Sport continues to unite people from different backgrounds. This was evident recently. During December as the World Cup was played during a political storm, it was uplifting to see many sports stars make some small gestures of ritual and…

There are many Irish Catholics on the path to sainthood who deserve to be known better, writes Fr John Hogan While Ireland has a long list of saints dating from the earliest years of Christianity, since the Church’s process of canonisation was formalised, few Irish have been proposed for glorification. At the moment 93 Irish…

An almost 400-year-old Irish chalice used throughout periods of persecution has been returned, Ruadhán Jones writes There were two Franciscan friaries in Co. Leitrim, one in north Leitrim and the other in south Leitrim. Creevelea friary was set up in the year 1508 beside the village of Dromahair in north Leitrim and Muintir Eolais friary…

The Church is at the forefront of efforts to serve a struggling people in one of the world’s newest countries, writes James Bradshaw It was recently announced that Pope Francis will be visiting South Sudan in early February as part of an ‘ecumenical pilgrimage of peace’. When he arrives in South Sudan in the company…

Internet star Fr Mike Schmitz and Scripture scholar Jeff Cavins are looking to bring the facts of the Faith to a new audience in the new year, writes Jason Osborne By any measure, Ascension’s The Bible in a Year podcast, hosted by Fr Mike Schmitz and featuring Jeff Cavins has been a runaway success. At…

JANUARY The New Year started grimly, as 22 Catholic church workers were murdered in 2021, according to Fides, the Vatican’s missionary news agency. Some 13 priests, one religious brother, two religious sisters and six laypeople were killed in the course of their ministry in situations of extreme poverty, war or civil tensions. One of Ireland’s…

Ireland’s former football manager gives his two cents on the entwining of sport and politics, writes Chai Brady Growing up in an Irish Catholic family in the North of Ireland, football star turned manager Martin O’Neill said he would pray the rosary every evening – his mother being a strong influence in this – and…

The diet and fitness expert tells Ruadhán Jones about her faith, family and Christmas traditions It’s not very often that you’ll hear a diet and fitness expert and instructor saying, “it’s quite good to over-indulge”, but that’s what Rosemary Conley CBE told me. Of course, to put this in context, the famous originator of the…

Christmas can be a time to pray for loved ones abroad or who have passed away, Eileen Dunne tells Chai Brady Veteran media newsreader and household face Eileen Dunne will miss being in the hot seat when breaking news stories land but plans to take it easy and enjoy Christmas after her retirement from RTÉ.…