When Matthew Sanders launched Longbeard, the name was a nod to two images. One was slightly more reverent though, tongue and cheek: an homage to the “big man with the white beard” – God. The other was considerably less reverent, more rebellious, a tip of the hat to pirates. That desire to go out on…
As September 5-7 pilgrimage of roughly 2,000 LGBTQ+ Catholics to Rome as part of the ongoing Jubilee Year, which is not formally part of the calendar of official celebrations but which nevertheless has been welcomed by some church officials, culminated with a procession of participants into St Peter’s Square for the Pope’s traditional noontime Angelus…
AI instead of industrialisation: Church historian Ernesti sees Pope Leo XIV as the successor to his predecessor. The new Pope’s response to the current social revolution is still unclear. For church historian Jörg Ernesti, Leo XIV is still “a black box” in theological terms. “We don’t know whether he will make conservative decisions or…
It is with great honour and conviction that I confirm my support for Maria Steen in her campaign to seek nomination for the Presidency of Ireland. Maria Steen has long been a courageous and principled voice in Irish public life. Her unwavering commitment to the values of faith, family, and constitutional integrity has resonated with…
A video has emerged of Bishop Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV describing how he was physically attacked in Ireland on a visit there in what was likely 2007. He had previously visited in 2005. Bishop Prevost describes the attack and how another bigger Augustinian friar came to his rescue. Bishop Prevost is recorded on X…
The Lumen Dominican Centre nestled on the Sion Hill Campus in the heart of Blackrock, Co. Dublin is a hive of educational activity for adults of all ages. Lumen advocates for lifelong learning and human flourishing in a spirit of community through the ethos of the Dominican sisters. It is committed to the dialogue between…
Decades ago, when British soldiers patrolled staunchly republican areas of Belfast, some received a rather unexpected blessing from a local woman who lived in Ardoyne. Whenever this devout Catholic spotted a soldier lying in an alleyway on patrol, she would open her handbag, and take out a bottle of holy water, along with her most…
Our hope is that the 2026 Congress will not only support the renewal of pastoral life within the Archdiocese of Armagh, but also position us to contribute meaningfully to national and continental discussions as the Church enters the next phase of synodal implementation. Last autumn the Diocesan Pastoral Council and the Diocesan Synodal Team, along…
Tetiana Metyk wrote letters to her husband while he went to the front Letter One My dearest, I’m writing to you in the evening once the children have fallen asleep and I finally have the chance to speak with you—even if only like this. I haven’t been able to reach you. Where you are…
The story of Crossmaglen is one that is well versed in modern Irish history. For anyone with even a passing knowledge or interest in the GAA or the Troubles that ripped through the north of Ireland, the name carries with it a heavy presence. Immediately certain images spring to mind. The crackle of Lynx British…
John L. Allen Jr.
Martina Purdy