A Eucharistic Liturgy was held at the Church of St Nicholas, Killavullen, Co. Cork as part of the year of celebration in honour of the 250th Anniversary of the founding of the Presentation Congregation. The event took place on April 26, which also marks the anniversary of death of Venerable Nano Nagle, Presentation Sisters founder.…
Category: Feature
A pilgrimage to the ‘City of Love’ and its Catholic heart
Paris in the spring is often admired by its many visitors for its diverse beauty, from the cherry blossoms surrounding the Eiffel Tower to the Mona Lisa in The Louvre. The city is known for its culture, history and art, making it the ideal destination for a city break. However, a different kind of experience…
The lost championship and the split season
As the championship rumbles into full gear, the provinces of Leinster and Munster have taken centre stage in the Irish summer of hurling. Galway have already underlined Kilkenny’s vulnerabilities, while Offaly have shown they are more than capable of having a say in the province’s affairs this season. Further south, Munster has offered its usual…
The legacy of St Pier Giorgio Frassati lives on among Italy’s ‘usual suspects’
Last year’s dual canonisation of St Pier Giorgio Frassati and St Carlo Acutis was of particular significance to young Catholics. Understandably, there was noticeable interest in the ‘patron saint of the Internet’ Carlo Acutis, given his status as the first millennial to be canonised. Yet the life and legacy of Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925) also…
Changing patterns of Catholic practice: the rise of a new ‘evangelical’ Catholicism
Questions around an emerging trend and the rise of an ‘evangelical Catholicism’ emerged during a roundtable discussion on the changing patterns of Catholic practice across the island of Ireland. The event, hosted by the Marino Institute of Education on Monday on April 27, brought together representatives from Catholic school trusts, patrons, and management bodies and…
Nuns in the midst of violence in Northern Ireland
New book of research tells the stories of religious sisters during the Troubles For generations, nuns were the backbone of Irish life, their contributions characterised by practical, sustained and deeply valued service. While academics including Prof. Deirdre Raftery have noted the largely undocumented legacy of Catholic sisters in education, healthcare and missionary work, religious life…
Provincial Championships remain the heartbeat of Ireland’s sporting summer
As the ground hardens, the rain softens, and the flags and bunting begin to adorn lampposts, shop fronts and car windows across the country, it can only mean one thing. Summer is here, and so too is the championship. Gaelic football has already lurched into motion, and with the hurling championship close behind, the long…
The Munster Shark Tank
Few days in the GAA calendar carry the same weight as a Munster final. Each year, the coveted Mick Mackey Cup is lifted amid a swirl of colour and noise, the roar of a rapturous crowd rising to meet the moment as the province’s hurling champions are crowned. While Gaelic football may dominate much of…
The Synod: are we journeying together down a cul-de-sac?
It’s over two years since Pope Francis launched the Synod on Synodality and to many it seems at this point to be all about assemblies, working groups and reports that float high above the lives of the man and woman in the pew. The publicity and the posters are a rapidly fading memory. The idea…
Algeria’s martyrs and Pope Leo
Pope Leo’s election on May 8, 2025, coincided with the commemoration of the Blessed Martyrs of Algeria. Among them are the seven Trappist monks of Tibhirine, murdered in 1996, thirty years ago. Pope Leo will pay tribute to the 19 martyrs who were killed in this mostly Muslim nation. We reprint part of Luca Attanasio’s…









