On June 24, 1981, Our Lady first appeared in Medjugorje to two young woman, Mirjana Dragićević and Ivanka Ivanković. The next day she appeared again to the girls and four other young people. These six visionaries, aged 10 to 16, had no relation to one another. Three of the six still report daily apparitions, while…

Approval Process More than 1,500 visions of Mary have been reported around the world, but in the past century, fewer than 20 cases have received Church approval as worthy of belief. The Vatican’s ‘Norms regarding the manner of proceedings in the discernment of presumed apparitions or revelations’ were approved by Pope Paul VI in 1978.…

Fr Ruairí Ó Domhnaill There is something about the experience of hearing Confessions in Medjugorje that even the most skeptical of priests has to admit that the unique and sacred quality of this sacramental encounter in this little village in Bosnia Herzegovina is rarely experienced anywhere else. I have often listened to priests returning from…

Even though this year’s Thanksgiving Mass organised by NET Ministries Ireland at the beginning of this month was the official ending of a year of mission for 46 young missionaries, it had the dual purpose of celebrating 15 years of “restoring hope” through their work with Irish young people. This year’s cohort of 46 missionaries…

Conor Culkin. It is shocking that there is now a record number of nearly 4,000 children homeless and the problem is getting worse. One child becomes homeless every four hours in Ireland. Focus Ireland is working every day to support these children and their families while they are homeless to lessen the damage done by…

I met Marlies Bolsias by chance at a conference which had Mary, Mother of God, as its central theme. During a feedback session, Marlies spoke about how Mary had come to her aid during a crisis pregnancy as she prepared for an abortion. Afterwards, in a quiet translation booth, she told me her story. Marlies…

“Th’ whole worl’ is in a terrible state o’ chassis”. I wasn’t exactly expecting that immortal line from ‘Captain’ Jack Boyle in Sean O’Casey’s famous play Juno and the Paycock to be intoned with gusto by Alan Abernethy, the 62-year-old Church of Ireland Bishop of Connor, when we spoke at his home in south Belfast.…

The author of Does Religion do More Harm Than Good? talks to Greg Daly In a way, Rupert Shortt admits, the central question posed by his new book Does Religion Do More Harm than Good? Is a ridiculous one. As has been pointed out, he says, religion is an aspect of culture, and it shouldn’t…

Rebuilding a pro-life movement is a real challenge, but a vital one, writes Greg Daly “I’ve decided that one year ago today was the lowest point in our nation’s history,” observed Maria Steen at The Irish Catholic Pro-Life Conference, continuing, “and while we are yet to see the full ramifications of abortion in our country…

From exclusion zones to the pro-life movement in the US, speakers’ messages heartened attendees at The Irish Catholic’s Pro-life Conference over the weekend. Over 100 people were at the conference in Dublin, with several saying they hope Ireland will be influenced by the “growing” pro-life sentiment in the US. Dubliner Con Daly told the paper:…