Brandon Scott investigates the cryptic connection between an Irish village and the Church of Scientology As the inhabitants of Ballivor Co. Meath come to terms with the news that the village is to be the site of a Narconon drug rehabilitation centre, a subsidiary of the Church of Scientology, questions continue to linger over the…
Christmas music is the golden thread running through John Rutter’s life, he tells Ruadhán Jones If you haven’t heard of John Rutter CBE, you are still likely to have heard something by him. The 76-year-old English composer is arguably the best-known English creator of Christmas carols alive today. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, he explained…
The RTÉ star tells Chai Brady about Christmas, ‘wonderful’ religious and why a contemplative order would not be up her street Christmas is a busy time for much-loved RTÉ broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan but that’s exactly how she prefers it. Coming from a Heuston station-like household, total silence is “a bit odd”. Four daughters and four…
Catholic comedian Jeremy McLellan tells Ruadhán Jones about the importance of insults, making Catholics laugh and more Every religion loves a good conversion story, American comedian Jeremy McLellan tells me towards the end of our talk. While he wasn’t referring to himself, his own conversion experience is an interesting one. Born to a strict Presbyterian…
The Sunday Gospel Have we forgotten why we celebrate Christmas? A friend told me she got a card wishing her a very merry ‘Winter Festival’? Could you beat that! People tell me they have to search in shops for cards that portray the nativity but there is no shortage of fir trees, snow, red robins…
Catholic actor Jonathan Roumie was brought to new life by Jesus, and now he’s bringing Jesus to life on TV’s The Chosen, writes Jason Osborne ‘Phenomenon’ is a term often overused in the realm of movies, TV shows and books, but in the case of TV series The Chosen, it truly comes up short. Boasting…
A new exhibit at the national museum aims to shed light on 1,500 years of devotion to St Columba, writes Michael Kelly Stop a passer-by in any Irish town and ask them who the patron saints of Ireland are. Chances are everyone will be able to rhyme off St Patrick. Perhaps many make a stab…
We unashamedly celebrate and feel proud about our exceptional Christian heritage, writes Alexander O’Hara Recent proposals to designate Saint Brigid’s Day, February 1st, as a public holiday are to be welcomed. It needs to be made clear however that we are celebrating a remarkable Christian saint, not a pagan goddess. The romanticism linked to pagan…
The Little Way Association receives numerous requests from missionaries throughout the world asking for help to feed, support and educate needy, deprived children. Due to COVID-19 they are faced with many sufferings. They tell us of orphaned children left alone with no one to love or care for them, of families so poor that they…
At Backpack Productions we offer our courses as online facilitated groups. These groups run via Zoom and included in the enrolment fee is access to recordings of the sessions or video material used, so that you can stay up to date even if the times don’t always suit you! Our Spring 2022 schedule includes the…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady
Michael Kelly