Two Catholic young-adult groups based in Dublin, ‘Youth Rathmines’ and ‘Pure in Heart’, joined forces to bring ‘The Way of Wonder’ to Ireland from the USA. The event, which took place on July 26 at Mary Immaculate Church in Rathmines, Co. Dublin, attracted over 200 attendees eager to experience a unique three-hour immersive journey of…

Located in Co. Donegal, almost at the border with Tyrone and Fermanagh, St Patrick’s Purgatory, most commonly known as Lough Derg, is the “most hidden Irish Catholic church treasure,” according to James McLoughlin, a member of the Lough Derg team. Last Saturday, The Irish Catholic sent two reporters to discover the wonders of the island’s…

A parish priest in Armagh who gave an online blessing to those attending the All-Ireland final and specifically rearranged Masses to facilitate those travelling to the big match, has said that Armagh’s victory is a “great boost” to the parish community, many of whom have links to their local GAA club. Speaking to The Irish…

There was immense joy last Saturday in Ennis Cathedral as Clare-native Monsignor Seamus Horgan was appointed bishop and the first ever Papal Nuncio to South Sudan. The ceremony was attended by a number of fellow priests, parishioners, cardinals, bishops and deacons. Three cardinals concelebrate on the day. Principal Consecrator of the Mass was Vatican Secretary…

Over 500 grandparents and elderly from across Ireland, along with multi-generational families, gathered at the Shrine of Our Lady of Knock to celebrate the Catholic Grandparents Association National Grandparents Pilgrimage and World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. The pilgrimage, which takes place on the fourth Sunday of July every year, was attended by Chief…

The Diocese of Wonju, South Korea, held a ceremony last July, blessing the martyrdom site and unveiling a life-size statue of ‘Servant of God’ Fr James Maginn SSCME (1911-1950), who was martyred while guarding the church during the Korean War. Fr Maginn, whose beatification is being promoted by the Korean Church, was raised in Belfast…

Thousands of pilgrims from throughout the country climbed to the top of Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s ‘Holy Mountain’ in Co. Mayo last Sunday for the annual pilgrimage ‘Reek Sunday’. The event saw people from all ages ascending the rocky paths on the 765 metres mountain. Traditionally, Reek Sunday is celebrated on the last Sunday of July.…

The Hozana Association has launched a new app called ‘Rosary’ with the aim of supporting Olympic athletes through prayer. Cassandre Verhelst, a spokesperson for Hozana, spoke with this paper, encouraging the Irish Church to participate in the Olympics spiritually. “We thought the initiative was great and wanted to allow people to participate in the Olympics…

Pope Francis has appointed a Dublin diocesan priest as an Archbishop-elect. Monsignor John Kennedy is currently Secretary of the Disciplinary Section of the Dicastery for the Congregation of the Faith at the Vatican. The body has a Doctrinal and Disciplinary section each coordinated by a Secretary who assists the Prefect in the specific area of…

In a statement made last week, July 23, relating to the life and legacy of Bishop Eamonn Casey, Bishop Michael Duignan clearly expressed his commitment to “working with anybody affected, to help bring truth, healing and peace to such terribly painful situations.” The interment of the remains of Bishop Casey in the crypt beneath Galway…