Former MEP and 1970 Eurovision winner Dana has been awarded the Order of St Gregory by Pope Francis in recognition of her services to the Church. Dana became a Dame of the Order of St Gregory at a ceremony at her parish church in Claregalway, Co. Galway, surrounded by family and friends. She thanked Bishop Michael Duignan, Bishop of…

A returned missionary priest who doesn’t qualify for a state pension is to speak with his religious order, the Society of African Missions (SMA) to find out why apparently no stamps were paid on his behalf while he was a missionary in Ghana for 31 years, which he claims was a paid employment where he…

Speaking in the aftermath of the Housing Commission’s report calling for a “radical strategic reset of housing policy” and which identified substantial deficits concerning the provision of housing, longstanding homelessness campaigner Fr Peter McVerry said that the report, which was publicised on Tuesday, is indicative of a housing policy that is “fundamentally flawed” and that…

A senior lecturer in Mary Immaculate College has written a letter of protest to the Irish bishops over the apparent appointment of a senior priest in Limerick to the head of the theology department of Mary Immaculate College. Dr Catherine Swift writes: “Pope Francis has written more than once that lay people must bear witness…

On May 13, 2024, the relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis visited St Nichola’s Church, Ardglass and St Mary’s Church, Dunsford in Co. Down, and was greeted by an estimated 5,500 people. The relic has travelled to Ireland this weekend from Assisi’s Sanctuary of the Renunciation, the church where Blessed Carlo Acutis’ remains are housed and…

In response to the Children’s Rights Alliance report, published last Monday, which reveals one in five children are experiencing enforced deprivation, an 18.8% increase when compared to the figures established in 2022, CEO of the Capuchin Day Centre, Brian Friel, said that the figures contained in the report almost exactly match the increased volume of…

UNHCR is concerned at the scale of proposed reductions in social protection benefits for Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection living in state provided serviced accommodation in Ireland announced this week.   The proposed cuts would leave beneficiaries of temporary protection with just €38.80 a week, a drastic cut from the current €232 per week they have…

Chai Brady and  Theo McDonald Charity workers providing support to Ireland’s migrants and asylum seekers are facing threats of having their workplaces burnt out as well as racist abuse online. Chairman of Tiglin, a charity that operates under a Christian ethos, Aubrey McCarthy has said the homeless charity have received online threats in recent weeks for helping…

Mixed feelings reign among GAA devotee priests after the hullabaloo following Taoiseach Simon Harris’s criticism that the Munster Senior Hurling Championship fixture between Cork and Limerick was shown on the GAA’s pay-per-view service. Fr Harry Bohan AP, former manager of the Clare senior hurling team – a team he played on for eight years –…

An expert on Church history has said the need for a reorganisation of diocesan structures has “reached a critical point”. Prof. John McCafferty, based in the School of History in UCD, told The Irish Catholic that Ireland would be better suited to 10 dioceses, “possibly less”. The much-needed change, he opines, will not be hugely…