The trailer for a new film about the famous Italian exorcist Fr Gabriele Amorth has been released, part of which was filmed in Ireland. Starring Russell Crowe as Fr Amorth, The Pope’s Exorcist will be released in the US next month. The Irish Catholic understands an Irish priest was consulted during the making of the…

A Catholic prayer app soared to the number three spot on the Apple App Store on Ash Wednesday, overtaking the usual top dogs TikTok, Google, Netflix, Spotify and Instagram. First launched in 2018, ‘Hallow’ has managed millions of downloads and reached around 150 countries. Last year, the app surpassed 100 million prayers completed through the service. Hallow…

The youngest member of the American boy band, Hanson, best known for their 1997 hit single ‘MMMbop’ was ordained a deacon in the Georgian Orthodox Christian Church in February. Zac Hanson’s ordination to the diaconate took place at St Nina’s monastery in Maryland, after he apparently converted to Orthodox Christianity more than a decade ago,…

Carlos Medina, the husband of Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell’s housekeeper, has admitted to murdering the bishop, the Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón has said. “He admitted that he had done the killing and we believe we recovered the weapon that they were using, and we have other evidence from the bed, certain…

Parishes in the diocese of Killaloe are being consulted on plans to cut the number of parishes from 58 to 15. In meetings held in February and March, two plans for the future of the diocese are being presented to parishes for consideration. Fr Albert McDonnell, the diocese’s chancellor, told the parishes that “radical” structural…

February 24 saw the one year anniversary of the outbreak of war in Ukraine, and both Ukrainian and Irish communities gathered in Donneycarney parish to mark the occasion. Speaking to The Irish Catholic newspaper, Chaplain to the Ukrainian Community in Ireland Fr Vasyl Kornitsky said that the one year anniversary was a “very anxious day”…

Prayers for peace needed this Lent – Archbishop Martin Prayers, charity and sacrifice for peace and refugees are needed this Lent, Archbishop Eamon Martin said on Ash Wednesday, February 22. The world has experienced death and suffering on a large scale in the last year, the Primate of All-Ireland said in a statement. “I encourage…

EXCLUSIVE The divestment of Catholic schools in the Republic must stop until the Government gives a guarantee that the State will not attempt to undermine the Catholic identity of remaining schools, leading education experts have warned. The “clock is ticking” for Catholic education because, as divestment – handing some schools over to State control –…

Tributes have poured in for the Irish-born Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles David O’Connell who was shot dead in his home. The 69-year-old Cork native was a well-known community peacemaker who spent decades ministering in areas afflicted by poverty and gang violence. Bishop of Cork and Ross Fintan Gavin said the “tragic death” has sent…