The Irish Franciscans announced on Tuesday that they’re withdrawing from Athlone in response to ageing and reduced membership. The friars and staff will be leaving Athlone on January 6, 2023, with a final Mass of thanksgiving to be celebrated in Athlone friary church on Sunday, January 8. Minister Provincial Fr Aidan McGrath OFM said that the…

The sixth Ceiliúradh Cois Life dinner for pro-life education took place Friday, October 7 in the RDS Concert Hall, Co. Dublin. Guests turned out in their finest to hear guest speaker, Professor Emeritus William Binchy of Trinity College Dublin, address the crowd. The first pro-life dinner post-Covid, the proceeds go towards ensuring the continuation of the Pro Life Campaign’s work and education, such as…

Parishes have been left in limbo regarding Government help with the rocketing cost of fuel. A Government scheme will allow Church-owned properties to avail of additional funds as long as it is being used for a “community service”. In response to a query from The Irish Catholic, a spokesperson for the Department of Rural and…

Pieta House founder Joan Freeman told Joe Duffy on RTÉ’s The Meaning of Life that “all of the research in the world” reveals that faith is good and helpful when it comes to mental health. Ms Freeman was speaking about the importance of her own faith in God, and she revealed the importance of prayer…

Staff Reporter The mother and baby home redress scheme has been approved by Cabinet, and is set to be debated in the Dáil and the Seanad in the next weeks before a vote. The scheme is expected to cost about €800 million and will be open to around 34,000 victims of the former mother and…

The economic pressures on families and individuals have led to “an unacceptable level of social deprivation”, the Irish bishops have warned. Following their Autumn General Meeting in Maynooth the bishops said if the hardship is not dealt with “equitably by those who have public responsibility” it will threaten social cohesion and the common good. “In…

Sr Stanislaus Kennedy has attributed soaring homelessness to poor political decisions, speaking as Focus Ireland issued its annual report for 2021. The founder of the homelessness charity said that the crisis will worsen this winter without immediate action from Government. Last year, the charity helped 1,288 households to avoid homelessness or leave homelessness, according to…

Staff Reporter Pope Francis has called on world leaders to keep their promises to help poorer nations affected by the climate crisis ahead of a UN climate conference next month, a message the Irish bishops have welcomed. In the Pope’s Season of Creation message he said world leaders should “take more ambitious steps”, to keep…

The Pro Life Campaign has criticised as “draconian” and “excessively authoritarian” the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission’s call for a response to pro-life activity that “engages criminal law”. The IHREC suggested that “civil remedies, like an injunction, are not effective to address widespread and repeated protests,” in a statement. Witnessing pro-life activity can cause…

Staff Reporter Ireland took to the coasts for the Rosary for Life and Faith on Sunday, with Fr Marius O’Reilly praising the “great witness” of those who took part. The Faithful gathered at around 180 locations on Ireland’s coasts to pray for “faith and life in Ireland”. Inland communities that wanted to join in prayed…