Mercy sisters dip into podcasting Three Mercy Sisters from the Western Province have ventured into the world of podcasting in order to share their stories. Sr Angela Bracken tells of the two choices she faced at the age of eighteen: the convent or the stage, while Srs Noreen Lyons and Anne Mills reveal how their…

There has been an outpouring of grief, sympathy and messages of solidarity across Ireland and the world following the devastating explosion at a petrol station in Creeslough, Co. Donegal. Across the world Masses have been offered, rosaries prayed and holy hours held. As the funerals continue this week, Church leaders spoke of the “awful loss”…

Staff Reporter Irish pilgrims travelled to the Holy Land from October 1-9 and visited numerous sites connected to Christ’s life including Bethlehem, Nazareth and Jerusalem. There were 46 pilgrims on the trip, with Fr Eamonn Conway as the spiritual director. The pilgrimage was organised by Marian Pilgrimages and The Irish Catholic.

A host of people young and old came together to celebrate the golden jubilee of St Anne’s Church in Portmarnock, Co. Dublin. The colourful event had Mass, face painting, music, magic, cake and more to mark 50 years of the establishment of the church in 1972. The family fun day took place after Mass, which…

The Pope’s climate leadership provides inspiration both on- and off-screen, writes Carol Glatz Highlighting the Church’s approach of coupling the power of prayer with active and committed care for the earth, the Vatican wrapped up the monthlong Season of Creation October 4 with the launch of new initiatives. The feast day of St Francis of…

Catholic guides commissioner sworn in A new national commissioner for the Catholic Guides of Ireland (CGI) was commissioned in the North Cathedral, Cork, October 2. Bishop of Cork and Ross Fintan Gavin commissioned Julie Donnelly at an event attended by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Deirdre Forde, and representatives of Guiding and Scouting organisations from…

A prominent Irish theologian has warned that the legacy of Irish religious could be “betrayed” by the gifting of third-level Catholic institutions to the State. The Vatican must investigate several deals made by the Church in Ireland to hand over Catholic colleges in recent years, Prof. Eamonn Conway told The Irish Catholic. The founder and until…

The Police Service of Northern Ireland is not doing enough to recruit Catholic police officers with outreach to some communities being “non-existent”, the newly formed Catholic Police Guild has warned. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, leading members of the guild said they felt they have been “actively excluded” from recruitment drives. Chief Inspector Graham Dodds…

Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell has promised to “streamline” the administrative burdens on parishes, saying it is “critical” to promote outreach. Building Hope Many of the 76% of parishes who have so far participated in the diocese’s ‘Building Hope’ process warned that high administration responsibilities for priests do “not serve the pastoral life of the…

Struggling schools are turning to their local parish priest to help pay their energy bills, despite hikes in the capitation grant, said TD Michael Collins. Mr Collins criticised Minister for Education Norma Foley’s claim that there was “no reason” for schools to ask for voluntary contributions this year following the rise in capitation grants. “It…