The diocesan appointments for priests in Down and Connor have been announced this week. The appointments will take effect from August 5. Fr Timothy Bartlett to be PP St Mary’s, Belfast. Fr Conor McGrath PP St Colmcille’s, Belfast and, in addition, Director of Vocations. Fr Eugene O’Neill to be PP St Patrick’s, Belfast. Fr Michael…
The Knights of St Columbanus and the Order of the Holy Sepulchre took part in the annual procession of the relics of St Oliver Plunkett which took place in Drogheda July 3. The procession, marched through the Co. Louth town from the Holy Family Church, Ballsgrove, to St Peter’s Church for Mass at 4pm. The…
The Parish of Newtownards and Comber, Co. Down, celebrated 150 years of worship in Our Lady of the Visitation Church, Saturday, May 29. Bishop of Down and Connor Noel Treanor attended on the day, con-celebrating Mass with a number of priests and deacons of the diocese. Parishioners, former priests of the parish and friends from…
Addiction in Ireland ‘frightening’ – Bishop Router Addiction to drugs and alcohol are a “frightening aspect” of contemporary life in Ireland, Bishop Michael Router has said. Speaking as the second episode of the Irish bishops’ Leave Your Mark podcast series was launched, Bishop Router said the series can highlight the problems that exist and show…
The Ukrainian community in Ireland has praised the “outstanding” welcome they have received from Irish parishes, as the Church considers establishing mission communities to care for the influx of refugees. There is a “huge demand for pastoral care” from the almost 40,000 refugees from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the chaplain to Ireland’s Ukrainian Catholic parish…
The St Vincent de Paul Society has encouraged anybody who is working but struggling economically to come to them for help, saying that “need is their only criteria”. SVP chair of the social justice committee Nessan Vaughan said that they are seeing more people in work who are seeking assistance. “Often the first question we…
Liam Fitzpatrick Social justice agencies have urged the Government to use better-than-expected tax returns to target assistance to those most affected by the cost of living crisis. Living crisis The Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform released their Summer Economic Statement (SES) this week, proposing a €6.7 billion budget increase…
Well-known online news website TheJournal.ie, which prides itself on conducting ‘fact-checks’, apparently failed to check the facts about attendance at Saturday’s large ‘Rally for Life’. Mr Pope could be seen during the march walking the length of the gathering a number of times to provide an accurate estimate on the crowd” The website reported on…
Staff reporter Pilgrims have been welcomed to Knock shrine to learn about the catechism, meet with people of faith and share ideas about “how to practically plan for faith formation”. Organised by the Catechism of the Catholic Church – Adult Studies, the free event will take place on July 30. The theme of this year’s…
The inquest into the death of Catholic journalist and pro-life activist Tom O’Gorman has returned a narrative verdict – meaning that the jury confirmed the facts around the case without attributing blame. Mr O’Gorman (39), a journalist and researcher with The Iona Institute, was killed by Italian national Saverio Bellante at his home in Castleknock…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones