During the height of the pandemic the majority of Irish Catholics have welcomed and engaged with online Church services, feel their faith has been strengthened and believe now there is a “great chance” to re-think the Church’s future, according to new research. The study was conducted by the Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education at…
The Head of Religious Programming in RTÉ has hailed a new initiative which saw Mass broadcast live on the station for the first time without an outside broadcast crew. For the first time last Tuesday and again on Sunday, iCatholic.ie delivered “high-quality”, live Mass to RTÉ, which has traditionally been done by media production company…
The Irish Bishops have withdrawn 78 schools from the first phase of the state’s National Broadband Plan (NBP) over fears they could be sued, The Irish Catholic understands. The schools, as well as other buildings such as libraries and GAA clubhouses, were to act as broadband connection points (BCPs), providing hubs of high-speed broadband for local communities. The hubs were to be an…
A new ‘camino’ style 22km pilgrim walk is being launched in Downpatrick by St Patrick Centre, the only permanent exhibition in the world dedicated to Ireland’s patron saint. New pilgrim guides, Martina Purdy, former BBC political correspondent, and former barrister, Elaine Kelly will lead pilgrims along St Patrick’s Way, visiting seven locations, from July 1.…
Ireland’s recently won seat on the United Nations Security Council can be an opportunity to “leverage” the council to support persecuted Christians, according to Aid to the Church in Need Ireland (ACN). Last week it was announced that Ireland secured enough votes, along with Norway, to win a two-year non-permanent seat. Dr Michael Kinsella, Director…
We are facing a period of new poverties as we come out of lockdown, of economics, of education and of hope, said Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry. “In a society with huge gaps between the well-off and the poor, an economic downturn first strikes the weakest and those who were hanging on by their fingertips,”…
The passing of Garda Colm Horkan has been a tragic reminder of the heroism and bravery of an Garda Síochána as they work daily to make society safer for all, said Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick. Speaking following a remembrance service outside Henry Street Garda station in Limerick, Bishop Leahy said an unmistakable sense of…
While hopes had been high that pilgrims could return in late July, Fr La Flynn of Lough Derg has confirmed that the traditional three-day pilgrimage will not take place this summer. It is the first time since 1828 that the pilgrimage has been suspended with organisers conceding that the nature of the pilgrimage involves close…
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has criticised the “flagrant mistreatment of childcare providers” by Minister Katherine Zappone. In a recent statement, TD Tóibín suggested that the actions of her department threatens the childcare sector as a whole. “Minister Zappone pledged that in addition to the 70% wage subsidy, the Department for Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) would…
The episcopal consecration of the new bishop of Achonry, which was postponed due to coronavirus restrictions, will now go ahead on August 30 a spokesman for the diocese has confirmed. Bishop-elect Paul Dempsey will be ordained bishop in the Cathedral of the Annunciation and St Nathy in Ballaghaderreen. Fr Dempsey, who has been serving as…
Chai Brady