A Spanish social media ‘influencer’ who has millions of followers has expressed his pro-life position in several videos, saying “abortion is interrupting a life”. Naim Darrechi (19), who has 26 million followers on TikTok, said that “When a woman is pregnant, if she doesn’t take anything, if she doesn’t abort, the natural cycle is going…
Category: Irish News
Priests must be ‘more supportive’ says Bishop Nulty, as he announces appointments
Priests must become more comfortable “pulpit sharing” and “less consumed by our individual parishes”, said Bishop Denis Nulty June 28. Announcing the appointment of priests for the diocese of Kildare and Leighlin, Bishop Nulty emphasised that “every one of our 78 priests in parish ministry or available for parish ministry is involved in the diocesan…
Call for extra priests in ‘ambitious’ Croagh Patrick pilgrimage project
Pilgrims have been welcomed back to Croagh Patrick this year with an “ambitious project” which aims to extend access to the sacraments for the pilgrimage from Wednesday to Saturday this month, July 1-31. The annual Reek Sunday pilgrimage was cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to this, the administrator of Westport Fr Charlie…
Sadness as Sisters of Mercy retreat centre ends public ministry
The Galilee Spirituality Centre, Co. Roscommon, announced June 25 that it would be ending it’s public ministry this month, as a shrinking congregation meant it was no longer viable. The three remaining RSM sisters will continue to live at the centre and minister to the local community for the next three years, Sr Olive Flanagan…
Priest to go ahead with Confirmation, Communion after ‘off the cuff’ postponement
Fr Michael Toomey criticised an “off the cuff” remark from the Tánaiste on June 29, saying the Government “pushed aside” the celebration of Baptisms, Confirmations and Communions
Reek Sunday pilgrimage extended this summer
The annual Reek Sunday pilgrimage will be going ahead this summer in an extended format. The event, which was cancelled last year due to the pandemic, will be taking place from Wednesday to Saturday, July 1-31. Announcing the news, Fr Charlie McDonnell of Westport said they are “delighted” to offer an extended Reek Sunday pilgrimage…
Vindication for Catholic college after ‘fake news’ slur about body shaming
Attacks on a Carlow Catholic school by politicians, journalists and commentators were “entirely unfair” based on “fake news” and caused teachers “enormous stress” The Irish Catholic has been told. The Press Ombudsman found this week that a report about alleged ‘body shaming’ in Presentation College Carlow by a local newspaper had been entirely false. Local…
Child protection watchdog work in jeopardy due to funding cuts
The head of the independent watchdog ensuring compliance with child safeguarding procedures has warned that sharp pandemic-related funding cuts make its work “unsustainable”. Teresa Devlin, CEO of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church told The Irish Catholic this week that cuts of 40% in Church funding were stretching the body to…
Archdiocese directs Dublin parish to remove Pride flag
A Dublin parish has been forced to take down an LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) Pride flag after an order from the archbishop of Dublin. The flag was raised at Ballyfermot Assumption parish after a decision by the parish pastoral council. The aim was to make LGBTQ people feel welcome, and to send a…
Hundreds of Irish expected back in Medjugorje hot on the heels of apparition’s 40th anniversary
Marian Pilgrimages is expecting “hundreds” of Irish pilgrims to return to Medjugorje before the end of the year, as they prepare to resume their charter into Mostar August 25. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Managing Director of Marian Pilgrimages Niall Glynn said that while they only have “very, very small” groups heading to Medjugorje for…

Chai Brady


Ruadhán Jones





