Pope Francis’ “hugely significant” declaration of 2021 as ‘The Year of St Joseph’ has been “warmly welcomed” by Fr Richard Gibbons of Knock Shrine. Fr Gibbons said that the announcement is especially significant in the context of the pandemic. Fr Gibbons said that St Joseph “invites us to place all our prayers and intercessions in…
Crisis pregnancy organisation Gianna Care has told of “a really good year” for their services, despite the obvious challenges presented by Covid-19. Challenges Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Gianna Care director Carolyn O’Meara told of the challenges the year posed for everybody, and how it affected their often hands-on, in-person work. “We’d a lot of…
An Irish singer and a faith-based community group have raised almost €25,000 in separate appeals for Syrian refugees who fled to Lebanon due to conflict. Róisín O’Reilly, from Cavan but now living in Dublin recorded her interpretation of the Christmas classic ‘O Holy Night’ with the aim of raising funds for refugee schoolchildren in Tyre,…
Antrim GAA kicked off St Vincent de Paul’s Christmas fundraising appeal with a traditional music evening raising £8,307.38 from an original target of £5,000. In previous years their Christmas #SaffronAid Appeal has been supported by clubs across the county providing St Vincent de Paul with 5,000 shoeboxes but, due to the pandemic, the traditional form…
The project leaders believe the example of Italian teen Bl. Carlo Acutis will inspire the youth of Cork through a new online course. The diocese of Cloyne launched their four-month online project aimed at 13-18-year olds on December 8. Fr Eamonn Roache, one of the project’s organisers, told The Irish Catholic that the project was…
Bishop Donal McKeown has launched a year-long celebration to mark St Columba’s 1500th birthday with Mass at the church named for the saint in Long Tower, Derry. Children from local schools joined remotely. In his homily, Bishop McKeown urged people to see St Columba as a role model. He pointed out that the main Christian…
An initiative which sees spiritual support brought to those living in care facilities has been hailed as “much in demand” by Bishop Michael Router. The effort is being led by the Northern Pastoral Network (NPN), a cross-boarder group of pastoral care workers from Catholic dioceses, and sees prayer resources provided via PowerPoint for use during…
Fr John Mahony is the newest priest to be ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Elphin, with the ordination taking place in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Co. Sligo on December 8. At the ordination, Bishop Kevin Doran noted that this was the first ordination to the diocese since Fr John…
Hundreds have been taking part in drive-in Masses celebrated by Fr John Forsythe each week in Randalstown, Co. Antrim. With the help of volunteers, Fr Forsythe of St MacNissis parish was able to accommodate 137 cars with approximately 300 people whereas with social distancing only 100 could attend Mass in their 800-seat church. Attendee and…
Demand for tickets for outstrips capacity, but those who have been longing to go for years will have a chance to participate in the famous Maynooth Christmas carol service tonight. The iconic college chapel plays host to the event, but Covid-19 pandemic restrictions means that the service will be streamed online this year on www.maynoothcollege.ie…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones
Michael Kelly