The President’s Award is to launch its ‘Maith Thú’ campaign to commend young people for their resilience through the Covid-19 pandemic. Maith Thú celebrates the achievements of young people who have completed their Gaisce Award and offers encouragement to those needing extra support to finish their award activities during the crisis. “Unfortunately, this year there…
For the first time in 12 weeks, members of the faithful have gathered in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican to receive the Pope’s apostolic blessing. Officers of the Italian military police the Carabinieri worked with Vatican health officials to check pilgrims before admitting them to the square. As has been his tradition during the…
Saying America needs “more prayer, not less,” President Donald Trump has declared house of worship “essential” and directed the country’s governors “to do the right thing and allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now, this weekend.” “The people are demanding to go to church and their synagogue, to go to…
Relief as closed churches re-open for prayer Parishioners and priests across the North have reacted with a mixture of joy and relief after churches began re-opening this week as part of the relaxation of the coronavirus lockdown. Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown told The Irish Catholic that he is “delighted”. “It’s fine praying from…
Musicians from churches all over Ireland will come together in a song for frontline staff on Pentecost Sunday May 31. The blessing will be a rendition of the specially adapted hymn Be Thou my Vision. Submissions from different churches north and south of the border will be dedicated to local causes and also part of…
A Kerry priest who is celebrating car park Masses for people struggling or unable to watch online Mass has said “we can’t let fear dominate us”. Fr Kevin McNamara PP of Moyvane, who started celebrating outdoor Masses with his congregation, who stay in their cars throughout, said there has been a “great response”. “They’re seeing…
Lorna Siggins The Government has been called on to clarify whether church weddings and baptism ceremonies can proceed with small numbers under phase one of Covid-19 restrictions. Fr John Carroll, Ferns diocesan secretary and communications officer in Co Wexford, said there appeared to be disconnect between Government regulations and their interpretation by the Garda. A…
Archbishop Eamon Martin has appealed to Catholic schools in the North to set aside the traditional transfer tests which decide based on academic selection which secondary school a child attends. In a letter sent this week to 165 schools across the dioceses of Armagh and Dromore, Archbishop Eamon insisted that children are under enough pressure…
The Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education (MDCCE) aims to assess how the coronavirus pandemic has affected churchgoers with a new survey published last week. Dr Gareth Byrne, Director of the MDCCE, said: “It is important to document the response of churchgoers to the Covid-19 crisis and its impact on their faith lives and connection…
A group of seamstresses working in direct provision centres have come together to make over 1,000 face masks a week to protect the vulnerable from Covid-19. The Sanctuary Mask Initiative (SMI) is spearheaded by BetterTogether and the Cork Migrant Centre, with the support of the UCC University of Sanctuary, UCC Feminist and Fáilte Refugees Societies.…
Michael Kelly
Chai Brady