Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin will lead a special Christian Solidarity Pilgrimage to the Holy Land from February 16, 2020 for eight nights. Visiting Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jerusalem and the other sites associated with the life of Jesus, the trip will be a unique opportunity to experience the Holy Land with experienced guides. Co-ordinated by The…

The Irish Catholic Editorial view   Marches and demonstrations in the North have long been controversial and divisive. The ‘marching season’ was often a byword for violence and tension between the two communities. That’s what makes the huge pro-life demonstrations in Belfast at the weekend all the more remarkable. On Friday night, some 20,000 people…

Distributors are “freezing out” promoters of a major pro-life film, according to promoters, making it likely many Irish cinema-goers won’t be able to view it locally. UnPlanned has already been viewed by about two million people across 12 countries and tells the story of Abby Johnson, a former Planned Parenthood clinic director and her decision…

The Church should fork out some of its “vast tracts” of land to help curb the country’s housing crisis, one of Ireland’s most well-known priests has said. Social activist Fr Peter McVerry SJ told this newspaper that while the Church is not responsible for solving the severe lack of housing across the country, it can…

Parishioners need to be helped realise the strains clergy of all denominations face, a prominent Belfast priest has said. Speaking to The Irish Catholic ahead of a conference in Lisburn next month on ‘Pastoring the Pastor’, Fr Martin McGill said it’s vital to let people understand the challenges today’s clergy face. “We need to raise…

Nóra Quoirin was a special bearer of the Holy Spirit and gifted others with immeasurable love and joy, the priest celebrating her funeral Mass said this week. 15-year-old Nóra, who had special needs, went missing during a family holiday in Malaysia last month, with her body being found after a 10-day search. Local police said…

Gambling laws in the North of Ireland don’t take the issue of problem gambling seriously enough, which has “serious consequences” for individuals and families, a charity and former addict have said in the wake of new findings. A report examining the issue was required under the recently passed Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Act, which found…

Kerry fans who want to watch the replay of the All-Ireland Football Final can attend vigil Mass early this Saturday. In a letter sent to priests across the diocese, Kerry’s Bishop Ray Browne said parishes could change the times of evening Masses to facilitate massgoers keen on watching the 6pm replay against Dublin. Vigil Masses…

An estimated 20,000 people took to the streets of Belfast on Saturday to oppose moves from Westminster to impose abortion on the North. Holding signs with the simple message ‘not in our name’, protesters heard calls to lobby their politicians in a bid to restore the assembly and executive as a way to stop the…

Grandparents can help children to understand the Faith and see that people must be valued for who they are, not simply what they can do, Elphin’s Bishop Kevin Doran has said. Speaking at the national pilgrimage of the Catholic Grandparents’ Association to Knock Shrine, Bishop Doran said that with today’s harsh economic realities causing parents…