There has been a broad welcome in the Diocese of Clogher for Pope Francis’ decision to appoint a local priest, Msgr Larry Duffy, as bishop of the border diocese. His predecessor, Bishop Emeritus Liam MacDaid, hailed the unusual decision – new bishops in Ireland have tended of late to be external rather than internal appointments…
With bishops urging parishioners to be “creative and original” in encouraging family members and friends to come back to the Faith, the initiatives they have developed in their own dioceses set a shining example of how Catholics can be innovative in their own personal spheres of influence. The Mercy on the Mall event which has…
A Co. Down-based priest and writer has criticised this summer’s World Meeting of Families (WMOF) for watering down the Christian vision of the family to become more acceptable to current secular understandings of family life. Writing in The Furrow, Fr Andrew McMahon observes that although there were “unquestionably edifying aspects” of WMOF2018, a desire for…
The archbishops of Armagh have pleaded with parishioners not to allow increasingly depressing statistics about homelessness “dull the reality that behind each of these numbers lies a personal story of distress and hardship”. In a joint message due to be released this weekend, Archbishop Eamon Martin and his Church of Ireland counterpart Richard Clarke combine…
Leading child protection campaigner Marie Collins has said it would be “shortsighted” of the Vatican not to invite Dublin’s Archbishop Diarmuid Martin to a global safeguarding bishops’ summit to be hosted in Rome in February. Fr Hans Zollner SJ, who Pope Francis has asked to coordinate the gathering, has said that while the summit’s planning…
Waterford and Lismore’s Bishop Phonsie Cullinan will consult with the Vatican before moving forward with the first stages of the canonisation cause of a well-loved Waterford priest. November 28 saw 104 people from three parishes meeting at Clonmel’s Hotel Minella to share stories about Fr Colm O’Brien, who died of cancer in 2009, aged just…
In a response to Katherine Zappone’s letter about the Mother and Baby Homes Pope Francis has suggested that the Government also accept their role in the controversy. During the Pope’s visit in August for the World Meeting of Families the Minister for Children spoke to Francis and wrote to him about the institutions, asking the…
Becoming an uncle has prompted a top Chicago rapper to take a “sabbatical” to study the Bible. The grammy-award-winning Chance the Rapper has said following the birth last month of his brother’s first child, a boy named Charlie, he feels he should read up on the Bible to become a better Christian and a better…
Canon law may still block proposal The Archdiocese of Dublin has been left in the dark over plans by the Religious Sisters of Charity to relinquish control of the St Vincent’s Healthcare Group and enable the building of a new National Maternity Hospital. According to a diocesan spokesperson, there has been no contact between…
Parishioners at the Dublin church founded by Cardinal Newman are “delighted” that a second miracle attributed to him has been recognised by the Vatican, paving his way to sainthood. Blessed Cardinal Newman founded and designed Newman University Church which has brought “many great experiences of Faith and worship to people” according to the parish priest.…
Colm Fitzpatrick
Greg Daly
Chai Brady