The visit of Pope Francis should be a moment when even those who feel alienated or hostile to the Church can reconnect, Archbishop Eamon Martin has said. He described the theme of the World Meeting of Families ‘the Gospel of the Family – Joy for the World’ as a message “not only for ‘faith-full’ Catholic…

The referendum planned for the autumn to alter or delete the clause in the Constitution on the role of women in the home, (41.2.2) may be deferred to 2019 and in its place a referendum to reduce divorce waiting times may be brought forward. Leo Varadkar’s government is planning several referenda in the coming years…

Tine, a network of Catholic leaders and groups promoting evangelisation has appealed to its members and friends to pray for rain with this prayer:  “O God, our Creator, you are the source of all life. We pray to you who calm the raging waters and command the wind to provide us sufficient rain to meet…

Celebrating
 the
 200th
 anniversary
 of
 St
 John
 Vianney St John Vianney (Curé of Ars) Novena at St John Vianney Parish, Ardlea Road in Dublin will take place from August 4-12. There will be Mass with an invited preacher at 10am each day and 7.30pm on Friday 10. Also on Saturday 6pm and Sunday 9.30am and 11.30am. Mass with Anointing of the Sick:…

A lay Catholic group has made accusations against the WMOF, maintaining that their organisation was discriminated against on the basis of their liberal views. We Are Church (WAC) Ireland said that they made many efforts to reserve an exhibition stand at Dublin’s RDS, but never received a response about their status. WAC believe that the…

The charity Alone has purchased housing units in order to provide lodging for elderly homeless people. On Tuesday, July 24, people were able to enter new properties on the South Circular Road in Dublin. These properties are temporary but will provide a place for the tenants to stay until they receive keys to permanent accommodation,…

The Archdiocese of Dublin has called for 4,000 Eucharistic ministers to serve at the final mass at the WMOF. According to the archdiocese, because the majority of the communion will be given out on grassy, bumpy areas of the park, applicants must be “trained and functioning ministers of the Holy Communion” as well as “steady…

A Dublin conference will next month look at the lasting legacy of the encyclical Humanae Vitae. Promulgated by Blessed Pope Paul VI 50 years ago, the document continues to be hotly discussed within the Church. The conference – ‘Love and Life in Marriage’ – will celebrate the Church’s vision for sexuality and marriage with particular…

Top academic urges that Pope be faced with ‘nuanced’ reality   As speculation grows that the Pope may visit a former Magdalen laundry during his visit next month, a leading historian of the period has warned that Francis should hear the complex reality of the homes rather than a caricature of the institutions. Government sources…

The curate of a Donegal parish has called for the resignation of Minister Jim Daly over outstanding issues relating to three community hospitals in the county. The situation has remained unresolved for over two years after the Government announced that the long stay bed capacity of three Donegal Community Hospitals – Lifford, Ramelton and St…