His Excellency Jude Thaddaeus Okolo, Papal Nuncio to Ireland, visited Ashbourne-Donaghmore Parish last weekend. He was formally welcomed to the parish by Ciarán Lawless (Parish Pastoral Council) at the beginning of Mass. The Sprinkling Rite took place at the Baptism font, blessed by Bishop Smith earlier that morning before the commencement of Mass. Candy Querida-Maia and Anastasija Sitova, both received…
Questions have been raised about the claims of a woman who took part in a ‘vote yes’ press conference saying she was “snookered” into continuing her pregnancy, despite significant risks to her life. Claire Malone (30) has pulmonary atresia and pulmonary hypertension, and had one lung was removed in 2014. She became unexpectedly pregnant in…
Christians poured into Christ Church Cathedral this evening after the Garda revealed today they recovered the heart of Dublin’s patron Saint. Six years after it was stolen, St Laurence O’Toole’s heart entered Dublin’s oldest cathedral once again: undamaged. Very Reverend Dermot Dunne, the Dean of Christ Church, received laughs after asking the congregation to “forgive…
Exclusive Vatican should reconsider plans to skip North, urge Protestant leaders Colm Fitzpatrick, Greg Daly and Martin O’Brien The Pope could help towards resolving political tensions in the North of Ireland and bring about the re-establishment of Stormont, a prominent Protestant minister has said. Dr Ken Newell, a former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland who played a…
Leading oncologists have dismissed claims that pregnant women cannot safely be treated for cancer, and will be denied chemotherapy. Rumours that chemotherapy is not an option for pregnant women with cancer have been rife during the referendum campaign around Ireland’s constitutional protections for the unborn, but such rumours are unfounded, Dr David Fennelly told The…
Every day until Referendum day a group of lay people and clergy are climbing Croagh Patrick and spending 24 hours in prayer at the summit before the Blessed Sacrament for the preservation of the Eighth Amendment. Tuam’s Archbishop Michael Neary and Westport parish priest, Fr Charlie McDonnell gave their blessing to the venture which began on April…
Precious symbols of Catholic faith are being lost to Irish heritage as awareness of Mass rocks disappears from living memory, a leading academic has warned. University of Liverpool-based human geographer Dr Hilary Bishop, who has extensively researched Mass rocks, discovered that in Co. Cork alone there are at least 300 more Mass rocks than are…
Such was the demand to see the film about Irish Missionary Sr Clare Crockett earlier this week that the Brunswick Moviebowl in Derry had to put on three extra showings of the documentary. More than a thousand people attended All or Nothing – Sister Clare on April 16 and 18. “I’m still getting phonecalls to…
The parish priest of Oldcastle, Meath who bowled over the judges on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent on Saturday night (April 21), is all set for the next round which will be shot in mid May. Fr Ray Kelly (64) sang the REM song ‘Everybody Hurts’ to a packed auditorium. “It’s a song that’s near and…
Ireland’s constitutional protection of unborn human life is a ‘human rights issue’ worth fighting for, one of the founders of Gaelic Athletes for Life has said. “It is swimming against the tide in many ways,” Anne-Marie McDonough told The Irish Catholic, adding, “I’m definitely willing to stand up for what I believe in because it’s…
Chai Brady
Greg Daly
Susan Gately