Bishop Michael Smith of Meath concelebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving to mark the completion of the bell tower and spire of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Kingscourt, Co. Cavan, last Sunday, with a number of former parish priests, natives, friends and neighbours of the parish. Fr Padraig MacMahon, administrator of Mullingar Cathedral,…

  The Corrymeela Community, in partnership with Auburn Seminary, New York, has opened the application process for an international interfaith youth leadership programme, ‘Face to Face/Faith to Faith’. This programme brings together young people from Northern Ireland, South Africa, the United States and the Middle East with the common goal of working towards peaceful communities.…

  Catholic schools deserve credit for their hard work, writes Michael Kelly   At a time when some commentators and politicians would propose a narrow narrative that see faith-based schools as divisive, Catholic Schools Week is an opportunity to celebrate the vital contribution of the Catholic sector. More than 100 guests from North and South…

  Small schools across the country under threat of teacher cuts have geared up their protest campaign this week as leading educationalists say children’s futures are being sacrificed for the austerity budget. Staffing requirements, based on enrolment figures in primary schools introduced in the last budget, will lead to increased class sizes, loss of teachers…

  Two Irish Sisters of Saint Joseph received Order of Australia awards during the Australia Day celebrations last week. Sr Maria Casey from Kildysart, Co. Clare was honoured for her service to the community as Postulator for the Canonisation of Mary MacKillop, as well as to the Catholic Church in Australia. Sr Mary Leahy from…

    The invaluable work done by school chaplains at community and comprehensive schools across the Republic has come under fire from Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin. Despite the fact that the role of chaplain in such schools is mandated by legislation Mr Ó Ríordáin, who two weeks ago told The Irish Catholic he thought…

  Young people from across the country are coming together in Tullamore this month to express their views, share ideas and celebrate their faith among their own peer group. Tullamore Junior Parish Pastoral Council is holding its annual National Parish Youth Conference on Saturday, February 25 in St Mary’s Youth and Community Centre in Tullamore,…

  Catholics who apply for jobs in the civil service would be screened to ensure that they are not too Catholic under a proposal being discussed by the Labour party. The plan is likely to cause further tension with coalition partners, Fine Gael, who have been accused of allowing Labour to set the Government’s agenda.…

  The secret of making a good St Brigid’s cross, The Irish Catholic learned last Sunday, is to hold it at the bottom as you weave. This discovery was made at a weaving workshop on the first day of the annual Feile Brid in Kildare town, where the Brigidine sisters extended the hospitality of St…

  The Catholic priest ministering to the bereaved of the Union Hall tragedy in Cork has spoken of the overwhelming ”spirit of unity” that has marked the community’s response to the loss of the trawler Tit Bonhomme with five lives. Speaking to The Irish Catholic from the quayside as the search for the last two…