Thousands of people defied arctic temperatures on Sunday to pray the rosary at Mass rocks for ‘Life and Faith’, organisers have said. “On the east coast, the crowds were decimated,” Kathy Sinnott told The Irish Catholic, adding that most gatherings went ahead elsewhere. In Dublin, a small number gathered at the Papal cross, while others…
Over 100,000 people in employment are at risk of poverty according to new research by Social Justice Ireland, which concluded that one in every six people in Ireland today live on incomes below the poverty line, making up 16.5% of the population. Dr Seán Healy, CEO of Social Justice Ireland, said, “If people in employment…
Longford Gardaí have launched an investigation and appeal for information after a church was broken into and vandalised, becoming the third targeted Longford Church in the past 12 months. St Anne’s Church, situated between Stonepark and Kenagh was broken into and damaged sometime between 5.30pm on Wednesday night and 7.50am on Thursday morning last week.…
Bishop Noel Treanor of Down and Connor has been elected as Vice President of COMECE at the 2018 Spring Assembly, which was held in Brussels earlier this month. COMECE, the Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community, is made up of Bishops delegated by the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of the 28 Member States of the European…
Expectations are growing that Pope Francis will confirm his visit to Ireland for the World Meeting of Families (WMOF) at his General Audience in Rome this week. The WMOF icon is currently on its way to Rome and will be presented to the Pope, Wednesday March 21, by two Irish families: the Bushell family who…
Archbishop Eamon Martin has urged families to connect with each other, and is praying particularly for those whose family life has been broken by “distance, by disagreement or breakdown”. In his St Patrick’s Day message the Primate of All Ireland said he was delighted to link with the “family of the Irish” at home and…
The Government’s strategy to tackle family homelessness is nothing more than an “outdated promise” and a “stack of press statements” according to Sr Stanislaus Kennedy of Focus Ireland. Describing last year as the worst year of homelessness in the history of the State, the leading campaigner poured ridicule on the Government’s response to the crisis,…
The new Bishop of Ossory has warned all Catholics that if they fail to develop a “culture of vocations” we will no longer have a Church. Dr Dermot Farrell, who was ordained as Bishop of Ossory on Sunday, said that although those in ministry have a role in promoting vocations, the laity have a crucial…
The Archbishop of Dublin has hinted that the diocese may change parish boundaries, as they do not always “reflect the current demographic reality of the diocese”. Speaking at the launch of the book Tomorrow’s Parish, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said that parishes would have to face “stark choices” about their future. He questioned whether their structure…
Founder member of the leadership team of the Association of Catholic Priests Fr Tony Flannery [pictured] has thrown down a gauntlet for action instead of words to Dublin’s Archbishop Martin in the wake of Dr Martin’s comments on Mary McAleese. Last week Archbishop Martin said: “Probably the most significant negative factor that influences attitudes to…
Susan Gately
Colm Fitzpatrick
Chai Brady