An England-based Irish nun died leaving estate worth over €10m in her will. Dublin-born Sr Francis, originally Veronica Kidney, a member of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters in Littlehampton, died in September 2016, leaving estate valued at €10,187,524, according to the Sunday Independent. Known to her four brothers and two sisters as ‘Lal’, Sr Francis was…

Peter Sutherland was a brave and highly competent Attorney General of Ireland, between 1981 and 1984, and also one of its youngest ever. He impressed civil servants and Ministers by his decisiveness and his grace under pressure, especially in dealing with difficult terrorist/extradition cases. Although his subsequent public and business career took him to live…

A series of seminars called ‘Transformer: Life in Spirit’, organised by Catholic charismatic group Living Water, will take place this month. The Life in Spirit programme, which takes place every two years, will begin on January 17 at 7pm in the Edith Stein Room, St Teresa’s Church on Claredon Street, Co Dublin, and will continue…

Ireland’s oldest Catholic mission magazine is celebrating 100 years of continuous publication this month. The Far East magazine was first published in January 1918 by the Missionary Society of St Columban, originally known as the Maynooth Mission to China. Marking the event, the magazine is running two competitions for would-be journalists aged 15 to 18…

Meath priest and former Maynooth President Msgr Dermot Farrell has been appointed Bishop of Ossory, succeeding Bishop Emeritus Seamus Freeman SAC who retired in July 2016. Born in Westmeath in 1954, Msgr Farrell studied at St Finian’s College, Mullingar, before earning a BSc degree and beginning his studies for the priesthood in Maynooth, being ordained…

Warm welcome for Peyton nomination   A step to sainthood for the famous Irish-born ‘Rosary Priest’ Fr Patrick Peyton has been welcomed by leading figures in promoting the Rosary in Ireland. Mayo-born Fr Peyton moved to the USA at the age of 19 in 1928, joining the Congregation of Holy Cross, later founding the Family…

One lucky Irish priest who bagged half a million Euro said he would “share his luck around” and looks forward to giving something back. Mayo-born Msgr John Delaney said it was a policy he learned from his late mother and his bishop, with Premier Lotteries quoting him as saying: “I am a big believer in…

Christian church leaders have called on politicians to focus this year on helping restore hope to families who are experiencing hardship, especially those who are homeless. The New Year message was sent by several Church leaders including the Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin. They said they were shocked at the rising levels of homelessness…

Irish people are well-placed to understand and help migrants and refugees, Limerick’s Bishop Brendan Leahy has said, describing Pope Francis’ call for migrants to be welcomed into our communities as a ‘pressing invitation’ for Catholics. In a homily in St Nessan’s Church, Raheen, on January 1, the Church’s 51st World Day of Peace, Bishop Leahy…

Catholic swimmer Katie Ledecky has been named Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press. A ballot of US editors and news directors saw Ms Ledecky, who won five gold medals and one silver in July’s world swimming championships, pip tennis star Serena Williams by 351 votes to 343. Ms Ledecky, who has praised…