A group of children and their families used the Christmas season to help reinforce the message that Christ is at the centre of the festival by distributing ‘baby Jesus’ figures to families to place in their homes. The project called ‘Jesus has been left out’ aims to put Jesus back to the centre of Christmas…

The Rutland Centre, Ireland’s foremost addiction treatment centre, has announced details of its Family Support Services for 2018.  The Centre will operate workshops throughout the New Year to support family members of people affected by addiction. Maebh Leahy, the centre’s chief executive, said: “No matter what the addiction is, whether it’s alcohol, drugs, sex, food…

Cork’s newly regenerated Nano Nagle Place has been hailed by former President Mary McAleese as a “living showcase” of the life, work and legacy of the Presentation Sisters’ founder. Speaking at the official opening of the €10.5m heritage centre, Dr McAleese said it was “not just a place where Nano Nagle’s history is celebrated but…

For this scripture group, Christmas came early, writes Chai Brady   After two years of hard grind four local women’s dreams came to fruition when a new crib was unveiled in the Gaeltacht village of Moycullen, Co Galway. The vision of the project was to bring “the true meaning of Christmas to the very heart…

Not everyone has someone to ‘look out 
for’ or care for them   Irish Church-goers have been urged to use the Christmas period to try and lighten the burden on people in their communities who may be suffering or feeling vulnerable. In a joint Christmas message Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin and his Church…

Before his big birthday concert this January, Pogues frontman Shane MacGowan has said he still prays, takes Communion and believes in miracles. In an interview before his star-studded gig at the National Concert Hall (NCH), Mr MacGowan said his mother was a woman of very strong Faith, and that he believes in miracles, saying: “I’ve…

The Pope’s failure to replace the expert members of the Pontifical Council for the Protection of Minors speaks of a worrying lack of urgency around the issue, campaigner Marie Collins has said. Mrs Collins noted her “surprise” at how the commission’s Fr Hans Zollner had revealed on Twitter that the commission’s new term would not…

A former member of the Irish Defence Forces who now works as a solicitor was ordained to the permanent diaconate on Sunday. The new deacon, Martin Reidy, became the first permanent deacon to be ordained in the Church of the Risen Christ, Kiltoom, Co. Athlone. A large congregation gathered including his wife and two children.…

In anticipation of the World Meeting of Families (WMOF) next year, a group of students in Kildare created some festive Christmas decorations for their Church tree. 
Students working towards their Pope John Paul II Award from St Mary’s College (Naas) and Newbridge College helped the Kill Parish Liturgy Group to replace baubles on the Church…