National Evangelisation Teams (NET) Ministries Ireland will supply the highest number of missionaries ever to work in local parishes and schools around Ireland. The 40 young people were all commissioned by Bishop Alan McGuckian. Nine are from Ireland, 15 are from America, 11 from Canada, four from the UK and one is from Australia. Conor…

Catholic addiction counsellors and organisations are warning that unregulated online gambling is causing children to become problem gamblers in later life, in a phenomenon that could escalate. Young people of any age can access gambling websites with the tick of a box that ‘proves’ they’re 18. Games can be played online for free but players…

Greg Daly & Mags Gargan Members of two of Ireland’s best-known monastic communities followed in their forerunners’ footsteps on Monday night when Storm Ophelia left the monks without electricity and praying by candlelight. “We were lucky, really,” Roscrea Abbey’s Bro. Malachy Thompson told The Irish Catholic, explaining that the Offaly Cistercian community had been on…

RTÉ are currently looking for people to take part in a Christmas themed programme that asks ‘what does Christmas mean to you?’ People are invited to express what brings the meaning and wonder to Christmas for them whether it’s presents, food or family. “Or is it about giving rather than receiving, and celebrating the coming of…

Concerns have been raised after it emerged the Church of Ireland (CoI) is a shareholder in the holding company behind NAMA, with a priest saying he would hate to think that the Church would profit from peoples’ misfortune. In an answer to a parliamentary question Finance Minister Pascal Donohue revealed that the Representative Church Body…

Amongst the many events to fall victim to storm Ophelia was the much-anticipated launch of Martin Luther: The Challenge Then and Now. The book, by Glenstal monk Fintan Lyons OSB, was due to be launched on Monday evening. It has now been re-scheduled for this coming Monday, October 23 at Newman’s University Church, St Stephen’s…

An Post’s new stamp commemorating the centenary of the apparitions of Our Lady at Fatima is based on a statue owned by Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh, and was designed by a permanent deacon of the Archdiocese. Rev. Martin Barlow, a husband and father of two who was ordained to the permanent diaconate in December…

‘Light touch’ regulation causes concern   A culture of light touch regulation leaves vital issues like Ireland’s protection of the unborn at the mercy of well-funded lobby groups, a member of the Dáil’s committee on the Eighth Amendment has warned. It comes as it was revealed that Amnesty International Ireland has pinpointed abortion as its…

Catholic charities have welcomed aspects of Budget 2018 but there were many “opportunities missed” with emphasise on housing and education. An increase of €5 to social welfare payments including the State pension, a Christmas bonus of 85%, a €20 increase for lone parents and the Jobseekers’ Transitional Scheme were said to be good steps, but…

An increase of €13m to Ireland’s overseas Official Development Assistance (ODA) has been welcomed by Irish charities but plans need to be made to reach UN goals. Catholic charity Trócaire, who help people in dire situations around the world, welcomed the announcement by the Finance Minister this week saying that it was a step towards…