The grounds of Clonard Monastery in Belfast are about to undergo an “aesthetically pleasing” transformation, as the decades-old barbed wire on top of the exterior walls are to be replaced with a pallet-style fence. The barbed wire, which was added to the walls during the Troubles in order to protect the Redemptorist community who live…

Bishop Denis Nulty has laid out his blueprint for the future of the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin in the face of the growing shortage of priests. “The present situation of the shortage of vocations, the age profile of the priests and the stress associated with such realities needs serious reflection,” Bishop Nulty said at…

Award-winning British writer Jimmy McGovern has revealed that he wanted to portray priests in a positive light in his latest hit show as a tribute to hard-working clerics. Broken – which is currently airing on BBC television – tells the story of Fr Michael, a priest working in a deprived community who works to help…

Last weekend saw four dioceses welcoming newly ordained priests, including the new holder of the title of Ireland’s youngest priest. Fr David Vard, 25, was ordained by Bishop Denis Nulty for the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin in his home parish of Newbridge on Sunday. Fr David began his priestly studies immediately after his Leaving…

Events to help families confront and deal with challenging family issues will be launched by the Family Centre at Knock Shrine next month. The programme from July 10–15 will cover keeping the faith in difficult times, coping with grief, overcoming addiction and more in daily, evening and morning workshops with guest speakers. A Mass and…

The Government has no intention to modify rules for third-party political fundraising ahead of the impending abortion referendum, despite questions being raised by the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO). Under the Electoral Act 1997, a ‘third party’ is defined as someone who accepts for political purposes a donation exceeding €100 in value, with most…

This generation has lost the “urgency to spread the Gospel”, which was the drive for thousands of Irish missionaries, according to the Bishop of Derry. Speaking at a Mass to celebrate the golden jubilee of St Aengus’ Church in Burt, Co. Donegal, Bishop Donal McKeown said the “community of disciples that gathers in our churches…

Concerns have been expressed that a deal which will see the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) back the Tory minority government in Britain will not benefit both sides of the community in the North. The deal, announced on Monday, two weeks after the UK election resulted in a hung parliament, will see the 10 DUP MPs…

New research debunks the sensationalist myths surrounding the Magdalen laundries in Ireland, a leading historian has claimed. Dr Jacinta Prunty, head of history at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, has painstakingly trawled the archives for a new book which aims to set the record straight. Dr Prunty says she hopes her new book –…

St Colman’s Society for Catholic Liturgy has announced that the Fota X International Liturgy Conference, to be held in Cork from July 8-10, will be opened by Cardinal Raymond Burke, Patron of the Sovereign Military and Hospitellar Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta. The subject of the conference is Resourcing…