Pop star Katy Perry has revealed that God has helped her through dark times in her life when she considered suicide. The singer, whose real name is Katheryn Hudson, said her inner battle between her true identity and her pop star identity as Katy Perry, drove her to depression and suicide. “I so badly want…

Staff Reporter Vatican officials will closely monitor reforms at Maynooth aimed at ensuring the national seminary can move on from recent controversies, The Irish Catholic understands. The hierarchy announced after its recent general meeting that Fr Michael Mullaney will take over as college president on September 1 for a period of three years. Crucially, the…

Tributes have poured in for the late Limerick priest, Fr Jack Finucane, who passed away last week at the age of 80. Alongside his elder brother and fellow priest Aengus, Fr Jack was instrumental in humanitarian relief efforts such as providing thousands of tons of food during the Nigerian famine in Biafra during the 1960s.…

Medical experts have poured cold water on reports of a vision of the Virgin Mary at Knock shrine at the weekend, advising that staring at the sun can cause blurred vision. The Association of Optometrists Ireland warned of the “very high risk of a retinal burn” after a video was posted on the internet of…

Parishes that don’t employ a youth minister reap the benefits of other parishes’ investments according to a Galway priest. Fr Brendan Kilcoyne spoke at a conference last week designed to showcase youth ministry options for parishes in Ireland. He urged young people to engage in youth ministry, saying it is “urgent” and “profoundly meaningful” as…

Ireland is delivering 100 tonnes of humanitarian supplies to help refugees from South Sudan who are fleeing their homes. This includes tarpaulins, blankets, cooking sets and mosquito nets which are being airlifted to refugee camps in Uganda. South Sudan has been embroiled in a civil conflict since December 2013 with refugees escaping to neighbouring countries.…

There has been a decline in Irish abortion numbers for the 15th consecutive year. According to the official statistics released by the British Department of Health, 3,265 women travelled from Ireland to England to have an abortion. This number stems from a continual drop since 2001 where the number of Irish abortions was 6,673. “Reasons…

Kieran Stafford, newly elected National President of the Society of St Vincent De Paul (SVP), has promised to focus on alleviating the financial and emotional hurdles of struggling local communities. Succeeding Geoff Meagher who held the position for the past five years, Stafford has reconfirmed that the Vincentian ethos will continue to be “committed to…

Remembering those who have died or have suffered injury from accidents on Irish farms will be the focus an ecumenical remembrance service to be held in Co. Laois. Around 120 families have contacted the directors of Embrace Farm, a bereavement support group, for their loved one to be remembered this year. This annual event, which…

Derry’s Bishop Donal McKeown has urged the North’s newly elected MPs to serve all those in Northern Ireland, calling them to focus their efforts on those most in need. “The politicians, whatever their party, have been elected to look after the people, especially the weakest, and it doesn’t matter what party they come from: that…