Killaloe’s Bishop Fintan Monahan has welcomed an ambitious new plan to revive rural Ireland and said the Church will do its best to be proactive in maintaining rural life. The bishop’s comments come following the announcement of ‘Realising our Rural Potential: Action Plan for Rural Development’, a €60 million plan intended to revive Ireland’s rural…

Irish bishops felt encouraged to face challenges by their Roman encounter, writes Michael Kelly It’s easy to dismiss the traditional ad limina visits that bishops make to Rome as out-dated. In an age of email and instant messaging, it hardly seems necessary for bishops from all over the world to travel to Rome every five…

Michael Kelly in Rome and Paul Keenan in Dublin Pope Francis has encouraged the Church in Ireland to maintain and enhance the strong values of Catholic schools, despite a background of negativity from some vested interests. Speaking to the bishops in a closed-door meeting at the Vatican on Friday, the Pontiff said that to be…

Pope Francis speaking with Archbishop Eamon Martin, Primate of All-Ireland, at the Irish bishops’ ad limina visit to Rome this week. Photo: Servizio Fotografi co/L’Osservatore Romano

Irish people frustrated by the escalating homelessness crisis have been urged to give vent to their feelings by offering their time volunteering for charities working in the frontline. The call comes after Irish bishops discussed the ongoing issue of homelessness during their meeting with Pope Francis in Rome at the weekend and told him about…

Fine Gael have been accused of attacking parish-owned schools in a bid to distract from Government failures to tackle overcrowding in Ireland’s primary schools. Addressing a seminar organised by a campaigning group opposed to religion playing a role in school admissions, Education Minister Richard Bruton announced plans to abolish the so-called ‘baptism rule’ that allows…

Horses and riders attend the annual blessing of farm animals and Italian military horses outside St Peter’s Square at the Vatican. The traditional event is sponsored by the Italian livestock association on the feast of St Anthony the Abbot, known as the protector of animals. Photo: CNS

Staff reporter Bishop Donal McKeown has said that British Prime Minister Teresa May’s insistence on pushing ahead with a so-called ‘hard Brexit’ may cause many people in the North to consider the future as part of a united Ireland. In a speech this week, Ms May indicated that she wanted to maintain the common travel…

Staff reporter A family who was advised to let their seriously-ill infant son die in hospital rather than bring him home, has spoken of the joy he gave them through 15 years of life with them after confounding doctors’ predictions. Seán Holland, who died last month, was given just two years to live when he…

Staff reporter Ireland’s most senior Churchman has assured priests that their dedication and resilience in difficult circumstances does not go unnoticed by the hierarchy and is a key point for discussion during meetings in Rome. Speaking at the opening Mass for the bishops’ ad limina pilgrimage to Rome, during which they will meet with Pope…