The phenomenon of speed-dating was the inspiration behind a new initiative aimed at attracting young women to consider a vocation to religious life. A pop up café, which is being backed by eight religious congregations in conjunction with Vocations Ireland, will open its doors next week to women aged between 20 and 35. ‘The Sisters’…
Radio Maria Ireland technician John Fitzgerald explains the controls of the new Catholic radio station to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin who blessed the new station at its launch. Radio Maria Ireland, which is the country’s only Catholic radio station, is an internet and digital audio broadcasting (DAB) station. Photo: John McElroy
Voters have been urged to prioritise the right to life of unborn children as they go the polls to elect a new Government next week. Bishop Kevin Doran told The Irish Catholic that the right to life was “the fundamental human right” and insisted the extent to which it is protected “is a measure of…
A veteran newspaper publisher has warned that the Irish media risks losing a sense of the important voice of faith in public debate. Matt Dempsey, the former chairman of the National Newspapers of Ireland (NNI), questioned whether people have “become so mesmerised by the scandals that they overlook the selfless sacrifices of thousands as they…
A large number of couples are continuing to present for marriage counselling because of financial problems despite the country entering economic recovery. According to the latest figures released by ACCORD, the Church’s marriage care service, the number of couples citing financial problems as a reason for attending counselling doubled from 2007 to a peak of…
A member of the singing group The Priests, who features on this year’s Trócaire Lenten box, has praised the “incredible” generosity of Irish parishes in raising life-changing funds for the world’s most vulnerable. Fr Martin O’Hagan, Trócaire’s representative in the Diocese of Down and Connor, told The Irish Catholic that the “people of Ireland deserve…
Cabra West Parish in Dublin and Ballinaspeaig Parish in Cork have both received an award from Eco-Congregation Ireland (ECI) – a project of the Irish Inter-Church Meeting – for taking steps to ‘green’ their parishes in recent years. Ballinaspeaig was the first church in Ireland to become a Fairtrade parish. It has held a number…
The annual Solemn Novena To Our Lady of Perpetual Help in St Peter & Paul’s Church in Portlaoise will be held from Saturday, February 13 to Sunday, February 21. Every day during the novena different themes will reflect on the joys and struggles of life and petitions or personal prayers will be presented by all…
The Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail is hosting a three-day walking festival in conjunction with Mayo Roscommon Hospice with all proceeds going to the hospice’s new facility in Castlebar. The festival will take place over March 18-20 running from Balla to Ballintubber (20 km), then Ballintubber to Aughagower (21km) and finally Aughagower to Murrisk (21km). Registration is at…
Rescuers search for survivors after a building collapsed during a magnitude-6.4 earthquake in Tainan, Taiwan. Pope Francis sent condolences following the quake that hit as the island prepared to celebrate Chinese New Year. Photo: Paul Yang
Cathal Barry
Mags Gargan