Young people from the Diocese of Derry have taken up the challenge to ‘Debate the Bishop’ in a series of Lenten meetings organised by the Derry Youth Community. On Sunday Bishop Donal McKeown took part in the first debate with young people aged between 16-21 in St Mary’s College, Derry on the topic of ‘Profession…
Remarks by Pope Francis that Catholic women with Zika virus might be able to use contraception do not change Church teaching, a leading moral theologian has said. Zika virus has been linked by some to birth defects in babies, especially microcephaly which causes them to be born with abnormally small heads, but the link has…
Tackling homelessness must be a priority in Ireland’s new programme for government, leading campaigners have warned. The calls come after 134 families became homeless last month, bringing Ireland’s total number of homeless families to 769. Previously, the highest monthly total for newly homeless families had been 84 in August last year. The comparable figure for…
Over 200 young people are expected to attended a festival of faith next month hosted by the Office for Evangelisation and Ecumenism in the Archdiocese of Dublin. The idea behind the ‘Faith Fest’ in Clonliffe College came from four parish pastoral workers who had seen the success of the Youth Space at the Eucharistic Congress…
Fr Frankie Mulgrew, son of famed Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket, is behind an imaginative initiative in the Diocese of Salford in the North of England which is using a double-decker ‘Mercy Bus’ to bring people back to Confession this Lent. Bishop John Arnold of Salford and Mayor of Bolton, Cllr Carole Swarbrick, are pictured with…
A number of dioceses have warned that the proposed new curriculum on religion and beliefs may be “difficult” to implement in faith schools. The Archdiocese of Cashel & Emly, along with the Dioceses of Kerry, Killaloe and Limerick have issued a joint call for submissions to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) on…
St Philomena’s parish in Palmerstown, Dublin 20 is hosting a Lenten parish retreat from Friday, February 26 to Sunday, February 28 under the theme ‘Renewing ourselves in God’s loving company’. Starting on February 26 at 7.30pm Mass guest speaker Eileen O’Brien will discuss ‘Praying to God dwelling in the depths of your heart’. On February…
The Diocese of Cloyne in conjunction with CDYS is bringing a group of young adults (18-35yrs) to Krakow, Poland for this year’s World Youth Day from July 26 to August 2. It is an opportunity for young adults to share, explore and enjoy their faith. There are a few seats still available. For more information…
Govt accused of reneging on deal with faith schools A senior Church official has accused politicians of hypocrisy over their criticism of Catholic schools. Fr Tom Deenihan also hit out at successive Governments for reneging on a 1997 deal that would guarantee the ethos of faith schools in return for the Church having fewer representatives…
The Lough Church in Cork City has reported a very busy and successful number of events to celebrate Catholic Schools Week, beginning on February 2 when the primary schools of the parish, Greenmount N.S. and Glasheen N.S. attended 10am Mass. The church was decorated from top to bottom with artwork provided by the children, who also provided…
Mags Gargan
Cathal Barry
Greg Daly