“An emerging Church of co-responsible action depends on relationships of genuine trust,” said Bishop Ger Nash in his homily at his Installation ceremony as Bishop of Ossory, on Sunday, September 13, in St Mary’s Cathedral, Kilkenny. The now Bishop of Ferns and Ossory spoke about synodality and how the “The Synodal Pathway calls us to…
Ardens missionaries have begun work at University College Cork, continuing the campus ministry developed by FOCUS over the past three years. The new Europe-based Catholic apostolate includes 17 missionaries previously trained by FOCUS and is deploying teams to Cork, Belfast, Passau and Vienna. Bishop Fintan Gavin of Cork and Ross welcomed the new missionaries during…
The Catholic Mothers Ireland received families from across the island of Ireland at their annual National Mass and Family Day, which, this year, took place in Termonbacca, Co. Derry. As the organisation is composed of small groups in local parishes, the annual Mass is thought to be a moment for all members to come together…
The Catholic Education Partnership (CEP) has published a new vision document setting out the identity and mission of the Catholic school in Ireland, describing such schools as offering a “unique, vibrant, nurturing environment” for students, families, the Church and wider society. The vision document will be launched on October 16. The document, A Vision for…
A new case for the cause of canonisation of two Irish priests – who were shot dead in Belfast by the British Army – has been opened by the Diocese of Down and Connor. A spokesman for the Diocese has told The Irish Catholic that the process for “the cause of the saints” has been started for…
Draft working document sets out proposals ahead of National Synodal Assembly A draft working document setting out proposals for the renewal of the Catholic Church in Ireland, seen by The Irish Catholic, has been prepared ahead of the National Synodal Assembly, which takes place in Gormanston, Co. Meath, on October 17. The document, marked ‘draft’…
Catholics need to move from inherited or “cultural” faith towards a deeper personal commitment to Christ, foreign-born priests ministering in Ireland have told The Irish Catholic. Fr Anselm Emechebe MSP, a Nigerian priest who has served in Ireland since 2009, said the challenge is for Catholics to take greater personal responsibility for a faith often…
The Church should welcome everyone who comes through its doors and that is the true spirit of inclusivity, says internationally recognised psychotherapist Stella O’Malley. But, she says, having seen a draft set of proposals from the Irish Synod Working Group, the Church is “cheerleading practices that risk serious harm to vulnerable people. It should be…
Indecent graffiti and offensive writing have been sprayed onto the stonework of a church complex in Bundoran by a group of unidentified youths. The community has expressed outrage at the incident, and an investigation is ongoing. Church representatives believe the damage was caused by a group of youths who gather on the church grounds in the evenings. The…
The former PSNI Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, Baroness Nuala O’Loan has welcomed the news that two Belfast priests shot dead by the British Army have had their cases opened for potential recognition of sainthood by the bishop. “I am so very pleased to hear that Bishop McGuckian has initiated the process ‘for the cause of saints’ and…
Renata Steffens
Martina Purdy