The Catholic Bishops of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have called for a national dialogue towards avoiding “chaos” in the nation amid the threat of delayed elections. With President Laurent Kabila resisting calls to step aside by the end of the year, as required by the DRC’s constitution, there are suspicions that moves to…
Clonard Monastery in Belfast hosted a dual celebration on July 30 when Mark McMullan and Ryan Holovlasky professed their first vows as Redemptorists. Mark (left) is from Belfast and joined the order’s formation programme in 2013 after gaining experience in the voluntary sector while Ryan (right) is from South Africa and joined in 2012, leaving…
Egyptian President hails Coptic community Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al Sisi has lauded his nation’s Coptic Christian community. Amid a rising incidence of attacks on Copts across Egypt, President al Sisi received a delegation of Coptic prelates led by Patriarch Tawadros II and hailed their “wisdom and spirit of patriotism” despite all they have suffered and continue to endure.…
Pope Francis has appointed Tuam-based priest Fr Fintan Monahan as the new Bishop of Killaloe. The announcement was made in Rome this morning. The Pontiff has also accepted the resignations of Bishop Martin Drennan of Galway and Bishop Seamus Freeman of Ossory – both for reasons of ill health. Bishop-elect Monahan (49) was ordained in…
Fr Brendan McCarrick SAC with Bishop Brendan Kelly of Achony after Dr Kelly ordained him as a Pallottine priest at Fr McCarrick’s home parish of Mullinabreena, Co. Sligo, on Sunday, July 24.
Maynooth’s neo-gothic college chapel was the fitting setting for the investiture of five new knights of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem at the weekend. The solemn ceremony was presided over by Cardinal Edwin F. O’Brien, Grand Master of the order who had travelled from Rome for the occasion. The order, founded…
Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro has officially requested that the Vatican become involved in mediating talks aimed at seeking a solution to the nation’s catastrophic economic crisis. Following weeks of resistance on the part of the president to any negotiations with his political rivals, even as dangerous food and medical shortages grow ever worse, Mr Maduro…
Staff reporter A proposal to reduce the time dedicated to religious education in primary schools will further undermine the “distinctive ethos” of Catholic schools, Dr Tom Finegan of The Iona Institute has said. Speaking to The Irish Catholic this week, Dr Finegan criticised pressures being placed on Catholic schools to become ever more secular through a…
Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre launches new website The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre has unveiled a new website towards communicating the full range of projects it undertakes in the Holy Land. Designed primarily as a means of keeping the 30,000 knights and ladies of the order worldwide informed, www.oessh.va is also aimed at anyone interested in events in the Holy…
Fr Hamel, 84, hailed as martyr for the Faith
Courtney McGrail
Paul Keenan
Greg Daly