The release of a celebrated priest means little, writes Paul Keenan

The National Vocations Coordinator has hailed the “amazing” response he received to a pilot programme which consulted young people about the best way to promote vocations to the priesthood. Fr Willie Purcell, based in the Diocese of Ossory, consulted with three groups of young people over recent weeks – a secondary school group, those involved…

Chaplains working in Catholic schools have urged stressed students sitting important State exams to turn to prayer to help them cope. Belvedere College SJ chaplain Trish Carroll told The Irish Catholic that “faith when times are difficult can be a linchpin for many students”. “Within my work as chaplain, I try to foster the spirit…

Kildare & Leighlin is the latest diocese to look abroad to fill clerical appointments in order to counter the decline in priest numbers. Announcing the diocesan appointments for the coming year, Bishop Denis Nulty said he was “aware of the huge demands on priests in 2016 and each year the changes will get that bit…

A priest working at the coalface in Dublin’s north inner city has said a “spiritual battle” is needed to help tackle the ongoing gang violence there. Fr Robert Colclough of St Laurence O’Toole Church, Seville Place, told The Irish Catholic that the Church has a responsibility to challenge criminals who were carrying out shootings and…

‘Opening the Door of Mercy’ is the theme of this year’s ‘Course for Parishioners’ at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome from September 5-9. The five days include a series of talks, liturgies and guided visits to significant churches and basilicas in Rome, a day of spiritual recollection and reflection, a pilgrimage to a shrine…

The Church has signalled strong opposition to attempts by the North’s new DUP Education Minister to roll back on education reforms that have sought to remove academic selection for 10-year-olds. The contentious tests – once known as the 11+ – are used by some grammar schools to decide whether or not to admit students. The…

The relics of St Oliver Plunkett will visit the chapel of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Cavan on Tuesday, June 7, arriving at 10am, and will be available for veneration until 10pm that evening.  There will be a lunch-time Mass in the chapel at 1.15pm offered by Fr Kevin Fay, chaplain to Loreto and St…