Mags GarganThe 60th anniversary of Diocese of Killaloe’s first diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes was “an experience of mercy”, according to Fr Tom Ryan, the pilgrimage director at Cote Grotto, who celebrated the pilgrimage’s opening Mass assisted by 12 priests who had been among 450 pilgrims who had travelled from the diocese. As part of this year’s…
Category: News
Expert consultants to help conserve Croagh Patrick
Cathal Barry
Expert consultants are set to be appointed to Croagh Patrick in Co Mayo to help conserve Ireland’s Holy Mountain which has suffered substantial erosion in recent years. Martin Keating, who is Head of Environment, Climate Change and Agriculture at May County Council and Chairperson of the Croagh Patrick Stakeholders Group, confirmed to The Irish Catholic…
Fulfilling God’s potential in Tallaght
“God wants us all to reach our potential – this is his plan for us,” the papal nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Charles Brown, said during a visit to Tallaght’s Citywise Education Centre. The archbishop was visiting the centre, which provides educational support for young people in under-served city communities, to meet some of Tallaght’s young…
Accused clergy homeless in Dublin
Staff Reporter Several priests who have been accused of child sexual abuse are thought to be homeless in Dublin, the head of the Church safeguarding board has warned. Contrasting how diocesan clergy faced with accusations can lack the supports priests from religious orders have, NBSCCCI chief Teresa Devlin told The Irish Catholic that she is frequently…
Best to be a Meath priest
Courtney McGrail“It is good to be alive; it is better to live as a priest; it is best to be a priest in the Diocese of Meath!” So declared Fr Oliver Skelly, parish priest of Coole, on the 25th anniversary of his ordination. Prior to becoming parish priest of Coole, where the anniversary Mass was celebrated…
Orders should cut ties with abusive clergy, safeguarding chief says
Greg Daly
Religious bodies should cease financial and other support for members who have been found guilty of child sexual abuse, the head of the Church’s child protection board has said. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Teresa Devlin, CEO of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland, said “at some stage, once…
Leading Christian defender goes into hiding in Pakistan
Paul Keenan
One of Pakistan’s leading human rights lawyers who regularly defends Christians accused of blasphemy has been forced into hiding due to death threats. Sardar Mushtaq Gill, National Director of Legal Evangelical Association Development (LEAD), a body providing legal aid to religious minorities in Pakistan, has faced numerous threats in the past, but as a high…
Dallas Bishop urges peace in wake of police shootings
The Irish-born Bishop of Dallas, Kevin Farrell, has led calls for peace and “a moment of national reflection” on race and violence in America in the wake of the deadly July 7 shootings of five police officers in the city. Bishop Farrell, who hails from Dublin, described events in Dallas as “staggering” and urged an…
World News in Brief
Chinese churches forced to surrender income, donations Churches in Zheijiang province in China are being forced to hand over income and donations under a new law, it has been reported. According to Chinaaid.org, which monitors the situation of Christian communities in the country, government officials have begun to oversee donations to churches while, under provisions of the new law, communities must…
Knock basilica to be re-dedicated
Staff reporter Large crowds are expected at Knock later this month for a special ceremony to re-dedicate the iconic basilica at the Marian shrine. The ceremony – on Saturday, July 16 – will mark 40 years since the original dedication of the basilica on July 18, 1976. In the past few years, the basilica has been…