While Rome has apparently shelved plans to dramatically alter the structure of Irish dioceses, the Church of Ireland is pushing ahead with a similar strategy. The proposed changes include the transfer of the Dioceses of Tuam and Killala, without Achonry, from the Province of Armagh to the Province of Dublin. Tuam and Killala, but not…
Innocent Europeans are paying the price for European actions in the Middle East, a Syrian archbishop has said. The attacks on Paris last November 13 and Brussels on March 22 “unfortunately” saw “innocent people reap what European powers have sown in Syria and Iraq in the last few years”, according to Archbishop Jacques Behnan Hindo,…
Two Irish seminarians at the Pontifical College in Rome have been ordained as deacons this week, after serving for Pope Francis at the Easter Vigil in St Peter’s Basilica. Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry ordained Rev. Malachy Gallagher (32) from Coleraine, Co. Derry and Rev. Bill O’Shaughnessy (28) from Castledermot, Co. Kildare at the Basilica…
The Central African Republic is “experiencing a season of hope”, according to a Carmelite missionary based in the capital city Bangui, who believes that Pope Francis’ November visit to the country “significantly contributed” to this. Fr Federico Trinchero, whose convent Notre Dame du Mont Carmel has housed more than 5,000 displaced people since civil war…
The Order of Malta has insisted it is “not disappointed” despite not being invited to take part in the 1916 centenary commemorations on Easter Sunday. A spokesperson for the Order of Malta confirmed to The Irish Catholic that its ambulance corps was not invited to take part in the State’s ceremonial parade at the weekend…
Former students of a Catholic college in Manchester who allege they were abused by three priests based there have abandoned their lawsuit against Salford diocese. The men, one-time students at St Bede’s College, argued that the diocese had failed to protect them from sexual abuse perpetrated as far back as the 1950s by three priests,…
Pope’s reminder of the source of salvation Only God’s infinite mercy can bring us salvation, Pope Francis said in his Easter message. Describing the world as “full of persons suffering in body and spirit”, with the daily news full of stories of brutal crimes and large-scale armed conflicts, the Pope said “the risen Christ points out paths of hope to beloved…
Pope Francis has appealed to Pakistan’s government to take steps to ensure the safety of the country’s Christians and other minorities. The Pope’s appeal came the day after a terrorist bombing in the Punjab provincial capital Lahore killed at least 70 people and injured more than 300 who were spending Easter afternoon in a public…
Hope still for kidnapped Salesian priest The Austrian cardinal who said in an Easter Vigil homily that the kidnapped Salesian priest Fr Tom Uzhunnalil had been crucified in Yemen on Good Friday has since rowed back on his claim. After speaking to Church leaders in the region, Vienna’s Cardinal Christoph Schönborn stated that he believed “there is still hope”, and…
This Easter was a very special one for the people of Burma (Myanmar), Yangon’s Cardinal Charles Maung Bo has said in an Easter message. Celebrating the outcome of the November 2015 elections, and the election of the country’s first non-military president after 50 years of military rule, he said “Easter breaks forth like a river…
Mags Gargan
Cathal Barry