Greg Daly explores the themes and events of Pope Francis’ first African trip

Last year’s Rose of Tralee, Maria Walsh, has said that taking a lifetime Pioneer pledge was the “greatest decision of my life”. The former Philadelphia Rose was speaking at a No Name Club conference, a youth club that offers young people positive alternatives to alcohol. Maria Walsh was the No Name Club’s ‘Hostess of the Year’…

More than 1.8 million signatures – including 800,000 collected by Catholic organisations – were on a petition calling for action on climate change submitted by interfaith leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Heads of state gathered in the Paris suburb of Le Bourget for the summit, with leaders of Catholic organisations saying that…

A plaque is to be erected in the Vatican to honour World War II hero Msgr Hugh O’Flaherty on May 8 next year. The Kerry priest is believed to have been responsible for saving 6,500 POWs and civilians during the war. “The plaque will be erected on the wall of the Teutonicum, the Vatican’s German…

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin celebrated the annual Mass for the dead for the fruit and vegetable markets and Moore Street traders in Halston Street Parish in Dublin last Friday. Photo: John McElroy

The Pontiff’s US trip proved he is a master strategist, writes Michael W. Higgins

The Pro Life Campaign (PLC) has criticised the Government for failing to implement fully sepsis in pregnancy guidelines more than two years after the death of Savita Halappanavar.  PLC Deputy Chairperson Cora Sherlock told The Irish Catholic “the fact that to this day sepsis guidelines are still not properly in place shows that ideology trumps safety…

Bishop Ray Browne of the Diocese of Kerry has launched ‘Celebrating the Funeral Liturgy’, a resource for parishes and people preparing the funeral of a loved one. It is an amended version of a resource used throughout the diocese. This new version contains an explanation of the Christian symbols used in the funeral liturgy, a wide…

This year’s Christmas stamp from An Post features a beautiful detail of the Madonna and Child by Marco Palmezzano, courtesy of the National Gallery and designed by Vermillion Design.  The latest date for posting standard mail for Ireland is December 21, Europe is December 19, USA on December 11 and the rest of the world…

This week the Church of Ss Peter and Paul’s Clonmel launched a new CD performed by the parish choir and organ at a function in the Parochial House. The idea for the CD came from parishioner and local businessman, Willie Nagle. In wishing the project every success, Canon Brendan Crowley PP said: “The Church of…