A local Catholic agency intends to stand by the US city of Flint, Michigan during its public health crisis, the organisation’s president and CEO has said. Vicky Schultz, of the Flint-headquartered Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties, says the city developed water problems when it stopped purchasing treated Lake Huron water, instead sourcing water…
Young couples are “postponing” getting married due to the spiralling cost of weddings, it has been claimed. Fr Gerry O’Connor of Cherry Orchard Parish in Dublin warned that there are “huge expectations” for couples to have extravagant weddings which is forcing them to delay tying the knot. “There are huge expectations on couples to be…
Europe’s leading human rights body has called ISIS atrocities “genocide”. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has passed a resolution by 117 votes to 1, which included the statement “States should act on the presumption that Da’ish (ISIS) commits genocide”. The resolution “Foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq” condemned recent terrorist acts in…
Some of Ireland’s most-prominent religious sites are hoping for a ‘Pope Francis effect’ boost during the Jubilee of Mercy which the Pontiff has proclaimed this year. Representatives were amongst a delegation of pilgrimage leaders from around the world who were in Rome to hear Pope Francis outline his view that pilgrimage is key to the…
We should be prepared to share the Eucharist with “surprising others”, Philippine Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle told participants at the 51st International Eucharistic Congress. “In the meal hosted by the Lord, persons recognise a close neighbour, a fellow sinner, a sister, a brother with a place at the table,” he said at the congress in…
Bishop Donal McKeown accepts a ‘Book of Forgiveness’ prepared for the Year of Mercy from students in St Columba’s Primary School, who were among 142 schools to attend a diocesan celebration for Catholic Schools Week in St Eugene’s Cathedral in Derry last week. Photo: Stephen Latimer
Francis answers questions from children around the world “What did God do before the world was made?” is one of 30 questions from children around the world the Pope tackles in a book to be published on March 1. Dear Pope Francis, published by Loyola Press, and illustrated with drawings by children aged 6-13, was first proposed to the Pontiff by Fr…
Ceremonies to celebrate the feast of St Brigid, February 1, at her birthplace in Faughart, (near Dundalk) Co. Louth will commence with Mass in the Oratory of St Brigid’s Shrine at 10.30am. Personal blessing with the relic of the saint will be available at the shrine from 11.30-1pm and from 2-4.30pm. The annual candlelight procession…
A group of 55 young people from across the Diocese of Kilmore were recently presented with their Pope John Paul II Awards at a ceremony in the chapel of the Diocesan Pastoral Centre in Cavan by Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop-Emeritus of Armagh and a native of the diocese. Three young people received bronze awards, 10…
Five different schools from the Laois/Carlow/Kildare area were represented at the Eucharistic Ministers Commissioning Mass celebrated by Fr John Dunphy in the parish of Graiguecullen/Killeshin, Co. Laois recently. The group of 20 young adults were commissioned after a five-week training course. During their training they explored the origins of the Mass and the true meaning…
Cathal Barry
Greg Daly
Mags Gargan