About 40 women with intellectual disabilities will be paid compensation for their time in Ireland’s Magdalene laundries, following the passage of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Bill. Around €18 million has so far been paid in compensation to 500 women who have received sums of up to €100,000 each, but it has not been possible to…

Bishop Noel Treanor of Down and Connor, along with Auxiliary Bishop, Dr Anthony Farquhar, and other local members of the clergy, gathered with parishioners of the Parish of Bright and surrounding areas to celebrate the 150th Anniversary Mass for St Patrick’s Church, Legamaddy. Bishop Treanor celebrated the Mass, during which both the parish choir and…

Representatives of many Dublin parishes attended a meeting with Crosscare, the diocese’s social care agency, and the Irish Red Cross on October 22 to discuss the refugee crisis. The Red Cross provided a high level overview of how people will be welcomed to Ireland and their application for refugee status processed. The meeting also heard…

One 150 delegates attended the recent Diocesan Youth Ministry Conference held in Thornhill College, Derry. Representatives from over 30 parishes, 10 schools and several youth groups came together with clergy, religious and young people to plan the way forward with regard to developing faith opportunities for young people at parish level.  John McAreavey was the…

Former Donegal manager Jim McGuiness has spoken of the importance of religion and spirituality in his life. Mr McGuinness, currently working as part of the Glasgow Celtic backroom team, has seen two of his brothers die in tragic circumstances. However, he told The Late Late Show that he “firmly” believes he will see both of…

The Living Church Office in the Diocese of Down & Connor hosted the Called and Gifted Course over two days in Malone Lodge Hotel, Belfast. The course aimed to allow participants to explore how we are called by God and gifted for this call, looking at the critical role of charisms in the life and…

The Annual General Meeting of the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) will be held at the Hodson Bay Hotel in Athlone on Tuesday, November 24 at 2pm ACP co-founder Fr Sean McDonagh confirmed to The Irish Catholic in September that a suggestion to employ a full-time lay member of staff to ease the burden of…

Syria bishops call for negotiated solutions Syriac Catholic bishops have called for diplomatic solutions to achieve peace in Syria and Iraq. In a statement released at the conclusion of their annual synod, held in Harissa, Lebanon, the bishops urged countries, especially those directly involved in the Syrian conflict, to follow a path of “negotiation to…

The Corrymeela peace and reconciliation centre is a “legendary, extraordinary place”, which gives politicians in the North a “vision of what can be done” according to Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. The archbishop was joined by other Church leaders, including Archbishop Eamon Martin, in Belfast on Sunday to take part in a special thanksgiving service…

The Holy See has distanced itself from claims that Pope Francis told an Italian journalist that ultimately all divorced Catholics who wish to receive Communion will be enabled to do so. Writing in La Republicca, veteran reporter Eugenio Scalfari claimed that during a phone conversation the Pontiff asked what he thought of the conclusions of…