Nicaraguan Church officials are concerned about the potential effects of a canal planned to link the Pacific and Atlantic oceans across the Central American country.  The contract to build and operate the 278km canal was awarded in June 2013 to a newly created Chinese-Nicaraguan consortium headed by Chinese businessman Wang Jing who has apparently brought…

Organisers of a national conference on Catholic education have set themselves the task of retrieving the foundational Gospel values which define a Catholic school.  “There is a danger that many schools have fallen into the trap of identifying Catholic ethos simply with the delivery of classes in Religious Studies and the preparation of children for…

Ireland’s first modern church, inspired by the spirit of Vatican II in the 1960s, is to be converted into a state-of-the-art library and auditorium for the local community. St Dominic’s Church in Athy, Co. Kildare will close on November 22, when the town’s Dominican community will celebrate its final Mass before a joint ceremony of…

The US bishops are considering approving a new introductory note and a limited revision of their quadrennial statement on political responsibility. “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” is reissued every four years and takes into account the latest issues dominating political debate, generally advising Catholic voters to consider the common good when going to the polls.…

A world renowned exorcist has warned the Church in Ireland not to ignore the reality of evil in the world. In an interview with The Irish Catholic, Fr José Antonio Fortea Cucurull insisted that the presence of evil, through the work of the Devil and evil spirts known as ‘demons’, was real. The Spanish priest…

Families should evangelise through activity in the wider Church community and within their own homes, Dublin’s Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has said.  Speaking in St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral on All Saints’ Day, Dr Martin recalled how at the Synod on the Family Pope Francis stressed how the Church’s first duty is not to hand down condemnations, “but…

The woman at the centre of an abortion controversy last year has settled her High Court challenge aimed at stopping a HSE inquiry into the care provided to her by various state agencies. The woman, referred to as Miss Y, is an asylum seeker who arrived in Ireland in early 2014. She had claimed to…

The Diocese of Ferns is launching the pilot programme for a new youth group next week, which aims to engage teens with their local parish. Spirit is a motivational youth group aimed at Transition Year students which will include a personal and spiritual development programme, weekly meetings, guest speakers and workshops with local community groups.…

RTÉ presenter Mary Kennedy has revealed she regularly prays the rosary while walking. The Nationwide host also admitted she was a “traditionalist” and that that praying the rosary reminded her of her parents. Speaking to The Late Late Show, the presenter said she began praying the rosary on pilgrimage in Medjugorje a number of years…

Creggan clubman and former player Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry celebrates his team’s win over Éire Óg, with James Carey and Declan McCann and Ruairi McCann following the Ulster Intermediate Club Hurling Championship Final at Owenbeg on Sunday. Photo: Margaret McLaughlin/The Irish News