More needs to be done to ensure the spiritual needs of elderly priests and nuns living in non-religious nursing homes are catered for, a member of the Church’s Healthcare Council has warned. Sr Pat O’Donovan, Executive Secretary of Irish bishops’ Council for Health Care, said that while much of the care provided in such healthcare…

Sometimes it can seem that the sole narrative of religious life in Ireland is one of decline. But, if a recent Dublin gathering is anything to go by, religious life is very much alive and kicking. Over the weekend of October 16-18 – fittingly Mission Sunday weekend – over 65 people gathered in Marianella in…

Staff reporter A leading Catholic activist has criticised as “insulting” a joint statement from 12 priests which claimed that women were oppressed within the Church. The 12 priests, many of whom have been prominent in the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP), agreed in the statement that they could “no longer remain silent because to do so…

Vatican-Beijing talks are back on track, writes Paul Keenan

One of the foremost Catholic Bible teachers in the world today will be the guest speaker in Belfast at an event organised by the Living Church office in the Diocese of Down & Connor. Jeff Cavins will be travelling from the USA to the Waterfront Hall in Belfast on Saturday, November 21 for a day…

Corkman Michael O’Flynn was recently honoured by Pope Francis when he was appointed a Knight of Saint Gregory. Such papal knighthoods are awarded to those who have given outstanding service to the Church on a voluntary basis. Mr O’Flynn, who is well known as a developer, has been advising the diocese over the past number of…

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…

Hollywood legend Maureen O’Hara, who passed away at the weekend, once said her greatest fear would be “not getting into Heaven”. The flame-haired actress, who was born in Dublin in 1920, passed away in her sleep at her home in Boise, Idaho on Saturday at the age of 95.  When a journalist asked the film…

Theologian, lecturer and author, Fr Brian Grogan SJ, is leading a workshop on The Joy of the Gospel at Knock Shrine next month. Taking place on November 28, the workshop will explore Pope Francis’ call to us in his 2013 Apostolic Exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel, a document which addresses topics such as evangelisation in the…