The Irish Association for the Lasallian Mission (De La Salle) held its AGM in Castletown, Portlaoise recently. Fifty school principals, teachers and others spent time together to review and plan for how best to promote its mandate of “human and Christian education”. Its president, Tom O’Neill, Waterford welcomed the gatherings from all over Ireland and…

Ben Burke and son Ben Jr from Foxford, Co. Mayo with their pet sheep Polly and hen Penny at the annual blessing of the pets for the feast of St francis of Assisi which took place over the weekend at Knock Marian shrine. Photo: Gerard Smyth

“Red tape gone mad” is now preventing priests and other religious ministers making hospital visits from finding out if any of their parishioners have been admitted. Traditionally clergy could access a ‘religious list’ at hospital receptions which gave patients’ names, addresses and religions so that they could ascertain if any parishioners had been admitted. Over…

The time for cautious diplomacy in dealing with the Ukrainian crisis is over, the head of the Ukrainian Catholic Church has said. Expressing disappointment in the Vatican’s low-key approach to the issue, Kiev-Halych’s Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said “The fact that 70 percent of Ukrainian army regulars fighting against separatists and Russian soldiers have Russian as…

Almost 2,500 people aged 24 or younger could be homeless in Ireland by Christmas, campaigners have said. Speaking at the launch of Ireland’s first youth café for homeless people, Peter McVerry Trust CEO Pat Doyle urged TUSLA and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to play a much more prominent and proactive role in…

Staff reporter The Pioneers should not look to a hierarchial structure, but have the self-belief to become a strong lay association Bishop Eamon Walsh has said.  The Pioneer Association will become a Lay Association of the Faithful under the direction of the Irish Bishops’ Conference over the next three years, as the Jesuits make a phased…

A new heritage wall recounting the many developments over the years at the Mercy University Hospital, Cork City was blessed by Bishop John Buckley and the ribbon was cut by Sr Laurentia, Former Director of Nursing, in the presence of Sandra Daly CEO, Margaret McKiernan, Director of Nursing and many present staff members. The hospital…

A parish Mass for the Year of Consecrated Life in the Church of Our Lady of the Wayside in Jenkinstown, Co. Louth coincided with the fact that the Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa were celebrating the 80th anniversary of the foundation of their mother house, Mount Oliver Convent. Parish Priest of Lordship & Ballymascanlon, Fr…

Bishop Michael Smith officially launched the Diocese of Meath’s preparations for World Youth Day (WYD) next year in a ceremony in Navan parish. He will lead a group of 50 young adults (18-35 years) from the diocese to Krakow, Poland at the end of July, 2016.  The pilgrimage journey will take in the five days…

Archrois an Spidéil is a special commission for Cill Éinde, An Spidéal, Co. Galway, that was recently dedicated during a week of celebrations in the parish. Designed by artist Imogen Stuart, who also designed the ambo and tabernacle for the refurbished St Mel’s Cathedral in Longford, Ardchrois an Spidéil is designed in the tradition of…