Mairead McGuinness MEP and Vice-President of the European Parliament welcomed Irish bishops to the European Parliament on a special information visit to the EU institutions last week. Ms McGuinness said she was “delighted” to welcome the 15 bishops, eight support staff and diocesan personnel and that “it is important that the European institutions maintain an…

Staff reporter The impact of Vatican II on Ireland is the theme of a major new book due to be launched later this month. The book explores areas such as education, human rights, social justice, liturgy, society and theology. Vatican II is widely regarded as the most important religious event of the 20th Century, and the…

Over the weekend the Diocese of Kerry launched a diocesan recruitment drive for young people aged 18–35 years to participate in World Youth Day next year. The international youth event will take place in in Krakow, Poland from July 25 to August 1 and the theme is ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain…

The first in a series of contemporary spiritual music concerts at St Paul’s Church, Arran Quay in Dublin will be performed by liturgical composer, Ian Callanan.  Ian, who is known for his work with the Emmanuel, Seinn and Music Ministry Together initiatives, will perform a concert on Thursday, November 26 at 8pm. The support act…

Trócaire, the overseas development agency of the Irish Bishops’ Conference, is holding Masses of remembrance this month for friends and supporters of the organisation who have passed away and who generously left a gift to Trócaire in their will. The first Mass took place in Belfast on Monday and a second Mass will be held…

The fall-off in the number of priests is significantly greater than official statistics show, The Irish Catholic can reveal. Figures listed in the most recent edition of the Irish Catholic Directory record the number of deaths of priests and some religious brothers at 160. However, figures compiled by Fr John Leogue of the Diocese of…

Lutherans married to Catholics can discern for themselves whether or not they should receive Communion in Catholic churches, Pope Francis appears to have suggested.  Speaking at Rome’s Evangelical Lutheran church, the Holy Father also called for “reconciled diversity” between Catholics and Lutherans, both of whom, he said, must seek forgiveness for historic persecutions. He described…

A religious charity advocating for the rights of refugees has called on the Government to formally announce an acceleration in the processing of asylum applications. Eugene Quinn, National Director of the Jesuit Refugee Service said the Government “seems to have informally given prioritisation to processing applications for people living in direct provision for five years…

Lebanon at risk of being sucked into Syrian conflict The November 12 attack on Beirut “tragically confirms the threat of destabilisation that hangs over Lebanon”, according to Maronite priest Paul Karam, President of Caritas Lebanon. “If the war continues in Syria, it is inevitable that our country risks being sucked into the vortex,” he said, adding that the effects of the Syrian war…

A short video by a group of pro-life students, has received more than 24,000 YouTube views. Beginning with a group of students saying they had voted ‘Yes’ in May’s marriage referendum, ‘Equality starts here’ records them challenging how pro-choice campaigners sought to co-opt the referendum result in the poll’s immediate aftermath.  “I was frustrated about…