Shankill parish in Dublin has formed a new climate change initiative which seeks to raise awareness of the threats posed by climate change and to try to lower the carbon footprint within the area. Shankill Action for a Green Earth (SAGE) was formally launched in the Resource Centre, St Anne’s Church at a meeting attended…

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…

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…