Broadcaster Charlie Bird has described Irish missionaries as “incredible, remarkable people” and said that Irish people would be as “proud” of them as he is if they had the opportunity to meet them.  Speaking at the launch of a DVD that he filmed in the Philippines and South Korea featuring missionaries and their work, Mr…

The sole Irish member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors has said she is “disappointed” with comments by Pope Francis recorded in a five-month-old video that was made public last week. Abuse survivor Marie Collins was responding to a video in which the Pontiff was recorded speaking to the former spokesman for…

Pope calls for Catholics to face challenges of migration The Pope’s message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which will be celebrated on January 17 in most countries has been published by the Vatican. Presenting the message, Cardinal Antonio Maria Veglio, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and…

Roscrea’s Mount St Joseph Abbey is to host a retreat on how monastic virtues can help support family life. The retreat, to be held over October 16-18, is entitled “Supporting Family Life through the values of Cistercian Monasticism”, and builds on the success of a similar retreat last year.  Integritas founder Patrick Treacy told The…

Congo's Catholic bishops have criticised Western governments for failing to stop the abuse of Africa’s natural resources. “Awareness by the major polluting countries comes nowhere near to any concrete commitment, or to the efforts required in countries whose forests provide the lungs for conserving the world's bio-diversity,” the bishops’ commission on natural resources said in…

“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…