The head of healthcare at the Conference of Religious Ireland (CORI) has described as “shocking” a report that found vulnerable elderly people were left for more than a month without a shower or a bath in a nursing home run by the HSE. Sr Pat O’Donovan, RSM insisted “there is no situation in Ireland that’s…

Religious faith ought to be a protest against consumerist culture and “ensure that we do not substitute the politically correct for genuine values”, according to Archbishop Michael Neary. In his homily for the annual Reek Sunday pilgrimage, the Archbishop of Tuam said the acid test of any society or faith “is the care it takes of…

Tyrone senior football manager Mickey Harte was guest speaker at the recent Michaela Camp in Derry. The Michaela Foundation was established by John McAreavey to honour the life and values of his wife Michaela McAreavey after her tragic murder during their honeymoon in 2011. It runs summer camps across the island of Ireland to help…

Staff reporter Internationally acclaimed spiritual singer and author Nóirín Ní Riain is to lead two spiritual retreats at the renowned Benedictine monastery Glenstal Abbey in Co. Limerick. The songstress, who holds a PhD in Theology, told The Irish Catholic the retreats are an opportunity to “chill out” in a “very spiritual and special place”. The…

The death has taken place of Fr Conleth (Joseph) O’Hara, CP, the last surviving member of a well-known Bangor, Co. Down family of 10 of whom all eight brothers were ordained priests. Fr Conleth, aged 86, died at St Joseph’s  Retreat, Highgate London on July 18 and a Memorial Mass was celebrated there on Monday…

Members of the Rise of the Roses initiative with Fr Aodhán Marken Adm. and the Adoration Sisters in Wexford planting a rose in the convent garden to mark their visit, which is part of an island-wide tour of religious orders to encourage young women to consider a religious vocation.

Spanish priest killed in Columbian church Fr Luis Alfonso León Pereira, a popular Spanish priest who had worked for 48 years in Columbia, was murdered in the sacristy just before celebrating Mass on Wednesday, July 15. The priest was killed by a homeless man who entered Montería’s church of St Mary Mother of the Church…

Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy has expressed his hope that that the further involvement of lay Catholics in response to the fall off in priestly vocations will serve to bring the Church closer together. Bishop Leahy said that Limerick Catholics are responding to the call to play a greater role in pastoral ministry by showing…

European integration and unity has brought Europe’s peoples peace, security and prosperity, but these successes need to protected, according to a European bishops’ commission. Speaking on behalf of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community, Munich’s Cardinal Reinhard Marx expressed relief that a bailout package had prevented Greece from abandoning the Euro…

Jesuit campaigner Fr Peter McVerry has warned that young people who are “disinterested” in the Church are the “prophets of today” and should not be blamed for “straying”. Speaking at this year’s SMA Summer School in Newry, Fr McVerry said that young people telling the Church that there is “something fundamentally wrong” with its message…