Staff reporter Pope Francis has warned that there can only be true fraternity between the people of Europe if the continent is open to God. In a message to commemorate the 1,400th anniversary of the death of St Columbanus, Pope Francis said the Irish missionary always had a vision of Europe based on co-operation between people.…

The Church’s biggest challenges are also its biggest opportunities and change must come from the grassroots, this was the message Archbishop Eamon Martin gave to the about 250 people who attended the 14th Catholic Young Adults Conference in All Hallows College, Dublin at the weekend.  Organised by the Legion of Mary under the theme ‘Mary…

Fr Gerry Kane, Parish Priest in Harold’s Cross in Dublin planted and blessed a tree in an ecumenical ceremony with Russian Orthodox priest Fr Mikhail Nasonov at St Clare’s Primary School to celebrate ‘World Day of Prayer for Creation’. They are being assisted by: Esmé Cregan, Liadán MacMenamin, Eniola Afolabi, Sophia Baltazar, Daragh McGeever and…

John Allen reports from Nigeria on inter-faith relations

Over 100 parishioners took part in the annual Tara to Slane pilgrim walk, organised by Navan Parish at the weekend. The pilgrimage, first started in the Jubilee Year of 2000, recalls the lighting of the Paschal Fire on the Hill of Slane by St Patrick and symbolises the path of faith as we walk towards…

The Vatican still faces challenges in Cuba, writes Paul Keenan

Priest says Govt inaction is an ‘embarrassment’

Each year pilgrims gather on the Sunday after September 25, the feast day of St Finbarr, patron saint of the Diocese of Cork, to honour him and ask for his blessing. This year pilgims will gather on Sunday, September 27 in Gougane Barra to celebrate ‘Gougane Sunday’. Rosary will be recited in the oratory at…

The Government has been urged to raise the issue of Christian persecution in China with that nation’s Ambassador to Ireland. As a drive to demolish churches and crosses continues in the province of Zhejiang, which to date has seen some 1,200 crosses cut down from Christian properties, Fianna Fáil’s Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Brendan Smith…

Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, September 6 at 1.30pm in St Aengus’ Church in Burt, Co. Donegal for motor bikers. This will be a time to pray and remember all those bikers who have lost their lives in recent times and a time to ask for God’s blessing. After the Mass all the bikes…