The administrator of Carlow Cathedral had his prayers answered as he safely landed following a parachute jump on Saturday to raise money for the parish fund. Fr John Cummins and parishioners Mark Carpenter, Marie Therese Byrne and Jo Brecknell, completed a tandem skydive at Clonbullogue Airfield following weeks of collecting sponsorship around the parish. “It…

Arab Christians are increasingly distressed by a rise in kidnappings of clergy and laity in Syria and Iraq. Just days after the unexpected release of Iraqi Franciscan Fr Dhiya Aziz, Melkite Fr Tony Boutros and his Muslim driver were reported missing by the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The watchdog said the priest serving…

The Pro Life Campaign (PLC) has launched a new ‘Volunteer Pledge’ initiative which they say will act as a “pivotal step in the push back against those trying to bring about a referendum to repeal the 8th Amendment”. The initiative involves a commitment of no more than 2-3 hours per month for pro-life supporters throughout the…

Staff Reporter Concern has been expressed that thieves are targeting priests under the false impression that they keep large sums of money in parochial houses. Last week Msgr Joseph Donnelly and Fr Piotr Zimnoch were held by armed assailants looking for money in parochial houses in Drumrath parish, Omagh. Two days later Fr Peter Carlin was…

Meeting of mayors to empower the world’s poor The Vatican has held two conferences on climate change, human trafficking and sustainable development. The July 21-22 meetings, which brought together mayors from around the world, addressed how cities can help contribute to the solution of some of these problems facing humanity. “Modern Slavery and Climate Change:…

De La Salle Brothers from different parts of Ireland came together in Castletown, Portlaoise recently, after a six day retreat given by Fr Charles Cross, CP. They were, in effect, saying goodbye to their Irish Province, which was established in 1947, and joining with brothers from Great Britain and Malta in a new combined ministry…

The new St Aloysius Summer Faith Camp, for boys and girls (5-12 years), was an action packed week for the 30 children and 22 leaders and junior leaders from Mallow Parish Youth Ministry-CDYS, Jesus Youth Movement and Pope John Paul II Award participants. Each day the young people started off with Morning Prayer followed by drama, sports,…

Pastoral work by the Catholic Church in Greece is being severely hampered by the country’s economic crisis, according the Catholic Archbishop of Athens. Archbishop Sevastianos Rossolatos said the Church was increasingly unable to maintain its buildings or provide services for migrants and refugees, more of whom have arrived in the beleaguered country this year than…

A leading evangelical Anglican says that Pope Francis’ 2014 apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium is central his current thinking, and that if every English Christian put the document into practice both Church and nation would be transformed. Rev. Nicky Gumbel, vicar at Holy Trinity Brompton and developer of the globally influential Alpha Course, told a gathering…

Friars ready for ‘Battle of Waterloo’ stance