Local bishops have paid tribute to the three Irish people killed by a gunman in Tunisia and offered their prayers and condolences to their families. Bishop Michael Smith of Meath paid tribute to Lorna Carty, a nurse from Robinstown as a woman “known to, and loved by, very many people”. “The brutal circumstances of Lorna’s…

Senator Rónán Mullen makes a presentation to Ann Widdecombe, former British Shadow Health and Shadow Home Secretary and papal dame, who was guest speaker at a dinner hosted by the Pro-Life Campaign during her visit to Ireland last week. Photo: Andrew Ascough 

Dr Lazarus Gidoff became the first person ordained for the permanent diaconate in the Diocese of Waterford in a ceremony led by Bishop Phoncie Cullinan in St Oliver’s Church in Clonmel on Sunday. Rev. Lazarus is married to Seena and they have three children, Romald, Serena and Tracy. He is a native of Kerala in…

A bumper weekend for the Irish Church saw four dioceses across the island celebrate an ordination to the priesthood, including the first ordination in 14 years for the Diocese of Ossory. On Sunday, Fr Brian Griffin, from the parish of Slieverue, was ordained in St Mary’s Cathedral in Kilkenny by Bishop Seamus Freeman. In his…

The Church wants pastors who are brave and convincing witnesses with a life rooted in prayer, Pope Francis told archbishops in a ceremony in St Peter’s Basilica where 46 archbishops received a pallium, including two from Ireland. The pallium is a white woollen strip worn around the archbishop’s neck to signify his authority as a…

Julie Asher Analysing the ramifications of the June 26 same-sex marriage ruling for the US Catholic Church at the national, state and local levels will take time, said Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore. It has implications for “hundreds, if not thousands” of laws at all levels and there is “a difficult road ahead for people…

College rejects claim students are targeted

Hopes of a decision on the pilgrim site proved premature, writes Paul Keenan

Pope Francis made a visit to Benedict XVI on Tuesday to wish him ‘happy holidays’ as the retired pontiff left for two weeks holiday at the pontifical summer residence of Castel Gandolfo in the Alban Hills outside Rome. Francis has decided not to use the residence since he has said he dislikes holidays.

One of the members of the Vatican Medjugorje Commission has condemned recent media reports claiming that Rome intended to reject as not supernatural the alleged visions associated with the Herzegovinan town. Italian media outlets had reported that the Vatican Commission had met on June 24 and decided to rule that the alleged visions, which have…