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…

Chris Pratt, the star of the box office record- breaking film Jurassic World, credits his successful career to God’s blessing. The 35-year-old actor, who is married to actress Anna Faris, with whom he has a two-year-old son, Jack, has attributed his sudden recent career success to divine intervention. “I’m definitely very favoured by God and…

Pope Francis has penned a stinging critique of humanity’s treatment of the environment, urging people to take action to combat the reality of climate change. In his much anticipated encyclical, Laudato Si (Praise be to you), the Pope sets out an “urgent challenge” to protect the environment from any further destruction, calling on society to…

Pope Francis will present each of Ireland’s two newest archbishops with a pallium, which signifies the power of a metropolitan archbishop, in a ceremony in the Vatican next week. The Holy Father will bless and present the pallium, a white woolen strip worn around the archbishop’s neck, to Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh and Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly…

Bishop of Down and Connor Noel Treanor after celebrating Mass on St Patrick’s mountain at Saul, Co. Down speaking to Gerard (8) who recently made his first Holy Communion. Photo: Bill Smyth