Some of organisers of the annual garden party for the Community of Sant'Egidio held at the Pontifical Irish College, Rome which was attended by about 550 people. One of the pastoral placements for seminarians of the college involves joining members of the community on the streets of Rome serving the poor once a week.

The Government’s determination to mislead the public is becoming a key issue in the marriage referendum campaign, according to a leading ‘no’ campaigner. Dr Thomas Finegan, legal advisor to Mothers and Fathers Matter, has rejected claims by former Justice Minister Alan Shatter that surrogacy is an irrelevant distraction in the marriage debate and is being…

The head of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association (CPSMA) has welcomed a move by the State Claims Agency to provide insurance for schools used as polling stations. Fr Tom Deenihan told The Irish Catholic that Catholic schools “have always been happy to offer their schools, which are mostly built on private property, for this…

A senior Church figure in education has warned that the financial burden on the country’s secondary schools is at “crisis point”. Fr Paul Connell of the Joint Managerial Body (JMB) said “the combination of decreasing departmental support and the increasing inability of our parents to financially support us is proving crippling”. “The question of equalisation…

A group of lay people, sent as delegates by parishes throughout the Diocese of Kilmore, was in formation and training over the past four months as part of the development and expansion of the Diocesan Eucharistic Adoration Committee. This was organised and conducted by John Howard and Brendan Cleary of the National Committee of the Apostolate…

The Knights of St Columbanus in Downpatrick, Co. Down held a ‘Look at Life’ morning seminar for a group of students in St Marys High School, Downpatrick. Fr Martin Graham, a native of Downpatrick, opened the first session speaking on the ‘Roll of the youth in the Church today’. He talked about the importance of youth…

Over 600 religious, clergy and lay people gathered in the Diocese of Cork and Ross to celebrate and pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.  The celebration in word, song and silence began with the story of the life of faith beginning with St Finbarr and St Fachtna, the two diocesan patrons, through…

Papal Nuncio inspired by dedicated parish clergy around the country

An afternoon of song is being organised by the Returned Missionary Desk of the Irish Missionary Union. ‘Summer Song’ will take place at the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) on Wednesday, May 13 from 3pm to 4pm. (No 15 bus from town) This fundraising concert which will aid the work being done by the Peter…

Bishop Kevin Doran has criticised employers who impose ‘zero-hour’ contracts on their staff. The Bishop of Elphin said the practise was “designed to give all the advantage and flexibility to the employer (or to capital) at the expense of the person who actually brings the greatest value to the work”. So-called ‘zero-hour’ contracts involve workers…