Bishop Noel Treanor of Down and Connor celebrated the annual pilgrimage to Slieve Patrick, the national monument to St Patrick in Saul, Co. Down. A large crowd attended the celebrations including local children who had recently made their first Holy Communion, Knights of St Columbanus and a local Scout group. In his homily Bishop Treanor…

Over a third of Lebanese people are seeking visas to leave their country, according to the Greek-Melkite Patriarch of Antioch. Speaking at the annual assembly of the Greek-Melkite Synod, held at the patriarchal summer residence in Ain Trez, Lebanon, Patriarch Grégoire III said that “according to a recent survey, 60% of the Lebanese are considering…

The Church in Haiti is increasingly concerned about attacks on Church properties, according to Bishop Launay Saturné of Jacmel. More than 20 robberies of religious communities took place between November and February, he said in an interview, although crime against Church properties have declined since a silent march of religious and clergy on March 9,…

A “Joint Investigation Team” should be set up to examine the cases of Asia Bibi and all others in prison in Pakistan for blasphemy, according to the Pakistan Christian Congress (PCC), which since 1985 has spoken up for the rights of the country’s tiny Christian minority. Asia Bibi, a Christian mother of five, was sentenced…

Berkeley tragedy shines a light on vital pastoral service

Retired Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem speaks about religious co-existence and forgiveness during a prayer service at the Benedictine Church of the Multiplication in Tabgha, Israel, following a June 18 arson attack that damaged the roof and two rooms. (CNS photo/Mary Knight) 

Members of Rise of the Roses campaign on a visit to the Adoration Sisters in Belfast on their tour of 10 different orders across Ireland to create a culture of saying ‘yes’ to God among Irish women. The tour concludes in Knock Shrine on August 15.

Gianluca Avagnina in Turin Pope Francis prayed before the Holy Shroud of Turin last weekend, on his first official apostolic visit to the northern Italian region of Piedmont where the famous relic is venerated. Accompanied by the Archbishop of Turin Ceasare Nosiglia, the Pope venerated the shroud for several minutes inside the cathedral of St John…

Knock Shrine has been recognised by a leading tourism website for its excellence in hospitality. The world renowned Marian shrine in Co. Mayo received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award for the top performing tourist attraction as reviewed by tourists on the world’s largest travel site. Knock Shrine Rector, Fr Richard Gibbons said he was…

The former chief executive of the Catholic Church’s child safeguarding body has initiated personal injury proceedings against his former employer, RTÉ has reported. Ian Elliott, who was CEO of the Church’s child safeguarding body for six years until 2013, made an application for stress-related injury against his former employer via the personal injuries assessment board…