The Dean of Kilfenora has expressed his surprise that Pope Francis has not moved to regularise its “anomalous” status as part of the diocese of Galway. Fr Conor Cunningham’s comments follow an announcement by the Vatican that the Pope has “ordered the formal union” of the metropolitan see of Cashel with the ancient diocese of…

Staff Reporter The NI Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) has won High Court permission to challenge the law in the North to allow abortion in cases of rape, incest or “serious malformation” of a foetus. A judge in Belfast granted leave on Monday to seek a judicial review of the organisation’s claims that the North’s current…

School buildings, convents, vestries, playing fields and associated lands across Ireland were handed over

The Vatican has named both Archbishop Eamon Martin of Armagh and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin as the Irish Church’s representatives to October’s global meeting of Catholic bishops. The Vatican also named Archbishop-designate Kieran O’Reilly of Cashel and Emly as substitute. The Catholic Communications Office said that he “will only travel and participate in the…

Papal nuncio leads weekend celebrations in Co. Longford parish

To open the celebrations at the announcement of Fr John Sullivan SJ being made venerable, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin will celebrate a Mass in thanksgiving for his life and in prayer for his canonisation in St Francis Xavier Church, Gardiner Street, Dublin on Saturday, February 21 at 11am. There will be a blessing with the crucifix of…

Bishop William Crean has announced the Diocese of Cloyne is holding a Lenten series of prayer in central locations across the diocese. Each evening will last for one hour with time afterwards for refreshments and chat. Talks start at 8pm in Holy Family Hall, Youghal on Mondays, February 23, March 2 and March 9; in…

A leading Irish philosopher has strongly rebuked Stephen Fry’s controversial remarks about God. Fr Brendan Purcell, Adjunct Professor in Philosophy at Notre Dame University, Sydney accused the staunch atheist of “mixing up” what humans experience as bad with evil. Mr Fry evoked outrage when he described God as a “maniac”, “utterly monstrous” and “totally selfish”.…

It was with much sorrow that the National Eucharistic Adoration Committee said goodbye to one of their apostles, Mike Kumar, who died peacefully in December as the Chaplet of Divine Mercy was completed at his bedside. Mike was a Hindu from India and converted to Catholicism 12 years ago. He was passionate about the promotion…

Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare & Leighlin turns the sod at the 10 acre site in Aughnaharna, Portlaoise, Co. Laois where two 24 classroom schools are under construction to facilitate the amalgamation of three parish schools.