A Mass is being held in Dublin next week to mark the first anniversary of the tragic death of Tom O’Gorman, a well-known Catholic activist. His friends have organised an anniversary Mass at 3pm on Saturday, January 24 in Our Lady Mother of the Church, Castleknock, where Tom served for many years as a Minister…

Vatican backs battle to beat Ebola with €3m fund Rome is committing €3m to the fight against Ebola in Africa, and has encouraged other donors to supplement these funds.  Expanding the Catholic Church’s Commitment to the Ebola Emergency Response details the Church’s work in battling Ebola in such countries as Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.  Acknowledging how African healthcare institutions are “severely challenged…

The Irishman tapped to be the Pope’s new representative to Haiti has said he will bring a message of hope to the country still struggling to recover from a devastating earthquake. Clare-born Archbishop Eugene Nugent, who is currently Apostolic Nuncio in Madagascar, told The Irish Catholic his mission from the Pontiff is primarily about bringing…

Elephants from a Buddhist temple are present as Pope Francis arrives at the international airport in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Samuel McNally (7) from St Aidan’s parish in Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford proudly displays the Christmas card he received from Pope Francis. Samuel had made his own cards for Christmas and sent one off to Pope Francis. He was delighted when the Apostolic Nunciature in Ireland forwarded him a Christmas card and photo from the Pope…

Francis received a colourful welcome, writes John L. Allen

More than twice as many women died in Ireland’s Magdalene laundries than the McAleese Report revealed, according to a draft report by campaign group Justice For Magdalene Research (JFMR). The Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee to establish the facts of State involvement with the Magdalene Laundries, better known as the McAleese Report, found in February…

Rev. Hyun Jun Lee SJ, Rev. Jae Wook Lee SJ and Rev. Shane Daly SJ of the Irish and Korean Jesuit Provinces pictured with Archbishop Diarmuid Martin after their ordination to the diaconate at Milltown Park at the weekend.

The new year finds Mexico still seeking a new reality, writes Paul Keenan

The numbers of Catholics worldwide – lay, clerical and religious – has increased by 15 million, according to the latest figures made available by the Vatican. This week the Annuarium Statisticum Ecclesiae, updated to December 31, 2012, was presented to Pope Francis, along with the Pontifical Yearbook 2014. It showed that the Americas and Africa…