The priest presiding at the funeral Mass of Oisín McGrath has paid tribute to his parents’ faith and selflessness when faced with the shock death of their son. The 13-year-old was a pupil at St Michael’s College in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, and was was fatally injured while playing football during his lunch a week ago.…

Church spokespeople have distances themselves from controversial comments about the film Fifty Shades of Grey made by a high-profile priest. Fr Paddy McCafferty, who serves in the Co. Down parish of Crossgar, has appealed to Catholics to avoid the film, which he describes as “contrary to the Faith and offends against human dignity”. Fr McCafferty…

Hundreds of people attended the funeral of popular Co. Tyrone parish priest, Canon Tom Breen, who was remembered last week as “humble and compassionate”. Canon Breen, who recently turned 84, passed away in the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen and was buried in St Davog’s Church in Dromore. Canon Breen was remembered for having…

Pop superstar Katy Perry has revealed she turned to prayer to give her the confidence to perform during the half-time show at the Super-Bowl recently. “I over prepared myself and did a lot of prayer and meditation,” the world-acclaimed singer said of her dazzling performance. “It’s funny, I was praying and I got a word…

Pope Francis’ authorisation of a decree recognising that Salvadoran archbishop Oscar Romero was killed “in hatred of the faith” and the subsequent announcement that the murdered archbishop will be beatified later this year have been greeted with delight in El Salvador. Msgr. Ricardo Urioste, who served as Archbishop Romero’s vicar general and is now president…

Almost two thirds of people believe that a child is more likely to grow up happy if raised in a home with a mother and father. A survey carried out by Amárach Research on behalf of Accord, the Catholic marriage care service, has shown a strong support for marriage in Ireland. Some 61% considered marriage…

The international community and national authorities must work together to liberate those areas occupied by Islamic State as soon as possible, according to an extraordinary synod of the Chaldean Bishops, and should “put in place the necessary measures to protect Christians and other Iraqis, so they all return to their homes and live in safety…

Following her participation at the latest meeting of a new Vatican commission set up by Pope Francis to fight sex abuse, a prominent abuse survivor has said she is happy with how progress is being made. Marie Collins had expressed her frustration at the slow pace of progress in advance of the three-day meeting of…

Indian Church leaders have criticised the heavy-handed tactics of police who arrested almost 200 protestors assembled at New Delhi’s Sacred Heart Cathedral to protest against recent attacks on churches. Among those arrested were the archdiocesan vicar general Fr Susai Sebastian, civil rights activist and former All India Catholic Union president John Dayal, and Divine Word…

People in international dress representing diverse communities in the archdiocese at the installation ceremony of the new Archbishop of Cashel & Emly, Dr Kieran O’Reilly in the Cathedral of the Assumption in Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Photo: Bernadette Sweetman