A leading US prelate has endorsed Calvary, the story of an Irish priest threatened during a confession, as an “intimate, unblinking, unforgettable” film. Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia said, from “first frame to the last”, the Irish motion-picture starring Brendan Gleeson had “an understated power”. It’s a blend of “everyday pain, faith, despair, humour, candor,…

The registration for volunteers to assist at the annual Christmas Day dinner for the homeless of Dublin hosted by the Knights of St Columbanus is nearly fully booked after just two weeks. Last year, more than 300 volunteers served 350 guests at the RDS in Dublin on Christmas Day, and a further 2,100 Christmas dinners…

Pope Francis will address the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on November. The Parliament’s president, Martin Schultz, made the announcement last week and the Vatican immediately confirmed it. According to Fr Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, Pope Francis will travel to Strasbourg and back to Rome the same day, and his brief trip should not…

According to the Pro-Life Campaign, the latest hospital review which resulted in disciplinary action against staff at University Hospital Galway, further confirms that abortion was not a factor in the death of Savita Halappanavar (pictured). Last week the HSE confirmed that nine staff members have been disciplined over the care provided to Mrs Halappanavar, who…

The feast days of Saints John XXIII and John Paul II will be on October 11 and October 22 respectively, the Vatican has announced. In a decree published in the September 15 edition of L’Osservatore Romano, the Vatican said Pope Francis had approved putting the saints on the Church’s general Roman calendar of feast days…

President’s remarks were ‘concerning’

The Vatican confirmed that Pope Francis is planning to visit Turkey “in the last days of November”, but said the length of his trip and his agenda in the country have yet to be determined. Jesuit Fr Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, made the announcement last week noting that a formal invitation from Turkish President…

More than 12,000 people attended the annual national grandparents’ pilgrimage to Knock last weekend, which celebrated the relationships of the longest married couples in Ireland. This was the eighth year for this growing gathering to attend the day of celebration at Ireland’s national shrine. It included a procession of representatives carrying banners from branches of…

KYG will bring 3,500 young people to Knock on the Feast of the Holy Rosary