A new documentary, Sins of Ireland, premiering on Good Friday, April 18, explores the complex legacy of the Catholic Church in Ireland through the lens of confession, an idea which came to filmmaker Alex Fegan at his son’s first confession. It follows fifteen priests as they go about their lives, reflecting on a sacrament that…
The parish priest in Rory McIlroy’s hometown of Holywood in Co. Down has hailed the golfer following his historic victory in the US Masters, describing him as “a really great kid and very caring in every respect”. Fr Stephen McBrearty told The Irish Catholic he mentioned McIlroy at every Mass over the weekend before he…
A rare statue of the Irish saint of gardening and gardeners was sold for ten times the estimate at auction on April 9 in the UK. The value of the 15th Century medieval elm carved figure of St Fiacre was firstly estimated at £1,000-£1,500 but sold for the total of £15,750. The 83cm tall statue…
The Vocations Team in Ferns Diocese provided information on this lifepath to students during a ‘careers night’ in St Peter’s College Secondary School, Wexford on March 12. Fr Billy Swan, Vocations Director and Breda Murphy from the parish of Kilrush, a member of the Ferns Diocesan Lay Vocations Council represented the diocese in the event.…
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople offered a hopeful perspective on healing the millennium-old division between the Orthodox and Catholic churches, suggesting the historic 1054 “Great Schism” was not a sudden break, but a gradual process with tensions that “are not insurmountable.” “Of course, problems have accumulated over a thousand years. But we are full…
The Rupnik case continues to shake the Vatican and the Jesuit order to this day. The priest and artist is alleged to have sexually and spiritually abused numerous women. The trial against him is progressing slowly. The head of the worldwide Jesuit order is hoping for a swift conclusion to the Vatican proceedings against the…
Criticism of the Catholic Church: victims of abuse are demanding a different system of compensation. The Bishops’ Conference’s Advisory Council for Victims has now reiterated this demand. The Advisory Council of Victims of Abuse at the German Bishops’ Conference has criticised the voluntary church system of compensation. It may seem like a lot when Conference…
He is more important to the Pope than many a curial cardinal: his nurse Strappetti, who saved his life. Since the Pope’s serious lung disease, he has been more visible than ever. And makes decisions. When Pope Francis appeared in public for a few minutes on 23 March and 6 April, a man in a…
Bishop Denis Nulty in a recent address to the Catholic Primary School Managers Association (CPSMA) said that while Catholic schools are inclusive and welcome all “we must also ensure they remain Catholic.” Asking how might we support our schools remaining Catholic in the fullest sense he said: “It may mean, being part of a fair…
Healthcare chaplains from across Ireland gathered for their annual symposium in Dublin last week. In its third year, the event gathered 137 chaplains from all the main hospitals, hospices and other care facilities in the Republic and Northern Ireland at The Gibson Hotel on April 2. Fr Dwayne Gavin, Head of Mission at Bon Secours…
Chai Brady
Renata Steffens