Following much discussion in the Irish media about avoiding conflict during the Christmas period the CEO of Accord has said that rows between couples is a sign a relationship is “alive”. The head of the Catholic counselling and marriage charity Tony Shanahan told The Irish Catholic that “it is a good thing if relationships have…

2024 saw Catholic Youth Ministry continue flourishing on the island. From Net Ministries, Youth2000, Alpha, Pure in Heart, Focus Missionaries, Living Water and chaplaincies among others. Ireland also is the home of Holy Family Mission, a Catholic residential community for young people aged 18-30 founded with the purpose to form young adults for lifelong mission, which…

Trócaire’s CEO for the past six years told The Irish Catholic the job taught her courage and how individual actions are important. Courage is one of Trócaire’s five values, Caoimhe de Barra said.  “Courage is the one that really stays in my mind, because as the leader of the organisation… you’re responsible for the decisions…

Bishop of Killaloe Fintan Monahan is looking forward to the Jubilee 2025. “The whole Year of Hope gives me a great sense of joy and happiness. It is a wonderful theme to have and to develop with,” he said. The Diocese of Killaloe is trying to identify pilgrimage sites around the diocese and “encouraging pilgrims…

Two Catholic education stalwarts have called the Catholic Religious Education Certificate “necessary” and “not a barrier” after a recently published RTE article asked whether or not the certificate was a barrier to diversity in teaching while outlining the experiences of a Muslim trainee primary school teacher who did not take it as she doesn’t want…

Garry O’Sullivan & Brandon Scott Dioceses are increasingly turning to shared funeral ministry as a consequence of priest shortages, with plans to develop the collaborative ministry at various stages of development in a number of dioceses. The Archdiocese of Dublin is very much ahead of other dioceses in terms of funeral ministry says Patricia Carroll,…

Catholic school leaders have praised the enormous work and generosity of school children and staff who throughout the country have been raising tens of thousands of Euro for those in need at Christmas. “Across the country, in schools large and small, pupils and staff are actively engaged in fundraising for those less fortunate.  The type…

Newly elected politicians must have a “sincere commitment” to serving the common good and a “prioritisation of the needs of the most vulnerable”, according to the Archbishop of Dublin. After the formation of the 34th Dáil, Archbishop Dermot Farrell called on parishes to pray for politicians. Archbishop Farrell said that in current times “wise” governance…

Looking back at the Kilmore Diocese in 2024, Bishop Martin Hayes said they had significant events. “We had our pilgrimage to Lourdes. One of the features of it was that we brought some young people.” The young people who went on that pilgrimage raised the money to go, the bishop said. “They raised over 17,500…

Two Diocesan Eucharistic Adoration Committees have been commissioned on Saturday December 14 at a Mass celebrated by Bishop Paul Dempsey in St Mary’s Pro Cathedral, Dublin. Each attendee received a badge of office blessed by the bishop. The formation and training took place during the months of October and November. The two committees, one for…