The Philippines – A Catholic youth group has hit on a novel way to fundraise for churches struck by an earthquake on October 15. YouthPinoy has begun to sell dolls named in honour of the local Saint Pedro Calungsod and is turning the proceeds over for the reconstruction of some 10 damaged churches in the…

Fr Gerry Campbell ran Dublin marathon for Trócaire

France – The country’s Constitutional Council has ruled that mayors do not have a right to claim conscientious objection against performing gay marriage ceremonies. The ruling is a blow to a group of mayors which appealed to the council in the wake of threats by France’s Interior Ministry to imprison, for five years, those refusing…

Over 150 young people from several dioceses throughout Ireland gathered last weekend for the first ever John Paul II Fest at Knock Shrine. The national day of celebration was for those who have either completed the John Paul II Award or are currently involved in the programme. Frank McGuinness, director of Youth Ministries in the…

Britain – The Tower of London was the venue last week for the official launch of The 1535 Society, a new initiative of the Catholic Church aimed at promoting awareness of the role of Catholic martyrs in British history. Together with Bishop Richard Chartres of London, Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Westminster led a ceremony to…

Fr Martin Clarke has died at the age of 66 after a long illness

Italy – The name ‘Francesco’ has become the most popular baby name in the country following the choice of that name by the Pope. A study undertaken by Tor Vergata University in Rome found that, while ‘Francesco’ has long been a popular name across Italy, in the months since the election of the new Pontiff,…

Kevin Kennedy has spoken about how his faith helped him through dark times

Pope Francis welcomed the Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi to the Vatican on Monday. The Vatican Press Office reported the Popeís delight at greeting Ms Suu Kyi, "one of the most significant personalities in Asia in the area of peace, democracy and peaceful coexistence", a woman who spent 15 years under house arrest…

Founder of Catholic Grandparents Association meets Pope Francis