After reports confirmed that the Franciscan Friary in Clonmel was due to be closed on the first day of the year, Independent TD for Tipperary Mattie McGrath has decried the closure of a “fabulous institution” and said that he has written to the head of the friary to see if the decision can be reversed.…

Looking forward to the Jubilee of Hope in 2025,  Bishop Niall Coll of Ossory diocese says he thinks “It has a wonderful message that needs to be shared in the context of an Irish society which is presenting as increasingly materialistic, secular and anxious.” Bishop Coll added: ‘Many people seem to find life meaningless and…

Bishop Martin Hayes says he is looking forward to the Lay Pastoral Worker Training Programme in St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth in 2025. “It will consist of a discernment period of six months, followed by a two-year part-time course,” he said. “We have now selected 19 people from throughout the diocese.” These lay people will…

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,…