This year, the National Ploughing Championships, located in the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin, will take place from September 17-19 in Ratheniska, Portlaoise, Co. Laois. The diocese will be represented in stand 221 and will highlight the suffering of victims in war torn areas such as Gaza and Ukraine. In the stand, the visitors will be…
Parishioners in Culmore, Derry have been worrying about the future of their local church since 2022, when Derry Diocese decided to close the church following the Sisters of Mercy’s decision to sell the church building they rented to the diocese. A group of parishioners appealed to the Vatican but received the news the diocese’s decision…
Thousands gathered in Galway Cathedral on September 5 to 6 to venerate the relics of St Bernadette of Lourdes. Fr John Gerard Acton of Galway Cathedral said that it was an immense privilege for both the Diocese and the Cathedral parish to host the relics of the young saint, noting how the two-day event of…
The Maori people, the Indigenous population of mainland New Zealand, have crowned a new queen after the death of their king — and she’s Catholic. King Tuheitia Potatau Te Wherowhero VII died on August 30 at the age of 69. His death came days after his 18th anniversary as king of the Kingitanga, also known as…
The historic Church of the Immaculate Conception in Saint-Omer, in the Pas-de-Calais department of northern France, was ravaged by arson on the night of September 2. The suspect, a multi-recidivist who has attempted to set fire to numerous places of worship in the past, was apprehended a few hours after the blaze was brought under…
Public meetings are set to take place in Strokestown, Athlone and Castlerea from next week to discuss the amalgamation of two local dioceses, the Diocese of Elphin and the Diocese of Achonry. It was announced in April the Dioceses of Elphin and Achonry would merge, in a major reorganisation of the Catholic Church, spearheaded by…
The exodus of Iraqi Christians from their ancestral homeland is once again making headlines. Many families are fleeing the country, seeking refuge in neighbouring nations as a temporary stopover before heading to distant destinations such as Australia. Some believe this new wave of emigration began in late 2023 following a tragic fire in Bakhdida in northern Iraq.…
The Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly has recently commenced a lay funeral ministry initiative, which hopes to equip lay parishioners with the necessary skills to undertake a wide range of roles during funerals in the archdiocese. Speaking to The Irish Catholic in the aftermath of the archdiocese’s invitation to parishioners who are interested in the…
This October, for the first time, the sacred relics of 7th-century Irish monk and martyr St Kilian will return to his homeland in Co. Cavan from Germany. Maynooth has been selected as a stop on this journey, where the relics will be available for public veneration in the College Chapel on October 2. Rev. Prof.…
Recently, Bishop Paul Dempsey visited two youth prayer groups, where he shared his faith journey and reflections on his first months as auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese. “There’s so much criticism out there. We’ve come through a challenging time for the Church in Ireland – everyone knows that. Yet, the roots of the Church at…
Renata Steffens
Renata Milán Morales