Archbishop Dermot Farrell used the Dublin Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock to deliver a message of hope and renewal, telling thousands of pilgrims that the Church’s current difficulties are not a sign of decline but proof that it is living and breathing. Speaking at the Shrine of Our Lady of Knock on the Feast of St…
Cardinal Reinhard Marx, who has served as archbishop of Munich and Freising in Germany since 2008, has instructed the priests and full-time pastoral staff in the archdiocese to introduce the controversial handout “Blessing Gives Strength to Love” as the basis of pastoral care. Priests who do not want to carry out such blessing celebrations for…
In Hungary, the era of right-wing populist Viktor Orbán is coming to an end after 16 years. Expectations of his successor are high. Can Magyar achieve a fresh start with a dancing surgeon and a blind martial artist? Vilmos Katai-Nemeth is a lawyer, a black belt in the martial art of Aikido, and has raised…
Bishop Deenihan also challenged the response of media to the recent national survey on patronage The Bishop of Meath has accused ideologically-driven groups, many funded from outside the State, of lobbying politicians and media with a “narrow, nuanced and distorted narrative” about Catholic schools in Ireland. Bishop Tom Deenihan, who holds the education brief…
Pope Leo’s visit to Africa brought a “great sense of joy” to Irish supporters of Mary’s Meals, after the pontiff was presented a T-shirt and mug with the charity’s logo during the papal flight. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Ms Patricia Friel, Executive Director of Mary’s Meals Ireland, said the Pope’s reaction to the gifts…
A painting of St Thérèse of Lisieux will be displayed to the public in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel at Knock, which opens for the season on May 2. The painting, an original artwork of French Symbolist artist Edgar Maxence (1871–1954), was gifted to the Shrine and at the end of last year, Knock Shrine received…
A series of ongoing court cases across the UK and Ireland are drawing renewed attention to how abortion buffer zone laws are being enforced, ahead of this year’s March for Life on Bank Holiday Monday, May 4. In Northern Ireland, Pastor Clive Johnston appeared in court on April 22 in a high-profile case under the…
Forming ‘saints and scholars’ in today’s world Faith formation and intellectual formation should grow together, according to Grace Cantillon-Murphy, director of Mater Dei Education.Speaking to The Irish Catholic ahead of her talk, ‘A New Generation of Saints and Scholars’, Ms Cantillon-Murphy said that faith and reason must go hand in hand. “A saint seeks truth…
Exclusive School subject “opt-outs are now being framed as a new card to disrupt the ethos of Catholic schools” the CEO of the Catholic Education Partnership (CEP), Alan Hynes has warned. “We need to be clear: if we are going to divest schools — which we support — then our Catholic schools, which the…
A new sanctuary in Lough Derg was dedicated to the late Msgr Richard Mohan – Prior of Lough Derg from 1990 to 2013 – during a ceremony on Sunday, April 19. The dedication was attended by many of Msgr Mohan’s family members and friends, pilgrims, local parishioners and Lough Derg staff. The new sanctuary honours…
Renata Steffens