Amid the Israel-Hamas war, more than half a million children across the world prayed the rosary for peace. On October 18, well over 500,000 kids participated in an annual global rosary campaign sponsored by Aid to the Church in Need. This year, ACN dedicated the annual rosary to “healing and protection of the suffering in…
Second Oireachtas essay competition launched An essay competition aimed at getting young people reflecting on and discussing politics was launched by the Ceann Comhairle on Tuesday, October 17. Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD launched the all-island Oireachtas competition in Leinster House, on the theme ‘Parliamentary Politics Matters for Peace’. Students North and South are invited to…
Ruadhán Jones and Chai Brady It is “totally unacceptable” and “wrong” that a new tax meant to tackle land hoarding is being applied to religious orders vowed to poverty, politicians have said, while religious leaders warn it could “seriously impact” their way of life. The tax could force orders to fork out thousands of euro,…
In a desperate bid for peace, the head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land has offered himself in exchange for Israeli children held in Gaza by the Hamas terrorist movement. Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who was made a cardinal by Pope Francis just last month, made the offer in a bid…
Ireland’s Jewish community have engaged Irish politicians and An Garda due to safety concerns following a “ramp up in rhetoric” in the country regarding Israel’s response to a terrorist attack on October 7. Militant group Hamas which controls Gaza – currently under Israeli siege – killed more than 1,400 people in the unprecedented attack. The…
Biblical scholars have criticised as “lazy” and “clichéd” a remark in the Dáil by An Tánaiste, in which he appeared to equate the Old Testament with violence and division. Speaking about Israel’s response to Hamas’ terrorist attack, An Tánaiste Micheál Martin said that “We don’t need an Old Testament approach to this, rather a New…
Charities that support missionary work across the world have said the increase in vocations to Irish missionary orders abroad is “encouraging”, and it could help spread the Faith in Ireland. The National Director of Missio Ireland, Fr Michael Kelly SPS, told The Irish Catholic while most Irish missionaries are elderly and many have retired, “there’s…
A group of 52 Irish pilgrims caught in the Holy Land as war broke out have returned safely to Ireland, with the group’s spiritual director saying that “God’s supporting presence” was very much felt by the pilgrims during their time there. At least 1,400 people were killed and another 3,400 injured in Israel after the militant…
An Irish priest based at Magdala on the shore of the Sea of Galilee in the Holy Land has said that he’s staying put to look after those under his care and provide a prayerful window into the Middle East for those living abroad. Vice director at the Magdala tourist centre in the north of…
A recruitment freeze must not add further pressure to Ireland’s health service, particularly in the context of a growing and aging population and large number of refugees entering Ireland, a hospital chaplain has warned. This comes as the HSE introduced a recruitment freeze which includes junior doctors, clerical, agency and patient staff, healthcare assistants and…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones