Award-winning actor Antonio Banderas (63), who has enjoyed an illustrious 41-year career, said that playing the evil King Herod in the nativity musical Journey to Bethlehem not only allowed him to explore a notoriously dark biblical figure but reminded him of the heartbeat of Christianity: love. Based on his experience with Journey to Bethlehem, the actor said he’s…
Category: News
Taoiseach’s biblical blunder goes down poorly abroad
Despite frequent calls for a return of Christian imagery and symbolism to Irish politics, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s recent use of scriptural allusion to welcome the release of Irish-Israeli Emily Hand, 9, from Gaza has gone over poorly at home and abroad. In a post on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) that has been seen over 46…
Parishes caring more ‘deeply for God’s creation’
The Archdiocese of Dublin hosted its ‘Parishes Caring For Creation’ conference over the weekend to discuss how parishes can better react to the challenges associated with climate change. Conference organisers said: “In the midst of environmental crisis, how can parish communities care more deeply for God’s creation? Join us for a day to equip yourself…
Raphoe parishioners gather to outline vision for liturgy
Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ and parishioners active in ministries and apostolates from all over the Raphoe diocese gathered to discuss a vision for liturgy in the diocese on November 12. This group was drawn from choir directors, organists, cantors, musicians, singers and ministers of the Word and the Eucharist, from parishes all across Donegal. The…
Bishop Barron expresses frustration with Synod’s conclusions on sexuality
Bishop Robert Barron has said that he is in “frank disagreement” with the final report of the Synod on Synodality’s claim that advances in the sciences require an evolution in the Church’s moral teaching on human sexuality. In a recently published reflection, the US bishop of Winona–Rochester, Minnesota, said it is “troubling” to see how members…
In Short
Catholic couples invited to work in-Tandem Tandem Teams, a programme for recently married or engaged couples devised by Teams of Our Lady, will begin its latest round of meetings on Saturday, December 9 at 3.30pm. The programme is structured around 13 monthly meetings and aims to “offer an occasion to dialogue in-depth with your partner/spouse…
Archbishop to invite young North Koreans to next World Youth Day in Seoul
The archbishop of Seoul has said that he wants to invite young North Koreans to the Catholic Church’s next World Youth Day. Archbishop Peter Chung Soon-taick shared at a peace forum in Seoul this week that he plans to invite a youth delegation from North Korea to the 2027 World Youth Day to take place…
Archbishop says catholic funerals for pets “unthinkable”
The catholic Archbishop of Freiburg , Stephan Burger, has said he is opposed to church funeral services for pets. “I am clearly in favour of an ethically responsible treatment of animals and am concerned about animal welfare. But we should not humanise animals. A catholic mourning rite specifically for pets is unthinkable for me,” he told…
Prayers after horror attack on Dublin Catholic school
Dominican friars in Dublin say they are praying for all involved after a stabbing incident at a nearby Catholic school in the bustling city centre of the capital. Eyewitness described a scene of terror after three children and their teacher, a woman in her 30s, were stabbed near the school on Thursday afternoon. The attack occurred…
Ireland joins in calls to make Newman ‘Doctor of the Church’
The founder of University College Dublin could soon be one of only a select few figures to be declared a ‘Doctor of the Church’ with momentum growing to grant Cardinal John Henry Newman the rare ecclesiastical honour. Cardinal Newman, who was made a saint by Pope Francis in 2019, has sometimes been referred to as…



Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones




Michael Kelly
