England’s former Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, has said he made the decision to quit Boris Johnson’s Conservative government after hearing a sermon on integrity. Mr Javid told the BBC’s Sunday Morning show that he heard the sermon at a prayer breakfast in parliament, which was delivered by Reverend Les Isaac. “It might sound a bit…
Journalist accused of inciting destruction of abbey in Spain The Vox political party in Spain has filed a complaint against a journalist who encouraged blowing up the basilica and abbey located on the grounds of the Valley of the Fallen memorial complex northwest of Madrid. The complex is the site of the largest cross in…
The diocesan appointments for priests in Down and Connor have been announced this week. The appointments will take effect from August 5. Fr Timothy Bartlett to be PP St Mary’s, Belfast. Fr Conor McGrath PP St Colmcille’s, Belfast and, in addition, Director of Vocations. Fr Eugene O’Neill to be PP St Patrick’s, Belfast. Fr Michael…
The Knights of St Columbanus and the Order of the Holy Sepulchre took part in the annual procession of the relics of St Oliver Plunkett which took place in Drogheda July 3. The procession, marched through the Co. Louth town from the Holy Family Church, Ballsgrove, to St Peter’s Church for Mass at 4pm. The…
The government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, which has been in power for 15 years, expelled 18 Missionaries of Charity from the Central American country on July 6. According to the newspaper El Confidencial, the nuns were taken by the General Directorate of Migration and Immigration and the police from the cities of Managua and…
Scott Richert, publisher of Our Sunday Visitor, said July 6 the Indiana-based Catholic publishing company would fill the void left behind by the closure of the domestic operations of Catholic News Service in January 2023 with OSV News. He made the announcement at the Catholic Media Conference in Portland and described the new venture as a…
The Parish of Newtownards and Comber, Co. Down, celebrated 150 years of worship in Our Lady of the Visitation Church, Saturday, May 29. Bishop of Down and Connor Noel Treanor attended on the day, con-celebrating Mass with a number of priests and deacons of the diocese. Parishioners, former priests of the parish and friends from…
Addiction in Ireland ‘frightening’ – Bishop Router Addiction to drugs and alcohol are a “frightening aspect” of contemporary life in Ireland, Bishop Michael Router has said. Speaking as the second episode of the Irish bishops’ Leave Your Mark podcast series was launched, Bishop Router said the series can highlight the problems that exist and show…
Vatican rep warned Catholic missionaries of Hong Kong crackdown A Vatican representative in Hong Kong warned Catholic missionaries there to be prepared for a tougher future as China tightened its control over the former British colony, said a Reuters news report based on interviews. Reporting on the Reuters story, ucanews.com said Archbishop Javier Herrera-Corona, the…
The Ukrainian community in Ireland has praised the “outstanding” welcome they have received from Irish parishes, as the Church considers establishing mission communities to care for the influx of refugees. There is a “huge demand for pastoral care” from the almost 40,000 refugees from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the chaplain to Ireland’s Ukrainian Catholic parish…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones