As Russia’s war in Ukraine drags on and joint funerals are held for the soldiers who died, Catholic military chaplains say they still see faith, hope and humanity in the soldiers with whom they minister. “It is a very special vocation to be a man of God among those who are called to defend, to…
More than 8,000 people tuned in to witness the final profession of a new Poor Clare sister to the convent in Nun’s Island, Galway. The profession ceremony of former UCHG dermatology nurse Sr Clare Marie, was live-streamed, a first for the community which has had a presence in Galway for nearly 400 years. ‘Touching’, ‘calming’,…
Bishop Fintan Gavin visited Upper Mayfield parish, Cork, as it marked the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Church of Our Lady Crowned, June 11 and 12. Bishop Gavin celebrated all three Masses, including the intentions of the parish community, all those who received the sacraments over the years, the benefactors both living, and…
The UK government announced June 16 that it is imposing sanctions on the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office said in a June 16 statement that Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia was being “sanctioned for his support and endorsement of Putin’s war”. The announcement came after European Union member states failed…
Italian bishops ease pandemic restrictions Italy’s bishops updated their pandemic prevention guidelines, easing many restrictions as new cases of Covid-19 continue to decrease after large spikes in January and February and as the severity of the disease diminishes. In a statement released June 15, the leadership of the Italian bishops’ conference said that, since the…
Jason Osborne and Ruadhán Jones Faithful from across the 26 dioceses gathered in Athlone Saturday as the Church in Ireland convened for the national pre-synodal assembly. The purpose of the meeting was to move towards developing the final national synthesis that represents the results of the listening and discernment of the Faithful during the first…
Donations to the annual Peter’s Pence collection, which supports the work of the Roman Curia and funds the charitable activity of the Pope, held steady in 2021, but the total still was significantly lower than in 2018, the Vatican said. Peter’s Pence donations and income from investments totalled €46.9 million in 2021, while the expenses…
The words “Jane’s Revenge” have been a calling card in recent incidents of vandalism of pro-life pregnancy centres across the country, but now the name has popped up again at the bottom of a new “communique” that was released threatening “open season” on pro-life clinics. The White House has condemned the threat June 15, according to…
Over 3,000 year seven and sixth class pupils who are to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in Derry diocese gathered to celebrate, June 9. Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown was the principal celebrant at the annual ‘Fan the Flame’ Mass, which also marks the end of the student’s time in primary/national school. Bishop McKeown was…
Cardinal-designate calls liturgical tensions a ‘tragedy’ Cardinal-designate Arthur Roche, prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, described as a “tragedy” the tensions within the Latin rite of the Catholic Church over the way the Mass is celebrated. In a wide-ranging interview broadcast June 16 by Vatican News, the cardinal-designate said the tensions…
Ruadhán Jones