Bishop of Ferns Ger Nash was appointed as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Ossory in addition to his role as Bishop of Ferns. The appointment was delivered by the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor, and took effect on January 25, when Ossory’s former Bishop Niall Coll was installed as the Bishop…
Senator Ronan Mullen has raised concerns that a Council of Europe (CoE) report on banning so-called ‘conversion practices’ is being used to advance contested gender-affirmation policies across healthcare, education and religious settings. Writing in The Irish Catholic, Senator Mullen criticised the report ‘Towards a Ban on Conversion Practices’, authored by British Labour MP Kate Osborne, which…
John Allen, the editor-in-chief of Crux whose decades-long career in journalism defined him as one of the authoritative voices on the Vatican and the Catholic Church, has died at the age of 61. Allen passed away in Rome Jan. 22, after battling cancer since 2022. He is survived by his wife, Elise Ann Allen, Crux’s…
As Catholic Schools Week is marked this week across the country, The Irish Catholic has learnt that the Irish Bishops’ Conference is establishing a commission to examine how the Catholic Church might assist the process of school divestment in Ireland. The move comes after more than a decade of discussion about the future patronage of…
On January 11, 2026, Mary McAleese published in The Irish Times a strategically timed article (on the Sunday of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord) accusing the Catholic Church of using the sacrament of baptism of little children as “long-standing, systemic and overlooked severe restriction on children’s rights with regard to religion”. It…
While the number of people involved in the life of the Church is not as big as it once was, those who choose to be involved are “deeply committed and passionate about their faith,” said Oranmore parish priest, Fr Diarmuid Hogan. “I think it is the experience of my colleagues, and it is certainly my…
St Mary’s Church, Knockmoyle, in Cappagh Parish, Co. Tyrone, has held its last Sunday Mass, after the parish suspended Sunday morning Mass amid growing pressure on clergy and a shortage of priests. The decision has been met with sadness locally, with parishioners describing it as heartbreaking for those with a deep attachment to the church…
The Catholic Mothers Ireland (CMI) has been officially granted charity status by the Charity Commission NI. “This recognition by the Charity Commission is a testament to the dedication of our volunteers and supporters. We look forward to reaching more women and families, offering practical support, faith formation, and a sense of belonging,” said Sinéad Strong,…
Across Irish dioceses, parish life, and national initiatives, those working closest to youth ministry describe something more complex than a simple narrative of decline. In some places, uneven engagement, yes – but also growth in participation, post-Covid rebuilding, and in some places a surprising hunger for prayer, community, and formation. In the Diocese of Killaloe,…
Church leaders from across traditions gathered in Newry this month for a major care for creation conference, as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (18–25 January) begins with an ecumenical call for Christians to live as “one body and one spirit”. Marking the unity week, Archbishop Eamon Martin, Catholic Archbishop of Armagh, and Archbishop…
Renata Steffens