A Kazakh Church leader said Catholics were left “shocked and disorientated” when early January riots shattered Kazakhstan’s image as an oasis of peace and stability. “I’ve never known such ill-will and aggression here – after so many years of excellent cooperation between faiths, and between the Catholic Church and the government,” said Father Peter Pytlovani,…
Category: News
Don’t eliminate single-sex schools, says law professor
Well-known law professor and political commentator Larry Donnelly has opposed calls to “eliminate” single-sex schools from Ireland, calling for freedom of choice. Mr Donnelly – who attended a single-sex secondary school in Boston – told The Irish Catholic that an “awful lot of” of young boys and girls “can benefit greatly from single-sex education”. Acknowledging…
Astronaut talks with Catholic school students while orbiting Earth
Crisscrossing above the Seattle region at approximately 17,000 mph aboard the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei took live questions from students at Seattle Nativity School. “How has being in space affected your view of God?” asked one eighth grader at the Jesuit middle school. Mr Vande Hei paused. This was not the…
NI Ombudsman report on loyalist murders ‘damning’
Following the discovery of “collusive behaviour” in the North between members of the RUC, the UDR and paramilitary loyalist group the North Antrim UDA, an Irish priest has said the Police Ombudsman’s report was “damning”. Fermanagh-based Fr Joe McVeigh said the findings of Operation Greenwich, which looked at 19 murders carried out by the group…
Catholic nun who secretly baptised babies under communism dies at 92
An Albanian nun who inspired Pope Francis with her courageous faith under communist persecution has died at the age of 92. Sister Marije Kaleta risked her life to bring Holy Communion to the sick and dying under the regime of dictator Enver Hoxha, whose communist government destroyed churches and martyred Catholics in its effort to create an…
New website launched for national synod
Staff reporter A new website, synod.ie has been launched to support engagement with the national synodal pathway for the Church in Ireland. The website provides information about the synodal pathway and the timeline for the work, as well as making available a variety of resources to support engagement. Welcoming the publication of the website and resources Primate of…
Nigerian cardinal responds after gunmen kill 200 people
After gangs of gunmen killed at least 200 people in Nigeria’s Zamfara State last week, Cardinal John Onaiyekan said that things must change. The Nigerian cardinal explained that over the past five years armed bandits have terrorised north-western Nigeria, causing a great deal of damage. “They attack farmers’ fields, kill farmers and no one says…
Joyful Filipino Catholics celebrate Santo Niño in Dublin
The Filipino Catholic community gathered in St Joseph’s Church on Berkeley Road in Dublin for the feast of Santo Niño on Sunday. The feast is extremely popular in the Philippines and draws crowds of millions every year. The Santo Niño de Cebu is an icon of the Child Jesus. It was given by Portuguese explorer…
Vatican mandates Covid-19 vaccines or recovery for employees
The Vatican has updated its rules to stem the spread of Covid-19 and will require all its employees to be vaccinated against the virus or prove they have recently recovered from the disease. Also, starting January 10, nonessential work-related travel is temporarily suspended, masking outdoors is required, high-filtering FFP2 masks must be worn indoors and…
News in brief
Adminstrator appointed for Ardagh and Clonmacnoise A new diocesan administrator, Fr Tom Healy, has been appointed for the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois following Archbishop Francis Duffy’s installation as the new Archbishop of Tuam. Fr Healy PP of Edgeworthstown in Co. Longford will administer the day-to-day affairs of Ardagh and Clonmacnois until a new bishop…



Ruadhán Jones

Chai Brady





