For Christians in Chin and Kayah states, there were no Christmas and New Year celebrations due to fighting. They have borne the brunt of a decades-old civil war and faced oppression and persecution at the hands of the military, reported ucanews.com. On December 29, Catholics in Kayah’s Hpruso Township held a funeral for 35 civilians…
A lay Catholic organisation held three rosary rallies in Dublin in the run up to Christmas to bring the “true joy” of Christmas to people, and to oppose secularisation. The Irish Society for Christian Civilisation (ISFCC) held the Christmas rallies on O’Connell Street on December 4, 11 and 18. The participants prayed the rosary and…
Radical change is coming in the Church – Archbishop Dermot Farrell Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell recently spoke of how “radical change” is coming in the Church, a change which he believes will bring forth a renewal of energy and new forms of ministry. “With a powerful commitment from clergy and lay faithful, across the…
Abandoning sacredness of the family promotes irresponsibility – Bishop McKeown When a society abandons the sacredness of the family, it promotes a “lack of responsibility and maturity”, Bishop Dónal McKeown said on the feast of the Holy Family. The bishop of Derry warned that “in a secular world, preparation for Church marriages needs to be…
QR code added to sculpture to educate people about migration A life-sized bronze sculpture of migrants and refugees crowded onto a boat has stood in St’ Peter’s Square for more than two years, but just before Christmas a small QR code was placed on the boat’s stern to give onlookers information about the work. The…
Young people must be central to the conversation about Irish reunification, the Primate of All-Ireland has said in his new year’s message. Archbishop Eamon Martin also warned that victims of the conflict in the North cannot be denied access to justice by controversial proposals from the British government on legacy issues. “As we begin a…
Governments must pour more money into education and drastically reduce military spending for there to be genuine progress and peace in the world, Pope Francis has warned in his annual message for the World Day of Peace. “It is high time, then, that governments develop economic policies aimed at inverting the proportion of public funds spent on education and on weaponry,” the…
The Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin has said he would back a border poll. Dr Martin added that he “would like to see a united Ireland”, saying all the political leaders North and south must “open up questions of identity and belonging, and to honestly face them”. These questions of identity and belonging are…
Giving his traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing on Christmas Day, Pope Francis warned against the “wall of our indifference”, which is leading to “immense” tragedies being passed over in silence. Yet only those paths can lead to the resolution of conflicts and to lasting benefits for all” Speaking from the central balcony overlooking St Peter’s…
Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu has been described as a “warrior” inspired by his Christian faith who fought against inhumanity and apartheid in South Africa, following his death over the weekend. Irish missionary Archbishop Liam Slattery OFM told The Irish Catholic Archbishop Tutu brought “humanity to what was an inhumane situation”. “He was one of the…
Chai Brady
Michael Kelly
Ruadhán Jones