The Government’s decision to apply VAT to devotional candles used for personal prayer is “mean spirited” and will have a significant effect on churches that have struggled during the pandemic, parishes have warned. Msgr John Byrne of Portlaoise parish called the timing “really unfortunate”, as parishioners are facing unprecedented rises in the cost of living…
The Congregation of Holy Cross has appointed Valentina Culurgioni to be the new postulator for the sainthood cause of Holy Cross Father Patrick Peyton. Born in Co. Mayo in 1909, Fr Peyton, was most well known as the “rosary priest”, and famously coined the phrase, “The family that prays together, stays together”. Fr Peyton was also a…
Staff reporter Christian Churches in the Middle East face a “perilous type of existence” which has highlighted the need for them to work together, an Irish priest has said ahead of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity (WPCU) 2022. The WPCU runs from January 18-25 on the theme ‘We saw his star in the…
Ashling Murphy was remembered for her great faith, talents and the love she brought to her friends and family at her funeral on Tuesday in St Brigid’s Church in Mount Bolus, Co. Offaly. Parish priest of Kilcormac and Killoughey Fr Michael Meade said of Ms Murphy, “in life she cherished the Gospels”, and that the…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady