Representatives of Catholic parents have expressed frustration that they have been excluded from key discussions between the Department of Education and other stakeholders about issues as vital as getting children back to school. The Catholic Secondary Schools Parents Association (CSSPA) is the representative body for parents with children in Catholic secondary schools in Ireland, and…

Trócaire has warned that one-third of its annual donations have been put at risk after Covid-19 restrictions severely curtailed the distribution of Trócaire boxes this Lent. The Church-charity’s Lenten Appeal began on Ash Wednesday but the closure of schools and public Mass restrictions due to the pandemic have meant Trócaire boxes won’t reach many homes this year.…

Chai Brady, Ruadhán Jones and Jason Osborne If public worship is still restricted at Easter, a prominent TD has urged the Government to allow Mass to be celebrated outdoors. Clare TD Michael McNamara has said due to the religious significance of the period outdoor Masses should be considered if the Government is not willing to…

Artane parish has made an extra effort to commemorate the Stardust tragedy this year, with Fr Peter O’Reilly unveiling a display in memory of the victims, both dead and injured. The parish in which many of the victims were buried, Artane is deeply connected to the Stardust tragedy, Fr O’Reilly told this paper. “This year…

Carers and families are “terribly distressed” over revelations that people with learning disabilities in UK hospitals have been given do not resuscitate (DNR) orders during the pandemic, an Irish theologian said. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Dr Liam Waldron criticised the “unacceptable” actions of UK hospitals, saying it creates “a hierarchy of worth” and is…

Tensions in relation to the so-called Northern Ireland protocol must be handled with “wise leadership” from politicians with a view to making it work, a Belfast priest has warned. Fr Martin Magill PP told The Irish Catholic that although the vast majority of his West Belfast parishioners and himself would have been against Brexit there’s…

The Cross and Passion Sisters, who founded a well-known school in Ballycastle, will be “greatly missed” by the community after they decided to close their convent in the Antrim parish. The decision was a “natural progression” for the sisters, who had not been involved in the school for several years, explained Sr Margaret Rose, former…