Church leaders were praised for their “ongoing contribution to peace building” in the North by Taoiseach Micheál Martin following a meeting yesterday. The Taoiseach and Church leaders also agreed they “look forward to the time when church services and other in-person activities can resume”. Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin, Church of Ireland Primate of…
Tomorrow, April 16, marks the 5th anniversary of the death of Sr Clare Crockett and the five young women who died with her. The young sister died in an earthquake in Ecuador in 2016. A series of online events are set to take place over the weekend to mark the occasion. April 16 will see…
Five years on from her death, devotion to Derry nun Sr Clare Crockett continues to grow, as hope increases the Church will soon open her canonisation cause. On April 16, the five-year waiting period required by the Vatican before a potential cause can be considered for the sister – who died in an earthquake in…
Attacks on three homes in Carrickfergus attributed to loyalists aiming to intimidate Catholic residents have been dubbed “horrendous” and sectarian. Windows of houses were smashed in three areas in Woodburn estate, with the PSNI saying a man wearing a balaclava was seen running away after two of the incidents. Responding to reports, SDLP Cllr Eugene…
A Facebook page dedicated to documenting the suffering of those going without public worship in Ireland has “given a voice to people”. Sandra Parda, of the ‘We Need Worship’ page told The Irish Catholic that the testimonies pouring in from around the country, and given a platform by the page, just “make my heart break”.…
A prominent TD has said it is “extremely disappointing” that the Dáil refused to allow her to question Health Minister Stephen Donnelly on whether it is an offence to attend Mass. Laois-Offaly deputy Carol Nolan was seeking clarification because the minister previously told the Dáil it was not an offence, but the State is now…
John McColgan, founder of Riverdance, said a “quiet prayer” for his friend, the Irish songwriter and broadcaster Shay Healy after he died following a “hard-fought battle” with Parkinson’s. Mr McColgan first met Shay Healy in the 1960s and said they remained friends ever since. Speaking on the Brendan O’Connor radio show, he spoke of how…
A new report for Government recommends “exceptionally liberal” legal recognition of domestic surrogacy arrangements, despite the “exploitative” nature of the practice, a Catholic bioethicist has said. The report by the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, Prof. Conor O’Mahony, was released April 7 and calls for the introduction of domestic surrogacy. Surrogacy is where a woman…
Poor families are struggling to buy food as prices rise “astronomically” and Brazil’s Covid-19 crisis worsens, according to an Irish Spiritan based there. Fr Brendan Foley, the Superior of the Brazil South-West Province and parish priest in Perus, São Paulo told this paper that in response to the increase in food prices they opened a food bank…
The Irish Bishops have announced the initial submission phase of the upcoming synod, which was announced March 10. Commenting on the development, Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick said the bishops were inviting submissions “to reflect on what methods/models to adopt” in the coming two years of conversations. He gave as examples “parish hall meetings, focus…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones