Pro-life TD’s and Senators have formed a new group to challenge the Irish humanitarian crises of abortion, euthanasia and other life and dignity issues. The Oireachtas Group for Life and Dignity (OLDG) was co-founded by independent TD’s Carol Nolan and Peter Fitzpatrick and launched Wednesday, 2 December. Carol Nolan Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Carol…
The Vatican decreed that priests can celebrate as many as four Masses on several important feast days, including Christmas, to accommodate the participation of the Faithful. Worldwide In a decree published in Latin December 16, Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, said the decision was made “in…
The diocese hope to engage 100 youth representatives across the diocese as part of a three-year youth initiative, ‘The Way Forward’. In a statement, Ferns diocese said their aim is to “develop exciting and engaging programmes that our young people will want to be involved in; Caminos, yearly Retreats, Trips, Pilgrimages, JPII awards, School and…
The town of Christ’s humble birth would normally be packed with pilgrims at this time of year, but coronavirus has put an end to that, writes Jason Osborne So many of the most beautiful Christmas carols conjure up idyllic images of Bethlem at that first Christmas. Each year we sing about that “little town” where…
Hungary’s Parliament passed a law December 15 defining the family as having a woman as the mother and a man as the father, effectively banning adoptions by same-sex couples and complicating adoptions by single people. The change is the latest of several to be made in recent years in what the government has said are…
Fr Seamus Enright of the Limerick Redemptorists praised the “great generosity” of the Irish public as their 2020 Sitout, rather than the usual SleepOut, elicited an outpouring of support. Positive reaction “The people were generous, there was a positive reaction. It was hard work, but good,” Fr Enright told The Irish Catholic. Fr Enright said…
Catholic bishops in northeast Italy have said that the risk of illness amid the ongoing pandemic constitutes a “grave necessity” permitting priests to confer the Sacrament of Reconciliation under the “third form,” also called general absolution, before and during the Christmas season. General absolution is a form of the Sacrament of Reconciliation which may be…
The life of Fr Patrick Peyton, an Irish priest who travelled the world promoting the rosary, is documented in the new documentary-style film, PRAY: The Story of Patrick Peyton. The film is produced by Fr Peyton’s own company, Family Theater Productions, famed for producing family-friendly content. Fr Peyton is remembered for his advocacy of both…
Mount Sion CBS has become Ireland’s first ‘School of Sanctuary’ following an assessment process undertaken by the Places of Sanctuary Ireland charity in recent weeks, after years of welcoming students from many different nationalities to the school. A School of Sanctuary is “committed to creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment that benefits everybody, including…
Toddlers could hardly contain their excitement as they danced in the church aisles to the Holy Missionary Choir’s Christmas songs during a celebration that was a bright star of hope for Iraqi Syriac Catholic refugee families. While the little ones are too young to know their ancestral roots, Christmas memories for their parents are those…
Ruadhán Jones