Bishop Donal McKeown has launched a year-long celebration to mark St Columba’s 1500th birthday with Mass at the church named for the saint in Long Tower, Derry. Children from local schools joined remotely. In his homily, Bishop McKeown urged people to see St Columba as a role model. He pointed out that the main Christian…
An initiative which sees spiritual support brought to those living in care facilities has been hailed as “much in demand” by Bishop Michael Router. The effort is being led by the Northern Pastoral Network (NPN), a cross-boarder group of pastoral care workers from Catholic dioceses, and sees prayer resources provided via PowerPoint for use during…
Fr John Mahony is the newest priest to be ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Elphin, with the ordination taking place in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Co. Sligo on December 8. At the ordination, Bishop Kevin Doran noted that this was the first ordination to the diocese since Fr John…
Hundreds have been taking part in drive-in Masses celebrated by Fr John Forsythe each week in Randalstown, Co. Antrim. With the help of volunteers, Fr Forsythe of St MacNissis parish was able to accommodate 137 cars with approximately 300 people whereas with social distancing only 100 could attend Mass in their 800-seat church. Attendee and…
Demand for tickets for outstrips capacity, but those who have been longing to go for years will have a chance to participate in the famous Maynooth Christmas carol service tonight. The iconic college chapel plays host to the event, but Covid-19 pandemic restrictions means that the service will be streamed online this year on www.maynoothcollege.ie…
Benedict XVI has not lost his voice says Archbishop Gänswein Archbishop Georg Gänswein has denied media reports that Benedict XVI has lost his voice. The Austrian Catholic news agency Kathpress reported December 4 that Benedict XVI’s personal secretary had confirmed that the 93-year-old Pope emeritus was still able to speak clearly. Reports had circulated in…
The hierarchy has welcomed as “encouraging news” the fact that a number of vaccines for Covid-19 “are at an advanced stage of preparation and are likely to be available for use in the near future”. They have also called on Catholics to support the vaccination programme. In a statement the Irish bishops’ conference said that…
Chai Brady and Jason Osborne Healthcare chaplains have said they hope the roll-out of the coronavirus vaccine will be the beginning of a new era of hope for patients and the wider community. A nurse in Belfast became the first person on the island of Ireland to get the vaccine on Tuesday – the feastday…
The Vatican announced December 7 that Pope Francis will travel to Iraq in March 2021. He will be the first Pope to ever visit the country, which is still recovering from the devastation inflicted by the Islamic State. The four-day papal trip to Iraq March 5-8 will include stops in Baghdad, Erbil and Mosul. It…
Baroness Nuala O’Loan has said that a statement made by the Association of Catholic Priests advising that Christmas Masses move online was “overly cautious”. The ACP said last week that there is “alarm” in parishes regarding how Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses will be organised due to the traditionally higher number of people attending.…
Michael Kelly
Chai Brady