The reconstruction of a church in Beirut severely damaged by the massive explosion that rocked the city this summer is a sign of hope to the area’s inhabitants, said a local priest. Fr Nicolas Riachy is pastor of the Church of the Saviour in Beirut, Lebanon. He told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN)…
A Dominican sister was shot in the leg as her humanitarian relief team came under gunfire from paramilitaries in Mexico’s southern Chiapas state. Dominican Sister María Isabel Hernández Rea, 52, was struck in the leg November 18 while attempting to take food to a group of indigenous Tzotzil people displaced from a hamlet in the…
The move will be felt as a “great loss” by many but is a sign of changes in the way people express their faith, according to a local historian. The Belfast-based confraternity met for the last time on Sunday, November 22, 123 years after it began in July 1897. Belfast historian Brian McKee believes that…
Bishop Brendan Leahy has appealed to the public to stay diligent over the next 10 days, encouraging continuing compliance with public health regulations. The Bishop of Limerick said that while weariness has set in, the Faithful must keep their eyes on saving lives. “The Covid-19 crisis has hit us out of the blue. We didn’t…
Two European Catholic commissions warned that Arctic warming is intensifying competition over the region’s resources and urged tougher policies to protect its biodiversity and indigenous communities. As exploration, mining, investment and military activities increase, predatory practices also can increase, said the Brussels-based Commission of Bishops’ Conferences of the European Union, or COMECE, and Justice and…
Vatican bishop: Ethics committee will guide future investments A Vatican bishop has said that a committee of outside professionals is being created to help keep Holy See investments both ethical and profitable. Bishop Nunzio Galantino, president of the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA), said November 19 that statutes for a new…
An Post has launched the annual Christmas stamps, and to mark the launch The Irish Catholic has ten prizes of a special Christmas stamp bundle to give away to lucky winners. The special bundle is priced at €26 and includes the 20-stamp Christmas booklet (valued at €19) with one free stamp and a handy booklet…
Two churches in Washington state burn in apparent arson attacks Two church buildings – one Baptist, one Catholic – were damaged by fires in apparent arson attacks in Brewster, a town in central Washington. Sacred Heart Catholic Church suffered some fire damage near the sanctuary from an incendiary device dropped through a broken window early…
Archbishop Eamon Martin launched the 2020 online Advent Calendar yesterday [November 24], urging people to use it to “spiritually prepare” during restrictions.
Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin has said that he cannot understand why it might be possible to buy alcohol but not visit a church. He also urged politicians to understand that Christmas is about more than “eating and drinking”. Archbishop Eamon said the decision by the North’s Executive to close churches in hugely disappointing…
Ruadhán Jones
Michael Kelly