The Minister for Mental Health has warned about the negative consequences of prolonged restrictions on Mass and other religious ceremonies. Minister Mary Butler told The Irish Catholic that she is “positive and hopeful for a re-opening of churches [for liturgy] soon.” “I’ve discussed how important Mass is for the older generation with the Taoiseach…I’m very,…

Primary and secondary schools partially reopened on Monday, with staff and students feeling a mix of “trepidation and excitement” at the return. “The mood among the principals is that, while there is a little bit of trepidation, there’s also a desire to get schools open and to get classes in and by teachers to get…

Irish people should write to their TDs and push for Ireland to stand with the Uyghur Muslim minority in China who may be facing “the worst single abuse of human rights in the world right now”, according to the bishop of the Diocese of Raphoe. Bishop Alan McGuckian told The Irish Catholic that as more…

Hope is in the air in the North as the 500,000th vaccine was administered late last week, priests have said. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, a number of priests told of the “cautious optimism” that is returning to their socially-distanced parishioners, an optimism that has been buoyed by the recent good weather. “Because we are…

Communities fear the “devastation of rural Ireland”, as the Government has announced a fishing taskforce with decommissioning of fleets on the agenda, according to a Donegal-based priest. Fr John Joe Duffy told The Irish Catholic that his local community of Creeslough, Donegal, are “horrified” at the prospect of their ships being decommissioned. “They’re horrified to…

An EU Parliament resolution on Poland’s recent constitutional ban on abortions “exceeds the confidences conferred on it by the member states”, said Bishop Noel Treanor. The Down and Connor bishop, who is vice-president of the EU bishops conference, COMECE, was a signatory on a letter from the bishops to the EU criticising the resolution. While…

The ACP has come under fire from within after issuing a statement expressing concern about calls for a return to Mass for Easter. The statement read, “The ACP is concerned about calls for an Easter return to community worship,” which raised questions from one of the priests in the comments. Fr Padraig McCarthy agreed with…

Holy Cross family ministries, founded by Irish priest Venerable Patrick Peyton, have welcomed the installation of a handcrafted, Italian sculpture in the likeness of Fr Peyton outside the Fr Peyton Centre in North Easton, Massachusetts. Fr Willy Raymond, president of Holy Cross Family Ministry, welcomed the arrival of the Irish-born ‘Rosary Priest’s’ statue, blessing it…