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…
Art teacher defends Vatican’s much-maligned nativity scene Since it was unveiled last Friday, the Vatican’s nativity scene in St Peter’s Square has elicited diverse reactions on social media, many of them strongly negative. “So the Vatican presepe has been unveiled….turns out 2020 could get worse…” wrote art historian Elizabeth Lev in a post that went viral on…
Religious schools must accept ‘gender identity’, LGBT activists tell Biden A leading LGBT activist group is calling for the Biden administration to create accreditation regulations of religious schools that would enforce acceptance of so-called transgender rights. The pro-LGBT Human Rights Campaign (HRC) issued its list of policy priorities for the incoming Biden administration, The Daily…
With just a week to go to Christmas, many parishes have pulled out all the stops to ensure that as many people as is safely possibly can attend Mass. Many areas reported large socially-distanced queues of parishioners applying for tickets to attend one of the many extra Christmas liturgies. A lot of priests have decided…
A Belfast-based priest has said he is “genuinely concerned” about loneliness among his parishioners and the future emotional impact Covid-19 restrictions could have. Fr Martin Magill PP of St John’s said a parishioner told him “the loneliness is killing me”, a sentiment he says was echoed by others who approached him. “I suppose I am…
Parishes have had to innovate to meet the demand for Mass, setting up booking systems, putting on extra Masses and appealing for charity in response. St Eunan’s Cathedral St Eunan’s Cathedral Letterkenny told The Irish Catholic that they usually have 4,000 attendees over Christmas Eve and Christmas day. They know they can’t cater for all…
Pope Francis’ “hugely significant” declaration of 2021 as ‘The Year of St Joseph’ has been “warmly welcomed” by Fr Richard Gibbons of Knock Shrine. Fr Gibbons said that the announcement is especially significant in the context of the pandemic. Fr Gibbons said that St Joseph “invites us to place all our prayers and intercessions in…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady