Describing Pope Leo XIV and King Charles III praying together in the Sistine Chapel as “a thrilling sign of transformation,” Bishop Niall Coll of Ossory said the moment underlined how far relations between Christian traditions have come since Vatican II. “It’s not that both traditions have reached consensus on all matters,” he told The Irish…
Category: News
Kerry Diocese calls for new Pastoral Leaders
The Diocese of Kerry developed a new role in pastoral leadership in response to the synodal call that each baptised person should play a part in their local communities. The diocese said the new role was created as there is a growing concern about the future of the parishes with the dropping number of available…
Galway bishop congratulates Catherine Connolly
In a statement published on Saturday, October 25, Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Clonfert Michael Duignan congratulated President-elect Catherine Connolly on her victory. Describing Ms Connolly as “one of our own” and her win as a “significant day for the people of Galway”, Bishop Duignan reminded the local community of the Christian duty to pray…
Majority of Catholics still want to marry in church despite evolving trends
A recent survey commissioned by Accord has highlighted that a majority of Catholics in Ireland still wish to marry in the Church, despite evolving trends in wedding choices. The study carried out by Amárach Research, was discussed at the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference last week during their Autumn 2025 General Meeting in Maynooth. Among non-married Catholics, 60% reported…
Priest takes on the Dublin Marathon for Vincentian projects in Africa
The Dublin Marathon has long been an opportunity for those of good heart (and legs) to raise funds for all manner of good causes. This year, Fr Barry White, semi-regular contributor to The Irish Catholic, joined thousands racing the rain-soaked streets of the capital, raising €4,500 for the Vincentian Lay Missionaries (VLM), who support education,…
Irish delegates prominent as Pope Leo engages Synodal Teams on the role of women
The vast crowds filling St Peter’s Square for Pope Leo’s Angelus on Sunday might have suggested a papal election rather than an ordinary weekly blessing. Yet among the thousands gathered were more than 4,000 delegates attending the Jubilee for Synodal Teams — Church representatives from across the world who came to celebrate, reflect, and listen to the…
Record number of spoiled votes sparks calls for reform
“Over 200,000 people left the comfort of their own home and spoiled their votes purposefully in order to register a protest against how the presidential election was run” Aontu’s Peadar Tóibín has told this paper In total, he said, “317,000 people either spoiled their votes or voted for a withdrawn candidate. Spoiled votes even “beat…
Irish bishops launch multimedia platform, ‘TheWay’
Adapting to the increasing demand for digital news services, the Irish Bishops’ Conference has introduced a multimedia platform designed to share “not only the Good News but our whole lives as well” (1 Thess 2:8). Titled TheWay, the platform acts as an online network where the audience can browse through written, visual, and audial content…
‘Come forward and discern a catechist vocation’ urges bishop
Passing on the faith is not just the role of priests or bishops”, Bishop of Ossory Niall Coll said in a recent pastoral letter. Catechists are people who help others to grow in their faith, the bishop said, and he urged “the people of Ossory” to come forward and begin a time of discernment and…
President McAleese paid tribute to RTÉ priest
Former President of Ireland Mary McAleese read a short reflection at the Requiem masses for Fr Dermod McCarthy in Dalkey and Ballinamore on October 24 and 25, 2025. Fr McCarthy who died recently aged 83 was the former head of religious programming at RTÉ and a member of the Radharc film crew in the 1960’s…



Renata Steffens






