Chai Brady hears about the tensions and trauma following Lebanon explosion Lebanon continued to lead international headlines this week after an explosion at Beirut’s port claimed the lives of hundreds of people in a country wracked by inflation and accusations of a corrupt, now defunct, government that had “utter disregard for the value of Lebanese…
Category: News
Pope leads tributes to John Hume
Pope Francis has hailed John Hume’s tireless commitment to the peace process. In a message read at Mr Hume’s funeral in Derry, the Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said that the Pope was saddened to hear that Mr Hume (83) had died on August 3. “Mindful of the Christian Faith that inspired John…
HSE’s sexual health advice during pandemic bodes ill
The Health Service Executive (HSE), in partnership with the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU), has launched a new sexual health campaign titled ‘Play it Safe’. According to the HSE’s website the aim of the campaign is to provide young adults with access to helpful information to support them in safeguarding their sexual health and wellbeing during the…
Beirut’s huge explosion adds to Lebanon’s dire situation
Hospitals in the Lebanese capital are overwhelmed with those suffering injuries from a massive explosion in Beirut’s port, causing widespread damage to the city and rocking the tiny Mediterranean nation already devastated by the coronavirus and its worst financial crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. “People won’t be able to rebuild their homes, businesses, livelihoods.…
Priest’s 100-mile bike ride raises aid for parish – and hope
Fr Christopher Heanue started his morning on July 27 by celebrating Mass at 5am…and then took off on a 100-mile bike ride. It wasn’t just any ride. Fr Heanue called his journey ‘100 Miles of Hope’, which was a fundraiser to help support his parish, Holy Child Jesus, in Richmond Hill, New York, in the…
GPs paid nearly €3m fees for abortions
General Practitioners providing abortion services received €2.9 million in fees in 2019, according to figures released by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The figure was released in response to a query from independent TD Carol Nolan, who described it as “staggering”. Deputy Nolan said the €2.9 million was taken from the National Women and Infants…
Pope extends Catholic patriarchs’ jurisdiction over Arabian Peninsula
Pope Francis has extended the authority of the Eastern Catholic patriarchs to their Faithful living in the countries of the Arabian Peninsula. The Pope’s decision sets aside instructions issued by St John Paul II in 2003 and Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 entrusting the pastoral care of all Catholics of any rite to the Latin-rite…
Pub to host Communion livestream after Confirmation success
A Dublin pub which facilitated parents who weren’t allowed to attend their children’s Confirmations due to Covid-19 by livestreaming the Mass on their TVs is gearing up to host more family members for Communions next week. The Kingswood Lodge, which is across the road from the parish church, helped parents mark the occasion as a…
Churches flooded in Karachi after heavy rainfall
Masses have been suspended in two Catholic churches in Pakistan’s Karachi Archdiocese after torrential monsoon rain. Thick black sludge covered the compound of St Francis Xavier Catholic church in the Shahjahanabad area following flooding after three days of heavy downpours in the port city. Five feet of water stood in Shahjahanabad, home to 45 Catholic…
Priest highlights Covid-19 Direct Provision failings
Laois-based priest Fr Paddy Byrne has highlighted what he has described as the inadequacy of the State’s accommodation for asylum seekers, claiming that the coronavirus pandemic has shown the “cracks in society where the vulnerable are”. Referring to the controversial Direct Provision system, Fr Byrne said that: “One thing I’ve discovered…is that Covid-19 erupts where…

Chai Brady




Ruadhán Jones



