Church blessings for queer and remarried couples: in the Catholic diocese of Aachen, this will be officially possible in future. There had recently been discussions about the corresponding guidelines. The diocese of Aachen is now offering blessings for couples regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status. Bishop Helmut Dieser explained the handout of…
On 9 October 2025, The Irish Catholic published an article which purported to quote Maria Steen and to summarise her views as contained in an opinion piece published under her name on the same date. The Irish Catholic accepts that its article misrepresented Mrs Steen’s views and inadvertently falsely attributed remarks to her that she…
It is one of the most valuable libraries in the world – and open to scholars: Not only Christian researchers are welcome in the Vatican Library. Muslims can find “incredibly old Korans” here, says its deputy director. Even in the most important library in Christendom, Muslims do not have to give up their prayers. “Of…
A vast and joyful congregation gathered under autumn skies on October 5 to mark a momentous milestone — the Golden Jubilee of the restoration of the historic Holycross Abbey in Co. Tipperary. The ancient stones of the Abbey seemed to glow with renewed life as Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, described the…
The Church of the Holy Family Ardfinnan will welcome a first class relic of St Carlo Acutis, who was canonised on September 7, to their shrine honouring the young saint. The installation Mass will take place at the Church of the Holy Family in Ardfinnan on Sunday, October 12 at 12pm, and will be celebrated…
Catholic schools in Ireland can live their ethos fully while remaining inclusive, according to Dr Áine Moran, co-founder of Folláine a new catholic education leadership service. “Catholic schools can be Catholic,” Dr Moran told The Irish Catholic. “It’s perfectly doable to express the faith fully and be radically hospitable. But too often leaders, without formation,…
Loreto schools marked historical milestones last week with celebrations in Ireland. Loreto Secondary School Bray commemorated 175 years with Mass and a tea gathering on October 2. On the same day, Loreto High School Beaufort, Rathfarnham celebrated its first centenary with current and past pupils. This year also marks the 150th anniversary of the first…
We would like to thank the late Mary Noone for her long service to The Irish Catholic, in which she took care of the account and distribution of papers within the Whitehall parish during her time as a member of the Legion of Mary praesidium. Ms Noone died in early September, and was involved in…
Many young people joined Armagh Parish’s ‘Week of Hope’, said Admin. Fr Barry Matthews. The event took place from September 28 to October 5 and was “an opportunity” for the local community to come together in faith and share stories and experiences. He said the young attendees were inspired by the “speaker’s courage as they…
The philosopher-saint Edith Stein (canonised St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) has much to teach modern society about dignity, empathy, and the dangers of what she called “soulish contagion or psychic contagion,” according to Dr Robert McNamara, lecturer in philosophy and head of the department at St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth. “Stein observed how movements…
Renata Steffens