Vatican Santa Marta Paediatric Dispensary reopens The Vatican’s Santa Marta Paediatric Dispensary has reopened after being forced to shut down for more than two and a half months due to the Covid-19 crisis. Despite the pandemic still being present at large, the Dispensary in the heart of the Vatican re-started its services for needy children…
Indian priest and director to release new film A priest and film director in India is to release a new film of someone living with HIV and their family. Michael’s Coffee House, by Fr Anil Philip, will soon be released in Indian cinemas. Fr Philip, a member of the Congregation of Mary Immaculate (CMI), based…
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed this afternoon (Friday) that Catholics can start to safely gather together for Mass from June 29, following health and safety protocols. He also announced that from Monday up to 25 people can attend funerals. Last night Archbishop Diarmuid said that he will meet with other members of the hierarchy on Monday…
Catholics in the Republic may be able to begin gathering together to celebrate Mass on June 29, three weeks earlier than the Government’s original roadmap according to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. There is no indication when Masses will be permitted north of the border, but authorities are known to be keen to work in tandem. The…
The Diocese of Down and Connor has announced that funeral Masses will now resume having been suspended since March due to Covid-19 measures. It will be welcomed by many grieving families who acutely felt the pain of not having a funeral. It was one of only two dioceses where funeral services and requiem Masses were…
Virus lockdown has increased people’s faith The challenge of re-opening churches for public Mass should be used as a moment to revitalise parish councils, a leading theologian has said in response to new research which shows increased online and offline prayer and practice. Prof. Eamonn Conway told The Irish Catholic: “The main positive I…
Parishioners who have missed being physically present at the celebration of the Eucharist will have a unique chance to participate in a ‘drive-in Mass’ on Corpus Christi, Sunday, June 14. Religious tour specialists Marian Pilgrimages are in advanced plans to hold an open-air Mass which will be held in Leopardstown, Dublin just off the M50…
Former Taoisigh Bertie Ahern and John Bruton have said the current restrictions on church services must be addressed and “flexibility” given. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Mr Bruton said there can never be “absolute safety”, and that “anyone who is a practicing Catholic would regard the sacraments as essential”. “The problem now I think is…
More than 300 Christian congregations across the island of Ireland have come together to record an ancient blessing of protection for frontline workers. The Irish Blessing was released on YouTube and has more than 300,000 views. Fr Martin Magill, of St John’s parish Belfast, was one of the organisers of the video and says he’s “delighted”…
The President of the Pontifical Academy for Life has condemned racism as a “cultural virus” which has spread throughout the world and must be eradicated. Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia was commenting on the death of George Floyd, while in police custody in Minneapolis and the subsequent protests throughout the US. “I would compare [racism] to Covid-19,”…
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