A bishop in Lebanon has said that Catholic schools in the country could close down due to the Covid-19 pandemic and has called on intervention from the West to save them. Bishop Michel Aoun of Jbeil-Byblos of the Maronites says the economic crisis has overwhelmed the country and 80% of Catholic schools could close because…
Pope transfers Vatican Data Processing Centre Pope Francis has transferred the Vatican’s Data Processing Centre (CED) from the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA) to the Secretariat for the Economy (SPE). The Holy Father made the shuffle in the Roman Curia, which was announced by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro…
Female appointed as Swiss Catholic bishop’s delegate Swiss Bishop Charles Morerod of Lausanne, Geneva and Friburg has appointed a woman theologian to succeed the present episcopal vicar. Marianne Pohl-Henzen will succeed the present episcopal vicar for the German part of the diocese on August 1 Pohl-Henzen, 60, studied theology and philology, and for the past…
For the first time in 12 weeks, members of the faithful have gathered in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican to receive the Pope’s apostolic blessing. Officers of the Italian military police the Carabinieri worked with Vatican health officials to check pilgrims before admitting them to the square. As has been his tradition during the…
Saying America needs “more prayer, not less,” President Donald Trump has declared house of worship “essential” and directed the country’s governors “to do the right thing and allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now, this weekend.” “The people are demanding to go to church and their synagogue, to go to…
Relief as closed churches re-open for prayer Parishioners and priests across the North have reacted with a mixture of joy and relief after churches began re-opening this week as part of the relaxation of the coronavirus lockdown. Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown told The Irish Catholic that he is “delighted”. “It’s fine praying from…
Musicians from churches all over Ireland will come together in a song for frontline staff on Pentecost Sunday May 31. The blessing will be a rendition of the specially adapted hymn Be Thou my Vision. Submissions from different churches north and south of the border will be dedicated to local causes and also part of…
A Kerry priest who is celebrating car park Masses for people struggling or unable to watch online Mass has said “we can’t let fear dominate us”. Fr Kevin McNamara PP of Moyvane, who started celebrating outdoor Masses with his congregation, who stay in their cars throughout, said there has been a “great response”. “They’re seeing…
Lorna Siggins The Government has been called on to clarify whether church weddings and baptism ceremonies can proceed with small numbers under phase one of Covid-19 restrictions. Fr John Carroll, Ferns diocesan secretary and communications officer in Co Wexford, said there appeared to be disconnect between Government regulations and their interpretation by the Garda. A…
Archbishop Eamon Martin has appealed to Catholic schools in the North to set aside the traditional transfer tests which decide based on academic selection which secondary school a child attends. In a letter sent this week to 165 schools across the dioceses of Armagh and Dromore, Archbishop Eamon insisted that children are under enough pressure…
Michael Kelly
Chai Brady