Ireland’s national Marian shrine will join Pope Francis in praying the Rosary to implore Our Lady’s intercession and protection during the current coronavirus crisis today, the eve of Pentecost. Fr Richard Gibbons will say the Rosary at the Apparition Chapel in Knock, which will be streamed live on www.knockshrine.ie at 4.30pm. The Pope will be…
Adapting to restrictions in place due to the coronavirus pandemic Bishop Phonsie Cullinan has announced that Confession will be available across his diocese in open air venues on Saturday, in preparation for Pentecost. In a pastoral message for the Feast of Pentecost Bishop Cullinan said that “part of our care for our brothers and sisters…
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has said there is no room for “self-dispensation” or “self-interpretation” regarding health guidelines in place to protect from Covid-19. He warned that attempts to jump the queue by “individuals or communities puts everyone at risk”. The statement came after reports that a parish in Blackrock, Co. Dublin, was allowing people to attend…
EXCLUSIVE Michael Kelly and Chai Brady Vulnerable and older parishioners will be asked to stay home rather than attend Mass under a new draft plan being discussed by the hierarchy The Irish Catholic can reveal. The plan aims to ensure that all preparations are made so that churches are ready to move as soon as…
Baroness Nuala O’Loan has dubbed a statement by the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) “ill-advised” and “offensive” after they criticised individuals and groups pushing for a faster return to public Masses. The prominent human rights lawyer, former NI police ombudsman and member of the House of Lords, Baroness O’Loan told The Irish Catholic that it’s…
The Government restriction of no more than 10 people allowed to attend church funeral services is “putting distress on families that’s not necessary”, according to a senior priest. Msgr John Byrne PP of Portlaoise parish and Vicar General of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin told this paper that although there’s no great time to…
Ruadhán Jones Bishop Dermot Farrell of Ossory said Catholics look forward to the day they “can attend in person, and receive sacramentally again” and lamented the “loss of the community dimension of our Faith” due to the suspension of public Masses. In his pastoral letter on Ascension Sunday, Bishop Farrell said that people are…
Archbishop Eamon Martin has written to clergy of the Armagh Archdiocese saying he hopes that the bishops’ plan for safe public liturgies will help the Church North and South to make the case for an early resumption of the public celebration of Mass and the Sacraments “in a measured and safe way”. Noting that this Sunday…
An Irish missionary has blasted Brazil’s president for his “complete lack of direction” during the coronavirus crisis, and for putting the economy before the poor. Fr Brendan Foley CSSp, the Superior of the Brazil South-West Province of the Spiritans and PP in Perus, São Paulo, said as the virus is expected to peak in June…
Irish humanitarian aid agency, GOAL, has reached more than 10 million vulnerable people with vital Covid-19 awareness messaging and supports across its 13 countries of operation since the start of the crisis in March. The agency said it has to date reached more than 9.5 million people with coronavirus media messaging in eight of its countries,…
Chai Brady