While many are stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic, Pope Francis says that there are many small acts of love and kindness one can do for others without leaving the house. “We must rediscover the concreteness of little things, small gestures of attention we can offer those close to us, our family, our friends.…
Churches around Ireland are to sound their bells across the country today, St Patrick’s Day as most Masses remain suspended over fears around coronavirus. The Government announced last week that public celebration of the country’s patron saint would not take place this year and most public Masses are not going ahead – the first time…
These are unprecedented times and prayer is needed now more than ever to carry humanity over the threshold of this darkness. Churches have been closed to dissuade congregations from gathering and spreading Covid-19, a novel coronavirus now known to affect the elderly and those with underlying health conditions severely. Masses have been restricted or outright…
A bishop in Derry has warned that Lent may last “longer than expected” due to the coronavirus, but says it can be a “great time of grace” during his homily this week. “Faith gives us an insight into difficulties that doesn’t come from economists or doctors,” said Bishop Donal McKeown in Saint Eugene’s Cathedral on…
In the year 304, the Emperor Diocletian forbade Christians – on pain of death – from possessing the Scriptures, from gathering on Sundays to celebrate the Eucharist and from building places in which to hold their assemblies. In Abitene, a small village in present-day Tunisia, 49 Christians were taken by surprise one Sunday while they…
Public Masses in Ireland with more than 100 people will not go ahead in coming weeks, according to latest Church regulations. However, some smaller Masses may continue during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic if the congregation is limited to fewer than 100 people. But, the Church has announced that all Irish Catholics have been dispensed from…
Archbishop Eamon Martin has called on Irish people who are anxious or frightened by the coronavirus outbreak to pray St Patrick’s famous breastplate prayer. He said this is to remember those who have contracted coronavirus and health care workers “who are bravely and selflessly” caring for them. The archbishop said that “these days I find…
All public Masses and liturgical celebrations in Italy have been suspended until April 3 following an announcement by the Italian bishops’ conference at the weekend. On March 8 the country’s bishops postponed all religious activities amid growing fears surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, after the Italian government ordered the closure of all schools, cinemas, museums, gyms…
A 12-year-old boy from Co Tyrone has collected over 400 chocolate Easter eggs for sick children in hospital. Corin Kelly Herron, from Strabane began collecting eggs several weeks ago, his mother Nadine Kelly said: “It started off he was happy to get 30 eggs for a children’s ward in Derry.” He has now collected over…
A visit to Ireland by one of the Church’s most powerful and senior prelates has been cancelled over coronavirus (Covid-19) fears. Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle – who many believe could be Pope Francis’ successor – was set to fly over from the Vatican to be the…
Michael Kelly
Chai Brady