Every parish in Ireland is to receive a resource pack for the World Day of Migrants, Bishop Denis Brennan of Ferns has said, encouraging parishioners to reach out to migrants and refugees. “Our first thoughts and prayers are with our migrant brothers and sisters who live here among us in Ireland, in our dioceses, our…
The parish priest of Oughterard in Galway has called for calm among a Galway community protesting the potential opening of a direct provision centre in their town. Local protests began last week after concerns that a hotel just outside the town was being converted into a direct provision centre. Fr Michael Connolly PP told The…
Free primary school education has largely become a myth in modern Ireland, the head of the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association has said. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Seamus Mulconry said that “in primary schools, free education is substantially a myth”. He said his social media observation that the State was, in practice, ignoring its…
Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy has slammed people who think of themselves as “faithful Christians” while espousing sinful racism views. He warned that “racism and intolerance should have no place in Irish society”. In his homily at Our Lady Help of Christians church in Milford, Limerick to celebrate the centenary of Salesians in Ireland, Bishop Leahy said…
A prominent Northern priest has spoken of being moved by “an incredible response” after he revealed that the holy oil container he had used since his ordination was stolen over the weekend. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Passionist Fr Gary Donegan, who became a household name when helping shield schoolchildren from loyalist mobs during 2001’s…
An Irish Church that existed in the penal times has been re-opened in Waterford, with a new footpath to it blessed by Bishop Phonsie Cullinan. Mass was celebrated in St Patrick’s Church on Jenkin’s Lane throughout the 18th Century when Catholics suffered severe persecution. The earliest Mass recorded there happened in 1704. A large number…
Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Catholic cleric to be convicted of child sexual abuse offences, has lodged an application with Australia’s High Court to appeal his guilty verdict. The application to the country’s highest court is Cardinal Pell’s last avenue of appeal and comes 27 days after the Supreme Court of the Australian state…
Catholic schools must take concrete action in tackling climate change, not just engage in protests, according to Irish principals. The climate strike organised on September 20 is a continuation of strikes aimed to raise awareness of human impacts on the environment and the need for sustainable practices. Schoolchildren have been at the forefront of these…
The Vatican confirmed last Friday that Pope Francis will travel to Thailand and Japan in November with stops scheduled in Tokyo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Pontiff will visit Thailand from November 20-23 in commemoration of the 350th anniversary of the Vatican Mission to Siam in 1669. He will then travel from November 23-26 to Japan,…
A top Vatican cardinal is to address Irish religious next month on the Church’s missionary role in the wider world. Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson, the first head of the Holy See’s new ‘super-dicastery’, the Office for Promoting Integral Human Development, will speak on the theme of ‘Mission Today in Our Common Home’ at the Autumn…
Chai Brady
Greg Daly