A new government initiative promoting resilience among students offers “nothing new” and may be a red herring, an Irish school chaplain has said. The comments come in the wake of the July 20 launch of the Wellbeing Policy Statement and Framework for Practice 2018-2023, which aims to deliver a national training programme to support wellbeing…
The national Marian shrine at Knock has dismissed claims that the Church has taken over local bed and breakfasts ahead of the Pope’s visit leading to cancellations for would-be pilgrims. Elphin parishioner Dorothy Burns (53), told The Irish Catholic she had made the reservation in Knock’s Drumhouse B&B on the hunch that the Pope would…
A New York-based Irish seminarian who has dedicated his ministry to working with disadvantaged people in the city will feature as part of a forthcoming item on RTÉ television. Nationwide presenter Colm Flynn spent the day with Niall McDonagh, originally from Galway but studying for the Archdiocese of New York. Mr Flynn – a regular…
Ireland’s last diocesan seminary is to close. From September students at St Malachy’s seminary on Cliftonville Road, Belfast, which serves the diocese of Down and Connor and other northern dioceses, will be relocated to other seminaries to continue their studies for the priesthood. Currently there are three men in the seminary. “The closure of the…
Former Irish International Rugby player, Ronan O’Gara will be one of the speakers at the Pastoral Congress for the World Meeting of Families in August. O’Gara, who is currently working as an assistant coach with the Canterbury Crusaders in New Zealand, will speak on ‘Celebrating Family and Sport’ on Thursday morning, August 23 at 11.30am.…
A former English footballer has praised hundreds of young pilgrims for travelling from England to Lourdes to help the sick. Commenting in response to a message on Twitter, Stan Collymore, a former Liverpool football player, said that the 400 young people making the trip to the Marian Shrine will have an obvious impact on those…
A leading expert on Pope Francis will address the Pontiff’s reform agenda and its relevance for the Church here just ahead of the Pope’s historic trip to Ireland. John L. Allen – a journalist who has covered the papacies of St John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis – will speak about the revolution that…
Matthew Carlson Councillors in South Dublin have rejected a call to fly the traditional Papal flag during the Pope’s historic trip here next month. Renua Councillor Ronan McMahon had proposed that the flag – the official flag of the Holy See – would fly above South Dublin County Hall in Tallagh during the visit. However,…
Davis Clark Pilgrims across Ireland will be trekking through the country in order to reflect and pray at some well-known ancient sites. After a successful inauguration last year, Ireland’s second pilgrim journey was launched on Wednesday, July 18 to great excitement. The journey will take place from August 18 until August 25, taking pilgrims through…
A prominent pro-life group has condemned politicians who a signed an “outrageous” letter calling on the UK government to legalise the killing of Northern Ireland’s unborn babies. The Northern Irish group, Precious Life, said that the letter to Prime Minister Theresa May and her Irish counterpart Leo Varadkar which was coordinated by Labour MP Stella…
Colm Fitzpatrick
Susan Gately