Trócaire have thanked Bishop John Kirby for serving as the Church-charity’s chairperson for 20 years after his resignation as the Bishop of Clonfert was accepted by Pope Francis. CEO Caoimhe de Barra said Bishop Kirby’s “passion and enthusiasm” helped drive the organisation, and that he was “deeply committed to campaigning for social justice”. “He helped…
New Vatican press office director appointed Pope Francis has appointed Matteo Bruni to serve as director of the Vatican press office, replacing Alessandro Gisotti, who had been serving as interim director since December 31, 2018. The Vatican announced the appointment last week. Bruni (42), previously served as assistant to the director since 2013, helping organise and coordinate media presence and…
A poll of visitors at the National Ploughing Championship to find their traditional prayer is intended to boost an awareness of faith and the importance of prayer, Bishop Denis Nulty has said. The Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, in whose diocese this year’s ploughing championships will take place in September, said that with over 85%…
Notre-Dame not yet safe to restore – architect l A French architect says that Notre Dame Cathedral still isn’t safe enough for restoration work to begin, more than three months after a devastating fire nearly destroyed the monument. French television showed the chief architect of France’s historic monuments, Philippe Villeneuve, taking Culture Minister Franck Riester…
The High Court has agreed to hear in September a bid from the parents of Tafida Raqeeb to take her to Italy for treatment. The five-year-old girl has been comatose since February, and UK doctors want to remove her life-sustaining treatment. The UK doctors have barred Raqeeb’s parents from taking her abroad for treatment. Two…
One of the churches in Sri Lanka damaged in attacks on Easter was re-consecrated on Sunday. During the ceremony, the Archbishop of Colombo criticised the government’s investigation of the attacks. St Sebastian’s parish in Negombo, nearly 25 miles north of Colombo, was re-consecrated on July 21 by Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith. The church was one of…
Bishop condemns Westminster MPs undermining devolution The vote by Westminster MPs aimed at imposing abortion on Northern Ireland if Stormont does not reconvene by October 21 has been described as an “inherently bad decision”, by the Bishop of Derry, Donal McKeown. The Westminster vote is uniting Christians of all denominations in protest at the…
While the date July 12 usually provokes fears about violence and sectarianism in the North of Ireland, a priest on the frontline has said this year was the “quietest ever”. Fr Gary Donegan CP, nationally renowned for his ongoing commitment to conflict resolution and peace building in the country, said that while there was some…
An Irish nun has been congratulated by the President of Ireland for decades of work in Pakistan, and for being awarded the highest honour of St Mary’s University, Twickenham in London. Hailing from Co. Clare, Sr Berchmans Conway (89) was presented with the Benedict Medal by the Archbishop of Westminster and Chancellor of St Mary’s…
Vincent Lambert, a 42-year-old quadriplegic man, died in a French hospital last week, nine days after doctors withdrew his food and water. “Vincent died at 8.24 this morning,” Lambert’s nephew, Francois Lambert, told AFP News Agency. Lambert died on July 11 at University Hospital in the northern French city of Reims, where doctors had withdrawn his…
Greg Daly
Chai Brady
Colm Fitzpatrick