Five students from St Patrick’s College, Maynooth – Kevin Connolly (Meath), Anthony McAleese, (Down & Connor), Gerard Quirke (Tuam), Dominic Binh Nguyen SDB (Salesian) and Paul Binh Tran SDB (Salesian) – were ordained deacons at the weekend in a ceremony led by Archbishop Michael Neary.
Category: News
Senator lambastes Angelus broadcast, says Christian imagery needed
The Angelus aired in its current form has been described as “hogwash” and that it should be “more Christian”. Senator David Norris blasted the Angelus broadcast, which was revamped in 2009, as being disaffected of any Christian meaning. He added that some of the images equated to “old fellas doodling”. However Roger Childs, the Head…
Pope Francis condemns brutal attack on Egyptian Christians
The Pope has dubbed the latest attack on Coptic Christians in Egypt as “another act of ferocious violence”. The most recent religious terror attack in the country left 29 dead and about 25 wounded when a bus taking the Christians to a remote monastery was fired upon. The so-called Islamic State claimed responsibility for the…
St Patrick’s choir narrowly miss BGT finals
A primary school choir from Co. Down has narrowly lost getting to the fi nal of Britain’s Got Talent. St Patrick’s Junior Choir from Drumgreenagh outside Rathfriland, had impressed the judges with their rendition of Katy Perry’s Roar during Monday’s semi-final. “You sounded amazing,” said head judge Simon Cowell. “I love your personalities individually and…
Government has betrayed idealism of children’s referendum – ACP leader
Ireland’s 2013 children’s rights referendum looks in hindsight like an exercise in “making ourselves feel good”, a leading priest has said. Commenting on Dr Geoffrey Shannon’s audit of child protection procedures in An Garda Síochána, which revealed grave shortcomings in child protection across State agencies, Redemptorist Fr Gerry O’Connor, a member of the Association of…
New strategy to ensure future of Irish missionary approach
Misean Cara, the charity that processes the funding for Irish missionary organisations, has launched a new strategy setting out the priorities to ensure the future of the Irish missionary approach to development. The new five-year plan focuses on key areas of education, healthcare, sustainable development and human rights. The strategy is based on a global…
Northern Irish bishops call on ‘alienated’ citizens to vote in election
Catholic bishops in Northern Ireland have called on citizens to vote in the upcoming election, asking them not to feel “alienated and disheartened”. Recent instability in Stormont was cited as diminishing trust and confidence in the political process, especially among young people. The bishops, including Archbishop Eamon Martin, Bishop John McAreavey and Bishop Noel Treanor,…
First Irish visit by Coptic Pope
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin greets Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria on his visit to Dublin. Photo: John McElroy
Ireland gives €6m to world’s poorest
Ireland will provide €6m to two struggling African countries that have been ravaged by war and chronic poverty. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Central African Republic (CAR) are among the poorest countries in the world, with food insecurity and malnutrition affecting 6.4 million people. Each country will receive €3m from Ireland through…
British women back abortion restrictions
Over 90% of British women want a ban on sex-selective abortion, with 70% wanting the time limits for abortion to be lowered and 59% wanting the limit lowered to 16 weeks or lower, according to a new poll of 2,008 adults conducted by ComRes. Although abortion is theoretically illegal in British law, doctors are exempt…