Category: News

Persecution of Christians inspired by Devil – Pope

The Devil is behind the hatred driving the persecution of Christians around the world, Pope Francis has said. Speaking at a prayer service in Rome’s Basilica of St Bartholomew, which has been dedicated to the New Martyrs since 2000, the Pope reflected on the Gospel in which Jesus said, “If the world hates you, remember…

Fatima Visionaries among 35 new saints

Two of the three young shepherd children who in 1917 saw the apparitions of Our Lady in Fatima will be canonised when Pope Francis visits the Portuguese town on May 13, the Pope has said. During an ordinary public consistory in the Vatican, the Pontiff announced the canonisation of a total of 35 people, most…

Warm reactions to Limerick’s laity taking the lead

Limerick’s diocesan day of lay-led liturgies has been a big success, according to early reports. The morning of Tuesday, April 25, saw lay-led liturgies of the word in every Limerick parish, while diocesan clergy were away on in-service formation. “There were about 150 to 200 people in the cathedral,” Noirín Lynch of the Diocesan Pastoral…

Fr Johnny Doherty CSsR hands a Mission Cross to Brian Fitzsimons at a drive-thru mission stall outside the Church of St Nicholas Ardglass where the Redemptorist Fathers from Clonard Monastery are conducting a mission in the parish of Dunsford and Ardglass until Sunday, April 30. Looking on is parish priest, Fr Gerry McCloskey. Photo: Bill…

Churches attract larger numbers than GAA

Not even the GAA can outdo the Catholic Church when it comes to membership in Ireland, according to the Bishop of Limerick. Commenting on the Census figures during an Easter ceremony in St John’s Cathedral in Limerick, Bishop Brendan Leahy said: “Despite everything, we have discovered that 78% of our population still declare themselves Catholic.…

Dublin priests offer ‘Peace in the Valley’

Maynooth deanery offer Confession in empty unit in Liffey Valley Shopping Centre An initiative of the Maynooth deanery saw an empty unit in Liffey Valley Shopping Centre become a buzz of sacred activity on Holy Saturday, with local priests answering Pope Francis’ call for outreach. From noon until 5.30pm the bare retail unit was transformed…