Carrying Pope Paul VI’s pastoral staff and wearing the blood-stained belt of Archbishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador, Pope Francis formally recognised them, and five others, as saints of the Catholic Church. Thousands of pilgrims from the new saints’ home countries – Italy, El Salvador, Spain and Germany – were joined by tens of thousands…
Most Irish people believe Pope Francis did not do enough to address clerical abuse during his recent papal visit to Ireland, according to new research. Only 30% of people believe the Pope did enough on the issue during the visit, according to a survey of 840 people by Queen’s University in Belfast, which also found…
A congregation of over 2,000 people attended the 33rd Irish Kidney Association’s Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving at Corpus Christi Church, Homefarm Road, Dublin 9 on Saturday, October 6 to honour organ donors and their families. Present at the ecumenical service were families of deceased organ donors and living donors as well as transplant recipients…
Bishop Noel Treanor told nine new deacons “we rejoice and give thanks to you” at their ordination over the weekend. The ordinations, the first for the permanent diaconate for the Diocese of Down and Connor, took place on Sunday, October 14. Each deacon will be attached to a parish and will assist with Mass, occasionally…
An Irish chaplain to the British army during World War I has been described as “imitating Christ” when he was bravely killed while administering Last Rites to a soldier. Speaking ahead of the screening of a film last week in the Vatican detailing Fr Willie Doyle SJ’s life, directed by Campbell Miller from Newcastle in…
Clergy cannot rely solely on the internet to reach young people on the peripheries, Waterford and Lismore’s bishop has said. In response to online initiatives which intend to educate lay people about the Faith, Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan said that although the internet is “a space inhabitated by the younger generations”, proper formation requires being around…
Church charity Trócaire are concerned for the “poor and vulnerable” in Pakistan after getting a letter from their government requesting they cease operations in the country. The letter, which they received earlier this month, asked that Trócaire stop operating in Pakistan within 60 days. It provides an opportunity to re-apply for registration, but only after…
The future of Lebanon’s long-standing tradition of Catholic education is at risk because of a controversial law governing teacher salaries. Salary increases for teachers in the private school sector are mandated in a law that took effect in August last year. As a new school year unfolds, school administrators are struggling with how to pay…
The Catholic Church must be a place of justice and mercy, and its members must be catalysts for change, some young observers have said at the Synod of Bishops in the Vatican. “In order to teach justice and mercy to our young people, the Church must first be a place of justice and mercy for…
Bishop Laurence Forristal, who has died aged 87, has been described as having worked “tirelessly in service of the people of God”. Kilkenny-born Bishop Forristal served as bishop of Ossory from 1981 to 2007, and has been praised by the current Bishop of Ossory, Dr Dermot Farrell. Offering his sympathies to Dr Forristal’s family, friends…
Chai Brady
Colm Fitzpatrick