The World Meeting of Families 2018 has announced that a symposium dedicated to the global impact of women’s leadership will be held on Saturday, August 25 as part of its international gathering of families from August 21-26. ‘Voices of Impact: Women Leaders Shaping Global Change’, will be chaired by Irish broadcaster and entrepreneur Norah Casey…
Category: News
Ex-archbishop sentenced to house arrest for abuse cover up
Former Archbishop Philip Wilson will serve a maximum 12-month sentence in home detention for concealing child sexual abuse, an Australian court has ruled. This decision means Wilson (67) will avoid jail. He resigned as archbishop of Adelaide after his conviction and has become the world’s most senior cleric to be convicted of the crime. His…
Singer rested on God during trials
Musical icon Sir Cliff Richard has said that his Faith supported him during his battle with sexual assault allegations which were made in 2013. In a radio interview with Miriam O’Callaghan on RTÉ Radio One last week, the famous singer described how his Faith got him through the trial. “My Faith, my fans, friends, my…
Massive feat as pilgrims take on 220km trek to Pope’s Mass
A group of 20 people have joined together to take on a gruelling 220km pilgrimage from Clare to Dublin to welcome Pope Francis to Ireland. Beginning on August 15 after 11am Mass the walkers will set off from Nenagh Parish and eventually aim to arrive at the Phoenix Park, Co. Dublin, on August 26 for…
Senate in Argentina vote down abortion decriminalisation bill
The Argentine senate has voted against a bill that would have decriminalised abortion during the first 14 weeks of pregnancy. Senators voted 38-31 against the measure last week following a 15-hour debate. The measure had been approved in June by the lower house of Congress. The Argentine bishops’ conference hailed the vote, saying the debate…
Vulture fund sales to cause housing ‘chaos’
Irish banks selling to vulture funds will lead to a “greater risk” of people losing their homes, and “do little” to curb the fragility of the current housing crisis, a prominent charity has said. Peter McVerry Trust, the national housing and homeless charity, said that the recent move by Ulster Bank to sell more than…
Caritas project aims to end hunger in South Asia
Church agency Caritas has launched a project that aims to end hunger across South Asia by 2030. Caritas India introduced the programme in collaboration with its international partners to help farmers adapt methods to cope with erratic climate conditions. “Climate change is a global challenge and affects agricultural production and human well-being. It hits hardest…
Over 5,000 NI pilgrims to use WMOF public transport
Booking demand for public transport in the North of Ireland is “strong” ahead of the papal visit events later this month, a spokesperson for Translink has said. Translink, which provides train and bus services across the North of Ireland and to Dublin, said that there are numerous transport services available on August 25-26 to bring…
News In Brief
10 commandments for driving to Knock Mayo County Council has issued ‘10 Commandments of Road Safety’ for pilgrims planning on joining the Pope at Knock Shrine later this month. With 45,000 people due to join Pope Francis at the shrine on August 26, Mayo council has encouraged people to travel to Knock by public transport, but have advised the 91%…
Set prisoners free to mark Pope’s arrival
Irish prisoners should be given amnesty for papal visit Hundreds of unfairly-incarcerated prisoners across Ireland should be released to mark the Pope’s visit to the country this month, Jesuit campaigner Fr Peter McVerry has said. The prominent priest said that there are a “significant number” of people in prison who are there for relatively…



Colm Fitzpatrick
Chai Brady





