Iraqi refugees appeal for help and offer Francis a gift of a hand-sewn chasuble Iraqi refugee women who fled Islamic State group violence have appealed to the Pope for help, sending a hand-sewn chasuble and imploring him to pray for them and for peace in their country. “One of the most precious items is the vestment of a priest, bishop or Pope serving at the altar during the…

Staff reporter A senior Vatican official  has said the Church in Ireland has to come to terms with its “new reality” and focus on the “quality” of its seminarians. Archbishop Jorge Carlos Patrón Wong, Secretary for Seminaries at the Congregation for Clergy, said he has “hope” for the future of the priesthood in Ireland. There is…

Children and their teachers from throughout the Derry diocese were bathed in sunshine last week when they gathered in Celtic Park for the annual ‘Fan the Flame’ ceremony, in celebration of having received the Sacrament of Confirmation. Bishop Donal McKeown is pictured with some of the Year 7 primary pupils preparing to release balloons as…

Nigeria’s plight at the hands of Boko Haram militants has created one of the worst and most neglected humanitarian crises in the world, a leading campaigner has said. Speaking at a conference in Washington DC, Elijah Brown, executive vice president of the 21st Century Wilberforce Institute, described the ISIS-affiliated Boko Haram as “the most lethal…

Staff Reporter A senior member of staff at Maynooth has resigned, reportedly over differences with colleagues about the future direction of the seminary. Fr David Marsden – who as vocational growth counsellor was a key member of staff charged with helping seminarians discern a vocation to the priesthood – is a trained psychologist specialising in priestly…

A religious sister close to the mother of missing Dublin schoolboy Philip Cairns has described Philip’s mother as “a great woman of faith”. Sr Marie Dunne CHF, who four years ago wrote a song to help raise funds for the parents of missing children, told The Irish Catholic that “Alice is a woman of prayer…

The US has crossed a line from being a society that cares for the vulnerable to one that seeks to be rid of those whose suffering is deemed inconvenient, the archbishop of Los Angeles has said. Criticising the introduction of a new “End of Life Options” law allowing doctors in California to prescribe lethal medications…

Rachel Beard The National Charismatic Renewal Conference will be held from June 25-26 in the Concert Hall, RDS, Dublin. Speakers at the event include Dr Mary Healy, the Chairperson of the Doctrinal Commission of International Catholic Renewal Services in Rome and Rev. Jonathan Frazer, minister in the Garnerville Parish in East Belfast, while Archbishop Diarmuid Martin…

Staff Reporter The head of the Irish Dominicans has defended the controversial decision to withdraw from five Irish locations, and acknowledged that further withdrawals may be necessary. Following a 2013 visit from the Dominican’s international head, Fr Bruno Cadoré OP, the Irish province decided in 2014 to withdraw friars from their historical centres in Limerick, Drogheda…