Category: News

Dioceses urged to consult young people on vocations

The National Vocations Coordinator has hailed the “amazing” response he received to a pilot programme which consulted young people about the best way to promote vocations to the priesthood. Fr Willie Purcell, based in the Diocese of Ossory, consulted with three groups of young people over recent weeks – a secondary school group, those involved…

Faith a ‘linchpin’ for stressed exam students

Chaplains working in Catholic schools have urged stressed students sitting important State exams to turn to prayer to help them cope. Belvedere College SJ chaplain Trish Carroll told The Irish Catholic that “faith when times are difficult can be a linchpin for many students”. “Within my work as chaplain, I try to foster the spirit…

Italian property tax may force schools to close

An Italian archbishop has warned Church-owned schools will close if the government forces them to pay property taxes worth around €100,000. Responding to a call from Ferrara’s mayor Tiziano Tagliani to pay retroactive property taxes on schools that charge a partial tuition fee, on the basis that this could be considered a “commercial activity”, Ferrara-Comacchio’s…

Jesuits call for prison reform for youth

The Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice has called on the Government to create a new facility specifically and exclusively to detain young adults in order to ensure their humane treatment. A report launched on Tuesday, ‘Developing Inside: Transforming Prison for Young Adults’, recommends that the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone, be…

Kildare looks to Romania for priest shortfall

Kildare & Leighlin is the latest diocese to look abroad to fill clerical appointments in order to counter the decline in priest numbers. Announcing the diocesan appointments for the coming year, Bishop Denis Nulty said he was “aware of the huge demands on priests in 2016 and each year the changes will get that bit…

Philippine bishops delay response to attack

The Philippines’ Catholic Bishops’ Conference has prepared a response to an attack on the Philippine Church by president-elect Rodrigo Duterte, but has decided not to publish it until after his presidential inauguration on June 30. The bishops’ response has been prepared against a background of apprehension that Mr Duterte’s accession to the presidency may see…

Thornhill Ministries in Derry is hosting a workshop by Fr Hugh Lagan SMA for those working as chaplains, in healthcare teams or pastoral teams, and a seminar specifically for clergy.   Fr Lagan is a native of Maghera, Co. Derry, a priest with the Society of African Missions and a clinical psychologist. He is currently…