The Oireachtas committee on repealing Ireland’s constitutional protections for unborn children had focused minds ahead of this year’s Pro Life Campaign annual conference, according to a PLC spokesperson who said those at the attendance had left feeling “very buoyed up”. “I think the fact that there was such a great attendance at this time of…
Category: News
Bringing mercy to the people – who’ve asked for it
Demand from ordinary people is behind a third attempt to bring the Pope’s message of mercy to shoppers in the Midwest in the lead-up to Christmas. The original ‘Mercy on the Mall’ in Shannon’s Skycourt Shopping Centre took place in 2015 at the beginning of the Year of Mercy, Shannon parish priest Fr Tom Ryan…
Swimming against the tide in defence of the faith
Irish Catholics have to work hard to make God visible again, David Quinn tells Michael Kelly For almost 25 years, David Quinn has been a thorn in the side of the liberal establishment both within the Church and in wider society. As Director of The Iona Institute think-tank and a former Editor and columnist…
Around the world: The week in pictures
Faithful welcome Pope’s message of peace
There is a resounding belief that the Pope’s message of peace in Myanmar will make a difference in the country among those who attended the Papal trip. Robert Taylor, from England, attended the Kyaikkasan Grounds Mass and the Mass for youth at St Mary’s Cathedral. Travelling with his wife Rachel and three-year-old daughter Beth, he…
Pope excels amid delicate politics and conflict zones
Definitely a Papal visit for the history books, writes Chai Brady After what can only be described as a hugely successful Papal trip, there was definitely a collective exhalation from organisers and governments alike as Pope Francis stepped onto his plane back to Rome after delivering his messages of peace and unity. This was no…
Common bodily posture at Mass is sign of unity
Common bodily posture taken by a mass congregation is a sign of the “unity of the members of the Christian community”, according to Fr Danny Murphy from the National Centre of Liturgy in Maynooth. The secretary of the National Centre of Liturgy was answering questions from The Irish Catholic about the widespread divergence in parishes…
In Delgany to begin Advent
College Chapel Choir, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth’s annual trip to the Carmelite Monastery in Delgany to pray Evening Prayer I of the First Sunday of Advent. Front row: Stephen Wilson, Mykola Diachuk, John Gerard Acton, Rev. Kevin Connelly, Antun Pasalic, Jordan MacGabhann. Back row: Pio Hartnett, Mark Moriarty, David Hodnett, Brendan Marshall, Ronan Armstrong, Anthony…
Sudanese New Year for Kerry Bon Secours staff
A group of staff from Tralee’s Bon Secours Hospital are preparing to spend the aftermath of Christmas offering much needed healthcare in South Sudan. The group, which will include three doctors and 12 nurses, as well as support staff, will set out for the conflict-stricken African country on December 27, and will remain there till…
Top boxer knocked-out by poverty in Kenya
Irish boxer Carl Frampton spoke of the heartbreaking scenes he witnessed in Kenya after travelling to the country with Church charity Trócaire. Mr Frampton, a world champion boxer from north Belfast, travelled with his wife Christine, and said he would never forget what he had seen. Recalling an incident he witnessed in which a toddler…

Greg Daly

Michael Kelly

Chai Brady

Susan Gately


