Archbishop Eamon Martin has praised Pope Francis’ new document on the family as being “in tune with the concrete realities of everyday life as lived by married couples and families”. Welcoming the publication of the Pope’s new Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love: On Love in the Family), the Archbishop of Armagh said “the…

Former footballer returns to native parish for mission A former Manchester United footballer who is training to become a Dominican priest will be attending a nine-day mission at a parish in Belfast. Philip Mulryne, who is originally from St Oliver Plunkett Parish, Lenadoon in Belfast will return for the mission to celebrate the parish’s 40th anniversary. The mission, led by two Dominican…

Staff Reporter Independent TD Mattie McGrath has defended the prayer said at the start of each day the Dáil sits after calls for it to be axed. Anti-Austerity Alliance-People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy described the prayer as “anachronistic” and called for it to be abolished as part of Dáil reform. Mr McGrath, however, said that…

The director of Limerick’s diocesan synod has said the assembly revealed a desire among participants for a lay-led Church. Fr Eamonn Fitzgibbon told The Irish Catholic there was a “clear mandate that this is the laity’s moment in the Church and that we are moving into an era which is really going to be a…

A Co. Louth priest has raised €6,500 for Trócaire’s Lenten campaign after completing a sponsored ‘Bann to Boyne’ run. Fr Gerry Campbell, the Armagh Diocesan Representative for Trócaire, set off from St Treasa’s Church, Newbridge Parish in Co. Derry on Sunday, March 13 and finished at St Peter’s Church, Drogheda on Wednesday, March 16. Mercy…

Bishop Denis Nulty of Kildare & Leighlin throws in the ball at a re-enactment of the 1916 hurling and football finals in Netwatch Cullen Park in Carlow. Photo: John Brophy

The €14m sale of a former seminary to Dublin City University has been completed, amid speculation that the campus grounds will become home to an Educate Together school. All Hallows College in Drumcondra signed preliminary contracts with DCU in June last year, accepting the bid after, it is understood, turning down offers of over €20…

The Pro Life Campaign (PLC) has said any suggestion that negotiations for a new government would be held up by discussions on abortion “is astonishing given the lack of support for a referendum that emerged in the recent election”. Sinead Slattery of the PLC said “the feedback from the recent election was that the abortion…

The pilgrimage season at Knock Shrine in Co. Mayo will get underway on Sunday, April 24 and the programme of events includes a concert to commemorate the 1916 Rising and World War I. The RTÉ concert orchestra will perform on Saturday, May 14 in the newly refurbished Basilica, with a performance from mezzo-soprano Anne Marie…

Bishop Kevin Doran has announced his intention to establish a Diocesan Council for Marriage and the Family. The Bishop of Elphin told The Irish Catholic the idea for such a council “arises particularly at the moment because of the need to engage in some form of pastoral response following from the Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia…