Farewell Mass on course for Phoenix Park Greg Daly and Chai Brady Pope Francis’ farewell Mass to the Irish people next August is very likely to be held in the Phoenix Park The Irish Catholic understands. Discussions have been taking place between World Meeting of Families (WMOF18) organisers with State authorities and planners hope…
Category: News
Prayers for Irish footballer battling cancer
Fellow sportsmen, sports organisations, friends and members of the public have offered their prayers to a prominent Irish footballer who is undergoing chemotherapy. Liam Miller (36), who won 21 caps for the Republic of Ireland (RoI) between 2004 and 2009 and played midfield for Celtic and Manchester United, is battling pancreatic cancer. Social media was…
Plan could see two feastdays shelved
There are set to be sharp divisions when members of the hierarchy discuss a plan that could see Irish Catholics absolved from the requirement to attend Mass on two traditional major feastdays, The Irish Catholic understands. The Irish bishops’ conference is currently considering a proposal that would reduce the importance of both All Saints’ Day…
Economic success claims unjust during homeless crisis – bishop
It is almost unjust and unchristian to speak of economic success at a time when homelessness has reached unprecedented levels in Ireland, Bishop Brendan Leahy has said. In a letter read in Limerick churches ahead of the Church’s first World Day of the Poor, Bishop Leahy noted how Irish homelessness has been a crisis for…
Church charity calls for prayer as hundreds killed in Middle East quake
The Church’s charitable agency in the Middle East and Africa has called on people to pray for all affected by a devastating earthquake that occurred on the border of Iran and Iraq in which at least 450 people have been killed. The majority of the victims of the 7.3 magnitude quake are from Iran. Altogether…
Tensions high as Bangladesh strains with Rohingya refugees
Although Bangladesh has welcomed a massive influx of Rohingya refugees from neighbouring Myanmar, a Catholic aid official is worried that the welcome may be wearing thin. James Gomes, regional director of Caritas, the Church’s charitable agency, said Bangladesh responded quickly to the surprise arrival of more than 600,000 Rohingya. “As a Bangladeshi, I’m proud of…
First ‘Red Wednesday’ recognising Christian oppression planned for Ireland
Dozens of Churches across Ireland will be lit in red this coming Wednesday to highlight the suffering of Christians around the world. This is the the first time the event will be held in Ireland, and already 30 parishes have pledged to join the demonstration on November 22. So far some of Ireland’s largest Catholic…
Clocking ticking on Church youth questionnaire
Time is running out for young people to have their say ahead of next year’s Synod of Bishops in Rome. The October 2018 Synod of Bishops, following on recent synods on the family and on the New Evangelisation, is on the theme of ‘Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment’, and in connection with this youth.synod2018.va is…
Philippines prelate defends Duterte’s war on drugs
The incoming president of the Philippines Catholic bishops’ conference has caused a stir after saying fighting the proliferation of drugs should take precedence over narcotic related killings. The senior prelate’s statement last week was a change in Church dialogue relating to the issue, which has condemned President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs. At a Mass…
Mass-rosary pro-life prayer event on coasts gathers momentum
Over 150 locations to congregate have been identified for an event aimed at promoting the Faith and the protection of the unborn. ‘Rosary on the Coast for Life and Faith’, organised by lay people, will see Faithful from across Ireland gather to recite the rosary on the coast. It was inspired by similar gatherings in…

Greg Daly
Chai Brady







