Catholic swimmer Katie Ledecky has been named Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press. A ballot of US editors and news directors saw Ms Ledecky, who won five gold medals and one silver in July’s world swimming championships, pip tennis star Serena Williams by 351 votes to 343. Ms Ledecky, who has praised…

With ‘decluttering’ a popular New Year activity, Pope Francis has urged Catholics to emulate Mary by leaving behind “useless baggage” and learning what truly counts. “Devotion to Mary is not spiritual etiquette; it is a requirement of the Christian life,” the Pope said in his homily in St Peter’s Basilica on the solemnity of Mary,…

Much-loved
 Clogher
 priest
 dies A priest described as a man who shared his Faith with passion, loved travel and had a kind and gentle manner, died following an illness he “bore with great courage and serenity”, the Diocese of Clogher said. Fr Tom Finnegan, the parish priest of Magheracloone in Monaghan, passed away in St Francis’ Hospice in…

Research reveals Pontiff a regular feature of Oireachtas debates   EXCLUSIVE Pope Francis has proved a big hit with Irish politicians as excitement mounts ahead of his scheduled visit here next year, according to new statistics compiled by The Irish Catholic. An extensive trawl of the official report of the Oireachtas – which records the…

Although Pope Francis’ visit next year is likely to cost about €20m, events for children and the Mass in the Phoenix Park will be free in order to reduce financial stress on families, the Archbishop of Dublin has assured. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said that he wants the events at next August’s World Meeting of Families…

JANUARY The new year began with the Dáil preparing to debate a full motion condemning the persecution of Christians in the Middle East. This was sparked by the failure of politicians to include Christians in a motion attacking the treatment of Iraq’s Yazidi minority by the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) – an omission described as “outrageous” by Bishop John McAreavey. Mark Zuckerberg, founder…

Jesus said that when we welcome the stranger we also welcome him, said the Bishop of Elphin in his Christmas message, and that this sends a message of “solidarity with refugees”. The tradition of lighting a candle in the window on Christmas Eve is a way of saying that if the Holy Family were looking…

Only half the recommendations from State’s working group on asylum seekers have been implemented or initiated, according to the Irish Immigrant Support Centre. An audit by Nasc of the Government’s progress in implementing the recommendations in the July 2015 report compiled by the Working Group on the Protection Process and Direct Provision, chaired by retired…

An influential publication within the country’s largest Protestant denomination has insisted that any debate on abortion in the Republic must keep the right to life of the unborn to the forefront. An editorial in the Christmas edition of the Church of Ireland Gazette also says that “it would be a mistake to think that the…

Charities have said that the 39% increase in postal rates on a card or letter posted within Ireland is having an effect on the sale of Christmas cards which generate revenue. Earlier this year, An Post increased the cost of a posting a letter within Ireland from 72c to €1. “Orders from fundraising groups are…