It is not hard to guess why the Vatican’s communications supremo, Monsignor Dario Viganò, thought it was a good idea for Pope Francis to have 12 meetings with a French atheist sociologist over much of 2016. The Catholic Church’s commentariat can be an echo chamber, and Francis needs to reach out beyond its walls. Dominique…
Cindy Wooden Politics as service to the common good and the need to create spaces where citizens and migrants can meet and overcome fear were topics Pope Francis repeatedly returned to. Arriving in Bologna at mid-morning this week, Pope Francis went directly to the “Regional Hub”, a government-run processing centre for migrants, refugees and…
For 25 years worshippers in Shannon and Kilrush have attended the Matt Talbot Novena to pray for those who are suffering or have been affected by addiction. Matt Talbot grew up in poverty as his father was an alcoholic. He also began drinking heavily until he was 28, leaving his life in ruins. After taking…
Catholic choir members are being asked to sing in Jerusalem for Israel’s 70th anniversary in a celebration on May 14, the day Israel was declared a state. The 100 piece choir will sing Irish composer Cormac O’Duffy’s oratorio ‘Hear! O Israel’ at the Mount Scopus Amphitheatre overlooking the Judean desert. Mr O’Duffy has dreamt of…
The new Papal Nuncio, Jude Thaddeus Okolo, attended the memorial Mass of a devout Nigerian women in Drogheda, Louth. Fr Louis Illah of St Mary’s parish in Navan officiated the Mass of Mrs Celine Olienna Bridget Orji. It was attended by members of St Peter’s Church and the Nigerian community. Mrs Orji was very active…
The renowned pilgrimage shrine of Lough Derg in Co. Donegal is to have a new Prior, following the announcement of the Clogher Diocesan Changes by the Diocesan Administrator, Msgr Joseph McGuinness. Fr Laurence (La) Flynn, the present parish priest of Ballybay (Tullycorbet), Co. Monaghan, is to take over the role on October 1. He will…
The US’s official Marian apparition shrine can learn from Knock, the bishop responsible for the National Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help has said. Green Bay’s Bishop David Ricken, who visited the Mayo shrine this week as part of a diocesan pilgrimage to Ireland, told The Irish Catholic that the shrine at Champion, Wisconsin is several…
A Dublin priest was jeered at by mourners when he gave a passionate sermon against crime and drugs during the funeral of a gangland murder victim. Speaking at the funeral of Darragh Nugent – gunned down as part of a west Dublin feud – at the Church of Immaculate Heart of Mary in Rowlagh, Fr…
Limerick diocese is launching preparations for the World Meeting of Families next year with a special ‘Family Fun Day’ in Mary Immaculate College. Everyone in the diocese is invited to the free event on October 8 so “that there is a real experience of the whole diocesan family coming together for a joyful moment”. From…
A statement about the draping of an INLA-linked flag over a coffin at a Co. Derry funeral was intended purely to attract attention, an SDLP MLA has said, describing the episode as “disgusting”. Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP) member David Ward’s funeral in Dungiven saw his coffin draped with the Irish flag and the INLA-linked…
Austen Ivereigh
Mags Gargan