Technology-savvy priests are unlikely to put away their smartphones any time soon, despite advice from the Vatican’s liturgy chief. Speaking in Rome’s Angelicum University last week, Guinea’s Cardinal Robert Sarah warned that while it may be practical and convenient to pray the daily prayer of the Church on mobile phones or other electronic devices, doing…
As the plight of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar (Burma) worsens Catholic aid workers are helping hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people escaping deadly violence. Bangladesh is bracing for a massive humanitarian crisis because of a lack of food, sanitation, medicines and even basic housing following the exodus of as many as 350,000 Rohingya into…
Pope Francis returned from his trip to Columbia this week after a busy schedule covering five days. During his South American trip millions of people arrived to witness his prayers of peace and unity. There was a welcoming ceremony on the day of his arrival in the late afternoon of Wednesday, September 6, followed by…
China has signed off on revised religious regulations which will lead to greater government control of religions in the communist-run country. The State Administration for Religious Affairs announced that the leading Chinese Communist Party (CCP) signed the State Council order for the newly revised Regulations for Religious Affairs (RRA) which will be implemented on February…
US Catholics have condemned comments made by Donald’s Trump’s ex-Chief Strategist Steve Bannon who said the Church only supports migrants to fill churches, with a New York cardinal dubbing them “preposterous”. Mr Bannon criticised the Church’s decision to oppose ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) programme, saying they are “unable to come to…
Pope increases liturgical translation powers of bishops In changes to the Code of Canon Law regarding translations of the Mass and other liturgical texts, Pope Francis has shifted more responsibility to local bishops’ conferences. The document released by the Vatican, Magnum Principium, noted the sometimes tense relationship between bishops’ conferences and the Congregation for Divine Worship…
India’s Catholic bishops have rejected a bill they believe is designed to retain a Hindu-only state. India now has seven states with a law against religious conversions, after the governor of Jharkhand signed into effect the controversial bill. Governor Draudpadi Murmu signed her approval despite protests from Christian groups and opposition parties, who said that…
A cardinal has ordered church bells to be rung in one of the Philippines’ dioceses every evening to remember the thousands of people killed in the government’s campaign against drug dealers and addicts. The Manila archdiocese joined a long list of dioceses across the country that started commemorating the deaths by tolling church bells nightly.…
A Dublin parish was thrilled to celebrate their annual ‘Mass on the Grass’ event, which organisers say is a great way for everyone to get involved in the community. About 100 people enjoyed the live music and high spirits at North Wall parish’s annual event, with a Mass led by Fr Robert Colclough. There were…
Grandparents have a responsibility to “step in and say something” to help their children and grandchildren, and bring family together. Archbishop Eamon Martin, the Primate of Ireland, said in a Mass celebrating the 2017 Grandparents’ Pilgrimage to Knock that it can be difficult to make connections, especially “in a generation which can be so individualistic”.…
Greg Daly
Chai Brady