Fr Conor McDonough OP gives the annual blessing of Galway Bay off the Claddagh near Mutton Island lighthouse. Fr McDonough fi rst blessed the boats and all who sail in them at the pier near St Mary’s Church before the fl eet sailed out for the centuries-old tradition of the Blessing of the Bay. Photo:…
Category: News
Praying to Our Lady of Fatima
Local children dressed as the three children of Fatima, Jacinta (Grace), Lucia (Sarah) and Francisco (Gerard) pray at the International Pilgrim Statue of Our Lady of Fatima during its visit to St Nicholas chapel, Ardglass on a tour of Ireland facilitated by Fr Aoilbe O’Reilly, order of the Holy Cross, in association with the World…
Houston, we have a problem
Texas National Guard soldiers assist people left standed by floods following Hurricane Harvey during rescue operations in flooded areas around Houston, Texas. Photo: CNS
There’s more to being Catholic than just being nice – bishop
Being a Christian is about more than just being nice to people, it means “loving and trusting a God who we cannot see”, according to the Bishop of Derry. In a homily at the weekend reflecting on the messages of Fatima, Bishop Donal McKeown said following Jesus is not just about “doing the right things…
Maynooth set to re-open with fresh talk of reform in the air
With the national seminary at Maynooth due to re-open for this year’s formation programme this weekend, a key conference organised for the autumn is being seen by observers as a way of helping to show a proactive approach to reform. This summer saw the appointment of Fr Michael Mullaney for a shortened three-year term as…
CAO points for ‘attractive’ theology remain unchanged
Ireland’s top theology courses continue to be attractive to students as CAO points drop for the majority of level-8 degrees. Points for Theology and Arts in St Patrick’s College Maynooth remain much the same, rising by just one point to 301 compared to last year. The course allows students to study Theology along with another…
Faith event to focus on family
Staff Reporter The fifth annual Ballymena roundtable gathering on faith will this year address the issue of the family in preparation for next year’s WMOF in Dublin. Held annually on a topical issue related to the intersection between faith and family life, the event has emerged as a key local invitative in Church renewal. Due to…
K&L welcomes first Romanian priest
The Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin will welcome its first Romanian priest at the end of this month, who has answered the call from Bishop Denis Nulty to help resolve the problem of the shortage of priests in Ireland. Fr Eugen Dragmos Tamas (28) from the Diocese of Iasi was ordained a priest in June…
World Meeting of Families appoints media manager
A woman experienced in communications on a parish, diocesan and national level has been appointed Media and Communications Manager for the World Meeting of Families (WMOF). Ms Brenda Drumm (48), a native of Belturbet, Co. Cavan and based in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, has been seconded from her current role as Communications Officer with the Catholic…
News in Brief
Bishops issue guidelines for priests with children New guidelines for priests who become a father issued by the Irish Bishops’ Conference, place a priority on the wellbeing of the child. The guidelines say the priest “should face up to his responsibilities – legal, moral and financial. At a minimum, no priest should walk away from…




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