The organisers of the World Meeting of Families in Dublin next year are “very hopeful and optimistic” that Pope Francis will attend the event. Fr Timothy Bartlett, the Secretary General for the World Meeting of Families, told The Irish Catholic that the Pontiff “has repeatedly said he wants to be with us and so therefore,…

Aware calls for more volunteers Ireland’s leading mental health organisation, Aware, which provides support for those suffering from depression and bipolar disorder, is asking for 40 more volunteers following a 20% increase in the volume of calls to their support line. With 450,000 people in Ireland living with depression, as well as 45,000 people experiencing…

The pro-choice activist who draped a jumper with a Repeal slogan over the altar of a Dublin church, said he did it to inspire “burnt-out” fellow campaigners. Jim Healey, a pro-choice lobbyist, confirmed he took the photo of the jumper on the altar of the grotto outside Mary Immaculate Church in Inichore, Dublin. “I did…

At the launch of the new Lottie Brownie doll at Irish Girl Guides’ international camp in Rockwell College, Cashel, Tipperary are Carrigtwohill Brownies Caoilfhinn McCarthy (10), Courtney Gosnell (10), Abbey Madden (10), Kate Bogue (10) and Alice Kenneally (10). Looking on are Irish Girl Guides Chief Commissioner, Helen Concannon, and Arklu Lottie Dolls Managing Director,…

The family and friends of Bishop Edward Daly gather at a commemorative stone in Derry’s Bogside for an interdenominational service led by Bishop Donal McKeown after attending the first anniversary Mass at nearby St Eugene’s Cathedral on Saturday. Photo: Margaret McLaughlin

Eight-year-old Jaime Whelan from West Belfast presents roses to Our Lady, in St Teresa of Avila Church, Glen Road, Belfast. The statue, one of 12 commissioned by Archbishop Eamon Martin from Fatima shrine in association with the World Apostolate of Fatima, will arrive in Downpatrick on August 14, Crossgar on August 15 and Ardglass on…

A member of a wedding party passes tractors bedecked with ribbons and flowers parked outside a church in Annalong, Co. Down. Photo: Mal McCann

Ireland’s newest bishop has encouraged Catholics to take pride in all the good work that the Church continues to do with the vulnerable and marginalised. Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ – who was ordained Bishop of Raphoe at the weekend – also said that the Church in Ireland needs to increasingly embrace a model where laypeople…

One of Ireland’s top broadcasters has described this country as a “cold house for Christians” after the Broadcasting Authority rejected complaints in response to the ‘haunted bread’ incident on The Late Late Show.  George Hook sharply criticised the findings of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) last week that there was “no offence caused” when…