Pope Francis is first of all a shepherd who makes seeking out the lost and forgotten his top priority. But he also knows that wherever he goes, the cameras and news coverage will follow. He leveraged his pull on the media spotlight early in his papacy when he went to Lampedusa for his very first…
Events to help families confront and deal with challenging family issues will be launched by the Family Centre at Knock Shrine next month. The programme from July 10–15 will cover keeping the faith in difficult times, coping with grief, overcoming addiction and more in daily, evening and morning workshops with guest speakers. A Mass and…
The Government has no intention to modify rules for third-party political fundraising ahead of the impending abortion referendum, despite questions being raised by the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO). Under the Electoral Act 1997, a ‘third party’ is defined as someone who accepts for political purposes a donation exceeding €100 in value, with most…
This generation has lost the “urgency to spread the Gospel”, which was the drive for thousands of Irish missionaries, according to the Bishop of Derry. Speaking at a Mass to celebrate the golden jubilee of St Aengus’ Church in Burt, Co. Donegal, Bishop Donal McKeown said the “community of disciples that gathers in our churches…
Concerns have been expressed that a deal which will see the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) back the Tory minority government in Britain will not benefit both sides of the community in the North. The deal, announced on Monday, two weeks after the UK election resulted in a hung parliament, will see the 10 DUP MPs…
Bishop Éamonn Walsh of the Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative (IBDI) has encouraged parishes to get involved with its latest youth-centred initiative. “With the support of the IBDI many parishes are becoming self-sufficient in the challenge to prevent drug use,” Bishop Walsh said. “The latest IBDI programme ‘Leave your mark’ is a youth-centred initiative which trains…
The Order of Malta has been commended by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin for its commitment to alleviating social and spiritual suffering throughout the world. “The care of the sick and the troubled and the marginalised is an essential dimension of the Christian life and of the life of the Church. The Order of Malta and its members…
New research debunks the sensationalist myths surrounding the Magdalen laundries in Ireland, a leading historian has claimed. Dr Jacinta Prunty, head of history at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, has painstakingly trawled the archives for a new book which aims to set the record straight. Dr Prunty says she hopes her new book –…
The Redemptorist Order has revealed that as well as attracting huge numbers to their churches, their annual novenas are now drawing thousands of viewers to watch the services online. Fr Noel Kehoe, rector of Clonard Monastery in Belfast, said that on average 14,000 people had watched this year’s novena on the web – the highest…
Short sermons could be key to holding the attention of congregations and could even help draw families with young children back to church, a Derry priest has realised after a spell on American pews. After a sabbatical in Texas where he was encouraged to sit among the congregation to get a sense of how lay…
Mags Gargan
Greg Daly
Colm Fitzpatrick