Colm FitzpatrickFr Liam O’Donovan SAC pictured with his family after his ordination by Bishop Phonsie Cullinan in the Church of the Assumption, in Slieverue, Co. Kilkenny on Saturday.
Category: News
Pro-abortion professor enters Church’s Academy for Life
Controversy has arisen over the nomination of an Anglican professor – who agrees with abortion in certain circumstances – to the Pontifical Academy for Life. The academy is against abortion and is committed to involving increasing numbers of people in the defence of human life according to Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, the academy president. Critics have…
Catholic nun charged with abduction
A Catholic nun has been charged with abducting tribal girls for religious conversion in India. Sr Beena Joseph, a member of the Carmelite Sisters of St Teresa congregation, was on her way to the Madhya Pradesh state capital of Bhopal from the eastern state of Jharkhand along with four tribal girls. She was accused of taking…
Five-minute sermons help families focus, priest hopes
Greg Daly
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…
Reds’ novenas attracts thousands online
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…
Indonesian priests resign over bishop scandal
Dozens of priests from Indonesia have quit their posts after accusing a bishop of embezzling $100,000 (€89,000) of church funds for personal use. Almost 70 priests from the Catholic island Flores, in the Reuteng Diocese, submitted letters of resignation after demanding that Bishop Hubertus Leteng complies with a complete change of how the diocese is…
Bid to set a new record for Global Rosary Relay
Global Rosary Relay for Priests is striving to set a new record of global participation this week. 10 million are estimated to join in prayer for the Rosary Relay this year, according to Worldpriest. As midnight comes on June 23, the Feast of the Sacred Heart, the relay will begin in a new shrine in…
Ted talks star to address pro-life rally
Karen Gaffney, the first living person with Down Syndrome to receive an honorary doctorate, will address the ‘Save the 8th’ Rally for Life in Dublin city centre on July 1. Ms Gaffney has captured global attention, not only for her personal achievements but for her work on inclusion for people with Down Syndrome and her…
Dalai Lama to honour Derry charity
The Dalai Lama will be returning to the city of Derry on September 10, in order to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the charity, Children in Crossfire. The Dalai Lama, a dedicated patron of Children in Crossfire, will be guest of honour at a public talk entitled ‘Compassion in Action’, which will aim to encourage…
Child protection experts graduate from Rome university
Twenty-four students from 18 countries graduated from Rome’s Jesuit university last week, and will return to their dioceses to strengthen or kick-start child protection policies. The graduates studied in the Centre for Child Protection’s intensive programme at the Pontifical Gregorian University. The ceremony, at the Gregorian University, included a panel discussion with five post-doctoral students…