Category: News

Congo’s hidden conflict

The latest news is as grim as any emanating from the bloody battlefields of the Middle East currently dominating airtime with the international media. But this is Africa and, more specifically, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Thus, as embedded journalists in Iraq warned us to prepare for the worst as mass graves turned up amid…

Iconic Chaldean church liberated in Mosul

A Chaldean Catholic church whose image announced the fall of Mosul in 2014 has been liberated. When so-called Islamic State (ISIS) swept through Iraq in June 2014, a ‘before-and-after’ picture of the Church of Our Mother of Perpetual help in Mosul emerged showing the crucifix topping the building replaced by the black banner of the…

Church scandals call for ‘deeper conversion’

Staff Reporter The Pope’s representative in Ireland has said that revelations about scandals in the Church should trigger a “deeper conversion” within Irish Catholicism. Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown said that “the life of the Church on this Earth is not the story of perfection, it is always a mixed story of triumph and failure;…

Dara Fitzpatrick represents “selfless kindness”

Bishop Brendan Leahy has paid tribute to Irish Coast Guard pilot Dara Fitzpatrick and members of the Defence Forces who “fearlessly” dedicate their lives to helping others. “Let’s be grateful for all those, like Dara, whose generous spirit reminds us of the measure of love: to love without measure,” the Bishop of Limerick said at…

Irish embassy to the Holy See officially reopened

Ireland and the Holy See “have some different perspectives” but share a belief in working for a just world, said the Minister for Foreign Affairs as he officially reopened the Irish chancery to the Holy See. Following a meeting with Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Holy See Secretary for Relations with States in the Vatican, Charlie Flanagan…

Guarded response to school locals-first plan

The Church has given a qualified welcome to speculation that the Government is likely to push schools to prioritise locally-based children in their admissions. This proposal, which would bar Church-owned schools from favouring children of their own faith from outside school catchment areas ahead of non-religious or minority faith children who live nearby, has been…

The Family Centre at Knock Shrine is organising a special Mass to mark Organ Donor Awareness Week 2017. “The Mass is a celebration for all who have been saved, and indeed for those whose loved one were organ donors and wish them and their wonderful legacy to be remembered,” said Monica Morley, director of the…