Ireland’s 2013 children’s rights referendum looks in hindsight like an exercise in “making ourselves feel good”, a leading priest has said. Commenting on Dr Geoffrey Shannon’s audit of child protection procedures in An Garda Síochána, which revealed grave shortcomings in child protection across State agencies, Redemptorist Fr Gerry O’Connor, a member of the Association of…
Misean Cara, the charity that processes the funding for Irish missionary organisations, has launched a new strategy setting out the priorities to ensure the future of the Irish missionary approach to development. The new five-year plan focuses on key areas of education, healthcare, sustainable development and human rights. The strategy is based on a global…
Catholic bishops in Northern Ireland have called on citizens to vote in the upcoming election, asking them not to feel “alienated and disheartened”. Recent instability in Stormont was cited as diminishing trust and confidence in the political process, especially among young people. The bishops, including Archbishop Eamon Martin, Bishop John McAreavey and Bishop Noel Treanor,…
In-demand Catholic primary schools in Belfast have created more places for pupils after a campaign drive by parents. The extra 32 places were created after 80 children are believed to have missed out on P1 places in two schools, St Ita’s and St Joseph’s, in the Parish of Drumbo and Carryduff in the last three…
The faithful are being encouraged to celebrate ‘National Holy Wells Day’ as an opportunity to pray for global access to clean water rights. National Holy Wells Day is an initiative of Loving Sister Earth and Columba Community, Derry and will be celebrated on Sunday, June 18. Appealing to Ireland’s long and rich tradition of praying…
Debate about the role of religion in school admissions processes continues to take place in the absence of data, heedless of how oversubscription and a lack of resources are the real problems on the ground, according to the body that represents Ireland’s Catholic primary schools. Speaking to The Irish Catholic following a forum in Croke…
A primary school choir from Co. Down has narrowly lost getting to the fi nal of Britain’s Got Talent. St Patrick’s Junior Choir from Drumgreenagh outside Rathfriland, had impressed the judges with their rendition of Katy Perry’s Roar during Monday’s semi-final. “You sounded amazing,” said head judge Simon Cowell. “I love your personalities individually and…
A new lay-led initiative is aiming to put a structure for evangelisation in place in Ireland, modelled on a successful movement in the States. A mission team from FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) has been invited to Ireland as part of The Summit ’17, which takes place at Croke Park Conference Centre in Dublin…
Chance the Rapper has revealed the influence of God in his life and how discernment has impacted his career. The Grammy Award-winning rapper is the face of Ebony magazine’s June issue in which explains that when he went to California to break his career he listened to God. “There are a lot of spaces where…
The proposed transfer of the St Vincent’s Healthcare Group to a new company independent of the Religious Sisters of Charity is subject to Vatican approval, The Irish Catholic understands. The sisters announced this week that they intend to end an involvement in healthcare that dates back to 1834. Although the now mostly elderly sisters no…
Greg Daly
Mags Gargan
Chai Brady
Courtney McGrail