Leah O’ Sullivan (5) from Portlaoise holds a St Brigid’s cross during Mass for the opening of Catholic Schools Week in the church of Ss Peter & Paul, Portlaoise on Sunday, January 29. Photo: John McElroy
Category: News
Papal biographer rejects Flannery-Francis comparisons
Greg Daly
Claims by a controversial priest that he resembles Pope Francis are misplaced, a bestselling papal biographer has said. Speaking on RTÉ radio at the weekend, Fr Tony Flannery denied that he disagrees with fundamental Church teaching continuing: “In fact, I would suspect that I am closer to the teaching and the attitude of Pope Francis…
‘Pop’ goes the curate…
Courtney McGrailLocal curate Fr John Carroll gives a hand in the kitchen at a ‘pop up restaurant’ in the curacy of Barntown during a breakfast fundraiser for one of six Mayoral candidates running in the Wexford parish’s charity elections, intended to raise parish funds and involve parishioners more deeply in local Church and community life.
St Patrick’s in Belfast targeted in arson attack
Bishop Noel Treanor of Down & Connor has condemned an arson attack at St Patrick’s Church on Belfast’s Donegall Street which caused significant smoke damage to the building’s interior. In a statement reacting to news that someone had set fire to curtains covering the church’s Year of Mercy door last Monday, Bishop Treanor said: “This…
Fresh Mass translation ‘a long shot’
Paul Keenan
Experts on the translation of the Roman Missal have cautioned that any expectation of change to the translation of the Mass currently in use are “a long shot”. It comes amid reports from Rome that Pope Francis has established a new commission to review the guidelines that led to the 2011 translation, the language of…
Senator calls for Pope to address Oireachtas in 2018
Fianna Fáil’s Senator Aidan Davitt has called on the Government to invite Pope Francis to address the joint Houses of the Oireachtas during his visit to Ireland in 2018. Senator Davitt said during a radio interview that the Pope’s visit to attend the World Meeting of Families would present “an ideal opportunity” for the Pontiff…
News in Brief
Éamonn Meehan to lead international development network Éamonn Meehan, executive director of the Irish bishops’ aid and development agency Trócaire, has been appointed president of the International Cooperation for Development and Solidarity (CIDSE), the Catholic development network. In accepting the new role, Mr Meehan pledged himself to contributing to the change the world so badly…
Belfast’s Indian community prays for abducted priest
Staff Reporter Members of the Syro-Malabar community in Northern Ireland have offered prayers for the safe release of Fr Tom Uzhunnalil, an Indian Salesian missing in Yemen since he was kidnapped by Islamic extremists last March. Joining with a novena initiated by the Salesian community worldwide, Syro-Malabars attended a day of adoration of the Blessed…
Bishops welcome new schools divestment plan
The Bishops’ Council for Education has offered a welcome for Minister Richard Bruton’s words on religious education in Catholic schools and his proposals for a consultative process on any future divestment of schools. In a statement on behalf of the Council, its chair, Bishop Brendan Kelly said “The Council for Education will study these proposals…
Fr Robert wins praise for ‘tending his flock’
A Mullingar-based priest’s literal interpretation of ‘tending to the flock’ has struck a chord across his rural parish. With farmers working through a busy period of lambing Fr Robert McGivney undertook to bless lambs on the farm of friends in his community, an act which met with such positivity among others that the priest has…