The example of the unfortunate aftermath of the closure of the Clonmel Friary offers us lessons for what to do when we close churches and when our church closes. There is no doubting the goodwill of the passionate volunteers that sought for the Church to remain open in Clonmel but in cases like this, we…
The sticker plastered on a Belfast lamp post made me smile. “I’ve read the last chapter – God wins!” A source of hope in a world of death, destruction and doom. How easy it is for us to forget that the battle for salvation, for our lives, has already been won. Despite death and darkness…
When the late Pope John Paul ascended to the Papacy, he said that Europe must breathe through its two lungs, the tradition of the Western Roman rite and that of the Eastern Orthodox rite as well. Although I could not agree with him more, I would add the 50 million members of the Orient Orthodox…
Does loneliness affect your parish? A strange thing happened to me last month: three of the people I used to visit on my First Friday calls all went to the same nursing home, within a few weeks. That meant that my call list in one of my church areas was instantly reduced to zero. The…
Ireland has a long history of giving generously to people in need overseas, reflecting the value our culture has placed on loving our neighbours both near and far. We can choose what good causes to support at individual, parish and church level. But for the funds donated overseas by the Irish Government, collected from us…
Fr John Harris Growing up we often sang the song ‘Take me up to Monto’, never thinking it was a real place. But a very real place it was. For over a hundred years it was said to be the largest red-light district in Europe. It is said that there was anything up to 1,600…
Dear Joseph, I have often thought of writing to you. I suppose, given the month that’s in it and that your Feast Day is recent, now might be as good a time as any. There is something very reassuring and uplifting in a letter that acknowledges a person and expresses gratitude and, that is what…
Dualta Roughneen argues that no matter which way we look at international aid or charitable giving to those living in less prosperous or more volatile countries, walking away shouldn’t be countenanced Are we suffering from an excess of empathy that creating compassion fatigue? In an increasingly globalised and interconnected world, the internet – and our…
Editorial In his Prison Journal, Cardinal George Pell offers a sobering yet steadfast reflection on the state of the Catholic Church, particularly in Australia and the West. His observations, written in the solitude of his prison cell, are not those of a man bitterly lamenting the Church’s struggles but of one who sees hope in…
Dear Editor, I agreed 110% with Fr Chris Hayden ‘Be quick to listen’ [The Irish Catholic – March 13, 2025]. Irish Catholics really need to move on from the stereotypical desire for ‘quickie’ Masses and homilies. It’s quite immature, minimalistic and lacking in generosity to the God to whom we owe our very existence. It…
Martina Purdy
Eilis Mulroy