Knock Parish Church and Apparition Chapel reopens 
Well-known church reopens
Knock Parish Church and Apparition Chapel reopened on Friday, May 18, after having been closed for months for refurbishment works.
Both the church and Apparition Chapel have been closed since last October to make way for complete refurbishment. Speaking about the refurbishment, Fr Richard Gibbons, PP, Rector of Knock Shrine said: “The Parish Church especially is such an important part of our community and has been greatly missed over the past number of months. It was certainly a challenge to get the work complete in such a short space of time but we are delighted with it. It is a huge credit to all involved.”
Survey shows Catholic support of united Ireland
Almost seven in 10 people in the North of Ireland would support remaining in the EU if there was another poll.
A new survey, carried out for the Economic and Social Research Council, revealed a total of 69% would favour Remain if there was a second referendum compared to 56% two years ago.
Catholics were much more likely to support a united Ireland if there was a “hard exit” in which the UK left the customs union and single market.
Columban Missionaries celebrate centenary
The Columban Missionaries will be hosting a ‘Family and Mission Day’ at Dalgan Park on July 1, 2018, as part of their celebrations to mark their 100 years of mission and the many blessings they have received from families and benefactors down the years.
Explaining the decision to host the day, spokesman for the Columbans, Fr Cyril Lovett said, “We want to draw as many people as possible into our celebration but particularly our friends who have been so faithful in their support. Right from the beginning we depended on the clergy, religious, and mothers and fathers of families here in Ireland.”
This celebration of family links the Columbans with the World Meeting of Families (WMOF2018) which takes place in Ireland from 21-26 August 2018.
New appointment is a ‘break with the past’
The Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Clogher, Monsignor Joseph McGuinness, has appointed Mr Paraic Duffy, the former Director-General of the GAA, as the new Chairperson of the Board of Management of St Macartan’s College, Monaghan.
Commenting on the appointment, Mgr Mc Guinness noted that this is first time the management of the college would not be led by a priest but added that the diocese is confident that the College will be able to remain true to its Catholic ethos.
Páraic replaces Canon Shane Mc Caughey who will step down from the role after a period of twenty-one years. Páraic is a former student, teacher and principal of St Macartan’s.
