Canada’s bishops will be discussing charity, at home and abroad when they meet in Quebec for their annual plenary session next week. Within the past several months, floods in southern Alberta, a fire at Lac-Megantic, Quebec and the flash flooding in Toronto highlighted the fact that Canada’s bishops do not have an organised structure to…
Month: September 2013
People want pastors not bureaucrats
Nuala O’LoanFrancis poses enormous challenges to the faithful, writes Nuala O’Loan
Fr Iggy complaint ‘not malicious’
Paul KeenanRelative claims he was misrepresented in media reports
Dublin champ grateful for ‘gift of faith’
All-Ireland champion footballer Ger Brennan has spoken of the “gift of faith” in his life. Fresh from his part in Dublin’s triumph at last Sunday’s GAA final, Brennan took to the airwaves to speak of his faith and his planned participation in Mission Month in October. Asserting his distinct sense of “a divine presence in…
Children to celebrate national day of prayer
Children helping Children, the initiative that involves Irish children helping children in developing countries, is gearing up to celebrate the National Day of Prayer and Share, on October 11. Established in 2007 by World Missions Ireland, over 1,500 schools throughout the country take part in the day and last year 49 projects in Africa and…
Pope’s remarkable style
Pope Francis is barely six months in office and his pontificate is having a remarkable effect on people both inside and outside the Church. The Holy Father has an extraordinary ability to find simple words to pose fundamental questions about the world in which we live, about the Church and about the life of faith.…
Taking on co-responsibility for the Church
Michael Kelly"We have this idea that Ireland was evangelised once and for all,” says Bishop Noel Treanor, “it wasn’t and we need to be part of the new evangelisation of Ireland.” More than 1,700 people from across the Diocese of Down and Connor are due to gather in Belfast this weekend for the launch of a…
Armagh ordination to the Permanent Diaconate
Next Sunday, September 29 will be an historic day in the Archdiocese of Armagh when the first ordination to the Permanent Diaconate will take place in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh. Five men, having completed three years’ formation and theological training, will be ordained as deacons for service in five parishes in the Archdiocese of Armagh:…
The Di is cast
Naomi Watts is one of my favourite actresses, and her performance here as Princess Diana has its moments, but it has to be said that she doesn’t look that much like her. Maybe we’ve been spoiled in this department by the fact that Helen Mirren was a dead ringer for Queen Elizabeth in The Queen and Meryl…
Terry Waite addresses NI clergy on peace
The North East PEACE III Partnership has celebrated the success of its unique Clergy Peace Building Project with a closing conference in Ballymena, Co. Antrim addressed by renowned international humanitarian, author and former Beirut hostage, Terry Waite CBE. The Clergy Peace Building Project worked with 30 individual clergy to promote peace building opportunities within the…