“Alpha fills you with a sense of belonging and changes you through the power of the Holy Spirit”, writes John Quinn I began working with the Presentation Brothers in September 2015, taking up my appointment as their Evangelisation Officer. After four years of working as a youth minister in a busy South-London parish, I was…
“Contentment, I think, is a gift and an occasion for gratitude”, writes Mary Kenny What is the secret of happiness? Many books have been written in its pursuit. My Edwardian mother-in-law used to say “disposition”, and this may well be a key. Alexander Pope said as much in his Essay on Man, comparing a rich…
A well-known priest has accused the Irish hierarchy of lacking the “dynamism” that is needed to renew the Church here. Fr Paddy Byrne told The Irish Catholic that the bishops “have to account for their own dynamism and if they are going to question it at a parish level they must question it among themselves”.…
The Government has accused the United Nations of failing to implement its own rules to protect vulnerable minorities, including Christians, in the Middle East. Dara Murphy, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, told the Seanad that “the Government believes the UN and the Security Council, in particular, have not…
An American football team should visit the site of the only officially-recognised Marian apparition in the United States after pulling off a so-called ‘Hail Mary pass’, a local bishop has said. Pointing out that the community of Champion in Wisconsin’s Green Bay diocese is home to the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help, Milwaukee’s…
“It is obvious that the electorate is looking for financial relief, after the income falls of the crash years”, writes Dr Martin Mansergh Voting is a civic duty. Under the Constitution, “all powers of government, legislative, executive and judicial, derive, under God, from the people”. They have the right to choose their rulers, in elections,…
Confession must be at the heart of the Year of Mercy, writes David Quinn We are now into the second month of the Year of Mercy begun by Pope Francis before Christmas. It is a Jubilee Year and the Pope has urged Catholics to “live mercy”. To this extent we have been urged to practice…
A friendly spirit is a constant in a congress of contradictions, writes Fr Bernard Healy On arrival at Mactan-Cebu Airport, the Irish Pilgrimage to the 51st International Eucharistic Congress was greeted with a warm Filipino welcome as Congress volunteers placed decorative necklaces around the necks of the pilgrims and shepherded us through customs. That welcome…
Ceremonies to celebrate the feast of St Brigid, February 1, at her birthplace in Faughart, (near Dundalk) Co. Louth will commence with Mass in the Oratory of St Brigid’s Shrine at 10.30am. Personal blessing with the relic of the saint will be available at the shrine from 11.30-1pm and from 2-4.30pm. The annual candlelight procession…
Five different schools from the Laois/Carlow/Kildare area were represented at the Eucharistic Ministers Commissioning Mass celebrated by Fr John Dunphy in the parish of Graiguecullen/Killeshin, Co. Laois recently. The group of 20 young adults were commissioned after a five-week training course. During their training they explored the origins of the Mass and the true meaning…
Mary Kenny
Cathal Barry
Greg Daly
Austen Ivereigh
Dr Martin Mansergh
David Quinn
Mags Gargan