A group of about 75 young people, including representatives from NET Ministries Ireland, Youth 2000 and Newman College, gathered in Tuam parish for a conference called ‘Days of Discipleship’ organised by a mission team from the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) in the US. FOCUS works on American university campuses, building young people into…

The Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail is hosting a community walk and talk to the Boheh Stone – a unique Neolithic feature in Co. Mayo – on Monday, April 18. This is a guided walk  led by local archaeologists and is an opportunity to experience the amazing ‘Rolling Sun’ phenomenon, where the sun appears to roll down the…

Paranoia as a result of the clerical sex abuse scandals is “hampering” priests from engaging fully with society, a prominent psychotherapist has warned. Kevin Egan, who has lectured in All Hallows College in psychology and pastoral theology, told The Irish Catholic that “the main thing that blocks mission in the Church today is paranoia or…

Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons has said that the Catholic Church is right to say abortion is a sin, because it harms women. The Cork-based actor, who is married to Irish actress Sinead Cusack, said that while he believed “that women should be allowed to make the decision”, that he also believed the Church is correct…

Schools need to embrace Christian meditation The Diocese of Elphin has urged Catholic schools to try Christian meditation, noting that the practice appears absent from many schools in the diocese. In a statement on Facebook, the diocese said there is “a lot of talk about ‘mindfulness’ these days”, adding that it was “strange” that so few people seem to be…

Poland’s Catholic bishops have called for a permanent ban on abortions in the country to mark the 1,050th anniversary of Poland’s  conversion to Christianity in the year 966. “Each person’s life is protected by the fifth commandment, do not kill. So the attitude of Catholics is clear and unchanging,” the bishops’ conference said. “In this…

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has called for an honest appraisal of the Church in modern Ireland after some 1916 commemorations have shown that fair historical debate is being hindered by false impressions of the role of Catholicism. Referring to the recent RTÉ series Rebellion which re-enacted the events of the 1916 Easter Rising, the archbishop said…

Mary Miller, Thomondgate touches the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help as John Hegarty and Jerry O’Doherty, Patrick Sarsfield Branch of Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (Organisation of National Ex-servicemen & Women) process the pilgrim icon into St John’s Cathedral, Limerick. The Redemptorists are celebrating the 150th anniversary of devotion to the Our Mother of…

Music superstar Justin Bieber said he has God to thank for his ‘Male Artist of the Year’ award at the weekend.  Picking up the gong, along with the Best Fan Army prize, at the iHeartRadio Awards in California, the Canadian singer songwriter said: “[Thanks to] God… I’ve experienced some tough times. I think all of…