McGuinness praised in New York as man of peace Martin McGuinness was “a man of history, a man of destiny, a man of peace”, according to Msgr Robert Ritchie, who celebrated the late Deputy First Minister’s month’s mind Mass on Monday in St Patrick’s Cathedral, New York. Delivering a eulogy at the service, in which…
Month: April 2017
Nuns and their habits
“…you must stand up for your faith, be unafraid”, writes Mary Kenny I encountered a nun in a Dublin shopping mall last week – she identified me through a mutual acquaintance of schooldays. It took me a few minutes to clock that she was a religious sister, as she was dressed in civvies – indeed,…
Shopping at the ‘drive-thru’ mission stall
Fr Johnny Doherty CSsR hands a Mission Cross to Brian Fitzsimons at a drive-thru mission stall outside the Church of St Nicholas Ardglass where the Redemptorist Fathers from Clonard Monastery are conducting a mission in the parish of Dunsford and Ardglass until Sunday, April 30. Looking on is parish priest, Fr Gerry McCloskey. Photo: Bill…
The long shadow of a potential referendum
The “Taoiseach…has just moved heaven and earth to try to reduce the constitutional protection now enjoyed by the unborn”, writes Michael Kelly The Government has given strong indications that it will hold a referendum on abortion next year. Truth be told, we’ve known for some time that politicians are minded to hold a referendum that…
One bishop and his dog
Bishop Fintan Monahan of Killaloe with his dog Barra, pictured after the bishop completed the Connemara International Marathon on Sunday, raising over €600 for Trócaire.
Grantchester star criticises TV portrayal of faith
James Norton, star of TV’s Grantchester, has criticised the trend of faith being portrayed negatively on television as “exorcisms and cults”. The actor, who plays crimebusting cleric Rev. Canon Sidney Chambers in the series which is about to begin its third run, said the “idea of faith isn’t really explored any more on television; now the only…
Parish soup kitchen answers Pope’s plea for homeless
A Belfast church is set to open a soup kitchen service for the city’s homeless, in response to Pope Francis’ call to reach out to those in need with concrete acts of mercy. St Patrick’s Church in Donegall Street hosted a Mass of Hope for Belfast’s homeless community on Wednesday and will begin distributing food…
Warm reactions to Limerick’s laity taking the lead
Limerick’s diocesan day of lay-led liturgies has been a big success, according to early reports. The morning of Tuesday, April 25, saw lay-led liturgies of the word in every Limerick parish, while diocesan clergy were away on in-service formation. “There were about 150 to 200 people in the cathedral,” Noirín Lynch of the Diocesan Pastoral…
Pedal Paddle Pilgrimage
Fr John Kenny of Partry parish, Co. Mayo promoting his second ‘Pedal Paddle Pilgrimage’ on May 20 to raise funds for Pieta House. It involves a cycle from Westport to Croagh Patrick, a climb to the summit for Mass and then paddling in Clew Bay at Murrisk Abbey followed by a party in Clew Bay…
Praise for Pope’s decision to wear Lough Derg martyr stole
Staff reporter Irish priests have welcomed Pope Francis’ decision to celebrate a Mass for modern martyrs while wearing the stole of a martyred former student of the Irish College in Rome. “I think it’s very significant,” Fr Gerard Magee, chaplain at Queen’s University Belfast, said of the Pope’s decision to wear Fr Ragheed Ganni’s stole…