“You’re like a broken record,” a friend said to me at the weekend (from a safe distance). Half-joking, half-serious he was referring to the fact that I was – again – bending his ear about the injustice of the draconian restrictions on public worship. This weekend, the North will join the Republic with parishioners unable…
Whatever about the darker elements surrounding us, shafts of light are shining on a number of our young musicians through bursaries funded by the State and private enterprise. Those from the Government come via its Department of Media, Tourism, Art, Culture and the Gaeltacht having been solicited by the triennial Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition…
I’m wary of gurus, even if they are promoting stuff I agree with. They may not seek that status but I’d say it is often thrust upon them by over enthusiastic and under critical followers. The crown is not always resisted. After watching The Rise of Jordan Peterson (Sky Arts, Tuesday) I’m still not sure…
Two churches in Washington state burn in apparent arson attacks Two church buildings – one Baptist, one Catholic – were damaged by fires in apparent arson attacks in Brewster, a town in central Washington. Sacred Heart Catholic Church suffered some fire damage near the sanctuary from an incendiary device dropped through a broken window early…
Dear Editor, I was interested to read in Niamh Uí Bhriain’s article [IC 29/10/2020] that it is likely that euthanasia will kill the same number of people as coronavirus in the Netherlands this year. This is a shocking statistic, and I fear for the introduction of the ‘Dying with Dignity’ bill in Ireland. I noticed…
New vaccines showing positive signs There’s hope on the horizon as two major pharmaceutical companies have announced successful tests of vaccines for Covid-19 Vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna have both proven more than 90% effective in preventing Covid-19, based on interim data from a late-stage clinical trial. Pending more safety data and regulatory review, the…
The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. Dark November will soon be past when we turn the page of the calendar to December. In the Church’s calendar it is the First Sunday of Advent, the beginning of the new liturgical year. Advent means coming: the past coming of Jesus Christ at the first Christmas;…
Pope Francis said he was dismayed by Catholic communities and groups that claim to be working to improve church life, but attempt to do so without prayer, the Eucharist and unity with the rest of the church.
Archbishop Eamon Martin launched the 2020 online Advent Calendar yesterday [November 24], urging people to use it to “spiritually prepare” during restrictions.
Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin has said that he cannot understand why it might be possible to buy alcohol but not visit a church. He also urged politicians to understand that Christmas is about more than “eating and drinking”. Archbishop Eamon said the decision by the North’s Executive to close churches in hugely disappointing…
Michael Kelly
Brendan O’Regan
Ruadhán Jones