After young people gathered for Youth 2000’s hybrid summer festival, the bishops praised the “great hope” their enthusiastic return brings. The festival, which took place from August 13-15, was an occasion of “joy and energy”, said Bishop Fintan Gavin of Cork and Ross. “The physical gathering, particularly the healing service on the Saturday night –…
Actor Shia LaBeouf has been cast as Padre Pio for a film which will focus on the life of the Italian saint. Veteran actor Willem Dafoe is also set to receive a role in the movie. A former Disney Channel star, Mr LaBeouf, 35, recently appeared in a video with a group of Franciscans, as…
The Bishop’s comments come after the Press Association (PA) reported that a sectarian bonfire in Derry City is “held annually to mark the Catholic Feast of the Assumption”. The bonfire on Lecky Road, in the Bogside, was due to be lit August 15, coinciding with the Catholic Church’s celebration of the Assumption. The Bishop of…
Prayers are pouring in from all over the world for Irish-American Cardinal Raymond Burke, who was admitted to hospital late last week with Covid-19. The cardinal, who is of Irish heritage with ancestors from Cork and Tipperary, revealed via his Twitter account last week that he had tested positive for Covid-19. “Praised be Jesus Christ!…
Parishes and communities in the North are at a loss following recent bank closures, according to Fr Kevin Mullan of Drumquin in Co. Tyrone. The priest’s laments come after AIB recently announced the closure of more than half of its 15 Northern Irish branches, which leaves some communities far from another alternative. Asked how it…
Mayo-born Fr Michael Murtagh was “thrilled” by his county’s win over Dublin in the All-Ireland semi-final, which he attended in Croke Park. Based in the Dublin parish of Ballyroan, Fr Murtagh admits to a bit of banter with parishioners before and after the game. “I’ve two bears in the church,” Fr Murtagh explained. “I got…
As a wave of wildfires devastated parts of Greece, a Catholic archbishop said different policies might be needed to help prevent recurrences. “We must be much more sensitive and careful when it comes to ecology and preparedness – we don’t have many forests in Greece anyway, and much of what we have is now destroyed,”…
For centuries, numberless men and women have lived lives of involuntary celibacy: they have never found a partner with whom to settle down. The Irish were, traditionally, cautious about marriage – often because so many farms were small and inheritance was uncertain – so they lost their opportunity to find a spouse. There were many…
A plaque in memory of the late bishop of Derry Edward Daly has been unveiled at a hospital in Ethiopia to mark the fifth anniversary of his death. Unveiled by the Children in Crossfire charity – which Bishop Daly supported strongly – the plaque was placed in St Luke’s Hospital, Wolisso, Ethiopia. Crossfire’s founder, Derry…
The attorney general of Sri Lanka has requested the chief justice appoint a special trial-at-bar to hear cases against 25 suspects accused of involvement in the 2019 Easter attacks that killed 279 people, including 37 foreign nationals in three cities. The 23,270 charges filed include conspiracy, preparation, aiding and abetting, collection of explosives and weapons,…
Ruadhán Jones
Mary Kenny