There is a “grace-filled art in forgiving and remembering” the bishop of the Diocese of Derry has said on the 50th anniversary Mass of Remembrance for the victims of Bloody Sunday today. In his homily, Bishop Donal McKeown said it takes “a wise heart to look at the rubble of what has been shattered in…
Month: January 2022
Time to welcome everyone back to parishes – bishops
Chai Brady, Ruadán Jones and Jason Osborne Four bishops have called for all the faithful to be welcomed back to parishes as excitement grows after restrictions were lifted north and south of the border. Bishop of Achonry Paul Dempsey said the lifting of restrictions is a “great opportunity” to welcome people back “to experience what…
Confidence in theology important if synod to be fruitful, says Professor
The director of the Loyola Institute Dr Michael Kirwan said it’s “really important” that people have confidence in their grasp of theology if the Irish synodal process is to be fruitful. Dr Kirwan, who is a professor in systematic and pastoral theology, told The Irish Catholic people are being asked “to have an enormous level…
Hollywood star makes pilgrimage with Franciscans for Padre Pio biopic
Staff reporter American actor and Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf went on pilgrimage to the hometown of Padre Pio as part of his preparations to play the Italian saint in an upcoming biopic. Mr LaBeouf, who starred in the Transformers franchise, visited San Giovani Rotondo where Padre Pio lived and served from 1916 until his death…
‘Star falls from the sky’ as Belfast mourns Fionntán
Family and friends of Belfast teenager Fionntán McGarvey heard of how his “big smile, his love and his friendship, with his talent and sportsmanship,” lit up the sky in their lives during his funeral on Monday. Police have launched a murder investigation after the 18-year-old died last Thursday in the Royal Victoria Hospital. This was…
Charity warns of rental pressures due to pandemic debt
Housing charity Threshold has warned that debt accrued during the pandemic as well as job losses will put further pressure on renters during the housing crisis as society reopens. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, CEO of Threshold John-Mark McCafferty said that those most affected by the pandemic, including staff in the hospitality industry, are more likely…
Irish missionary welcomes raised age of consent in the Philippines
Staff reporter Following the recent raising of the age of sexual consent in the Philippines from 12 to 16, Irish missionary priest Fr Shay Cullen said they’ve experienced “a big step forward” in fighting child abuse in the Philippines. Based in the Philippines, Columban priest and founder of the Preda Foundation, Fr Cullen and his…
Dominicans to launch new online ministry this autumn
The Dominicans in Ireland are set to launch a major new online evangelisation effort this autumn, with Promoter of Online Preaching, Fr Conor McDonough telling The Irish Catholic newspaper that it’s a way “of reaching out to people who are no longer in the pews”. The website will “have a great deal of video and…
Still ‘anxiety and fear’ in Drogheda two years after Mulready-Woods murder, says local priest
There is still a sense of “anxiety and fear” in Drogheda two years on from the murder of Keane Mulready-Woods, Fr Colm O’Mahony OSA told The Irish Catholic. The killing of the 17-year-old on January 12, 2020, was the result of a gangland feud and left the community of the Co. Louth town feeling “isolated…
Insulted for her ‘Muslimness’ – everyone is shocked
Shock and horror were expressed in high places. Indignant denials were issued. The establishment came forth to state that such a thing, were it to happen, would be outrageous. Such was the general reaction at Westminster to the claim by a former minister, Ms Nusrat Ghani, that she had been reprimanded for her “Muslimness”. Allegation…