Pope Francis, in a video message recorded on their bishop’s phone, encouraged Catholics in Hong Kong and in mainland China to be strong in the face of challenges, to be good citizens and to pray for him as he prays for them. Bishop Stephen Chow Sau-yan of Hong Kong, a Jesuit who was ordained a…
Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz hopes to shed light on human trafficking with his new sculpture, Ruadhán Jones learns “When the Vatican asks you to do a sculpture, you have a tendency to drop everything you’re doing and dive right into it,” Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz says. He should know, having previously unveiled his sculpture ‘Angels…
Dear Editor, In The Irish Catholic edition of March 17, I agree with Sean Ryan’s letter stating that prayers are needed for Vladimir Putin and Russia. We only have to recall the message given to the three children of Fatima by Our Blessed Lady in 1917 and showing them the consequence of serious sin in…
On a media training session for politicians the advice would include being on top of your brief, knowing your facts. You’d probably be schooled in the skills of dodging – learning to answer the question you’d like to have been asked instead of the one you were asked. You’d be told to stress how ‘clear’…
Compartment No. 6: We don’t hear much about glasnost or perestroika since Vladimir Putin’s invasion of the Ukraine but they’re applicable to this. It explores the friendship between a Finnish woman (Seidi Haarla) and a Russian man (Yuriy Borisov) on board a train bound for the Arctic Circle in the late 1990s. Directed by Juho…
Marta Osborne Love Notes My wife and I sometimes have trouble managing our divergent personalities – she’s very quiet and reserved while I’m extremely active and extroverted. How do we make it work? The saying goes that “opposites attract”, and this is often the case. The attraction is the easy part, however – making it…
Ireland must step up to meet escalating needs in Ukraine Irish charities have called on the Government to “step up” and meet the escalating humanitarian needs in Ukraine as millions are displaced by the war. Dóchas, the Irish Association of Non-Governmental Development Organisations, said “the humanitarian crisis within Ukraine is becoming more critical by the…
The Tain, from the Irish epic Táin Bó Cuailnge Translated by Thomas Kinsella and decorated by Louis Le Brocquy Dolmen Edition IX (Dolmen Press, 1969) When this landmark in Irish culture appeared back in September 1969, I was living in London. I still recall the delighted pleasure with which I bought the original Dolmen Press…
Editor’s Comment Pope St John XXIII was reportedly once asked by an impressed visitor to the Apostolic Palace how many people actually work at the Vatican. The Pontiff is reported to have quipped back: “Oh, about half of them”. The story is probably apocryphal, and I have since heard it said about many large organisations.…
Bishop-elect of Rumbek receives heroic reception Father Christian Carlassare, the bishop-elect of Rumbek, returned to his see March 23 to jubilation, as he emphasised his intention to build unity in the diocese. The priest was shot in the legs shortly after his March 2021 nomination as Bishop of Rumbek. He was cared for at a…
Ruadhán Jones
Brendan O’Regan
Aubrey Malone
Peter Costello
Michael Kelly