Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All-Ireland Eamon Martin has asked the Faithful of Ireland to join Pope Francis, the bishops and clergy of the world in prayer as they consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The consecration is due to take place this evening, March 25, when Pope Francis will…
Chai Brady and Ruadhán Jones Catholic schools across the country are already seeing “significant numbers” of children fleeing the Russian onslaught of Ukraine and have pledged to do whatever it takes to make places for them. Parish school leaders north and south say that the situation is moving very quickly with more than 200,000 refugees…
An association seeking the canonisation of famous Irish military chaplain killed in action during World War I, Fr Willie Doyle SJ, has recently been launched. The Father Willie Doyle Association is a private association of the Faithful that has now been formally recognised by Bishop of Meath Tom Deenihan. Speaking on the occasion of the…
The Primate of All Ireland has criticised Patriarch Kirill of Moscow as being “blinded” by allegiances in Russia, and asked the religious leader to work towards peace. Patriarch Kirill, an influential Russian Orthodox leader, has vocally supported President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Archbishop Eamon Martin told The Irish Catholic that religious leaders are wondering:…
EU diplomats have been told by Sinn Féin that Europe must prepare for the reunification of Ireland – and that the EU must take the same encouraging attitude to Irish unity as it did to the reunification of Germany. “Our European partners must be energetic and proactive in advocating for Irish unity at every opportunity,”…
Fasting has been a part of the religious spiritual arsenal for thousands of years and not for no reason, writes Jason Osborne Prayer, almsgiving and fasting are the three pillars upon which a successful Lenten campaign is built, but today we’re going to focus on fasting. The necessity of prayer and almsgiving/charity is evident for all…
Bishop of Kilmore Martin Hayes said in a pastoral letter that initial synodal conversations have revealed a “crisis of faith” reflected in the level of participation in the liturgies. The diocese “must find new ways in which our faith can be expressed in life-giving liturgies that will engage people”, Dr Hayes said in his March…
Shannon Campbell The View It is not uncommon to hear people say, “I’m spiritual, not religious.” The reasons for the trend are many and varied, ranging from disillusionment with organised religion, to boredom – even laziness. According to one pre-coronavirus study, 69% of Irish people identify as Catholic, but only 34% go to church regularly.…
We are called to be more energised Christians with a stronger pastoral and missionary sense, writes David Quinn Most parishes are now holding meetings, or gatherings, to consider the future of the Church ahead of a Synod in Rome next year. In its own words, the purpose of that synod is “not to produce documents,…
An Irishwoman who advised Pope Francis on clerical abuse has warned that Vatican reforms could lead to the body losing independence. Marie Collins, who exposed abuse in Dublin Diocese and went on to serve the universal Church on the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, told The Irish Catholic she was concerned that the…
Chai Brady
Mary Kenny
Ruadhán Jones
David Quinn