The Ukrainian Catholic community is hoping and praying for peace and justice amid the long-awaited spring counteroffensive in the ongoing war according to the chaplain to Ukrainians in Ireland, Fr Vasyl Kornitsky. “We still pray for hope, for peace in Ukraine,” Fr Kornitsky told The Irish Catholic. “What I noticed recently is that people are…
Fr Solanus Casey, a Capuchin Franciscan, moved closer to recognised sainthood with his beatification November 18, 2017, in Detroit, Michigan. Declared venerable in 1995, Fr Solanus (1870-1957) and his cause for canonisation remain important to many US Catholics. A soft-spoken Capuchin priest and son of Irish immigrants, he is one of the currently few native-born…
There has been a considerable increase in the cost of maintaining a basic living across all household types, according to the Society of St Vincent de Paul. In a new report, SVP says the cost of what is known as a Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) has revealed a significant increase in the twelve…
Irish bishops have warned that “extremist views” causing fear and racism towards refugees undermine Ireland’s culture of welcome, and the State should dialogue with local communities. In a statement on World Refugee Day, June 19, the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference encouraged parishes and churches to continue the “great efforts to support our new residents with…
This is the time of year – the summer solstice – when we usually see various homages to pagan Celtic Ireland, with druidic figures revering the turning of the seasons on the longest day. The remarkable Newgrange tomb – 5,200 years old – in the Boyne Valley becomes a focus for marking the solstice event.…
This mysterious, yet illuminating, figure of the early Church is heralded for two reasons: his writings in defence of what would come to be established Church teachings and his martyrdom. Strangely, we know much more about his writings than we do about his martyrdom – about which we know next to nothing, other than that…
We should read with concern last week’s National Safeguarding report. Aside from the rise in the number of allegations of abuse reported, the safeguarding body makes two references, small but significant, to children’s ministries. Twice the report states that, while 2022-23 saw the return of some children’s ministry, “in some places, this has been slow”.…
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that while in his view abortion is “sometimes necessary,” it is “not a good thing” and would like to see fewer abortions take place in Ireland. In a recent interview with The Irish Times, Mr Varadkar was asked about the independent review of the State’s abortion law, which recommended a…
The Irish Government is radicalising how sex education is taught to the country’s pupils bit by bit, but not even it has yet been as bold as Chris Heaton-Harris, the Northern Ireland Secretary, who has issued an order that all secondary schools in the North must teach pupils how to access abortion. This includes pupils…
Christian vision of the good life includes the reality of suffering, making it central to our flourishing; if we want to live a good life, we must follow Christ’s example and take up our cross. Perhaps surprisingly, a film from a culture (Japan) largely unfamiliar with Christianity offers a beautiful example of this truth of…
Mary Kenny
Ruadhán Jones
David Quinn