The pastoral centre of Christ the King Cathedral in Loikaw, Myanmar, was bombed on November 26 and occupied by the Burmese military the next day, according to reporting by Agenzia Fides, the news arm of Pontifical Mission Societies. Though no one was killed in the bombing, the pastoral centre’s ceiling collapsed and Bishop Celso Ba Shwe…
Dear Editor, Thank you for highlighting calls for Cardinal John Henry Newman to be made a Doctor of the Church [The Irish Catholic – November 23, 2023]. Cardinal Newman’s profound impact on both the Church and society, particularly in Ireland, makes him a deserving candidate for this rare ecclesiastical honour. Cardinal Newman, who was canonised…
Last week I finished on a somewhat positive note with the release of child hostages in the Holy Land. However, the positivity was short lived – it was abhorrent to see the end of the ‘humanitarian pause’. Now it’s more like humanity itself being on pause. Once again, the news programmes last weekend featured images…
The Irish Dominicans will celebrate 800 years in Dublin next year. Just three years after the death of St Dominic, they arrived in 1224 and were given land by the monks of St Mary’s Abbey on which to found their church and priory. That land was at the precise location of the present day Four…
This time of the year is for booksellers at least the busiest time for children’s books. Books always make an acceptable present. But for those buying them, mostly parents and grandparents, some care has to be taken. Don’t get carried away by the title hypes in the press or prominently displayed in bookshop windows (that…
Deacon Greg Kandra Is 40:1-5, 9-11 Ps 85:9-10-11-12, 13-14 2 Pt 3:8-14 Mk 1:1-8 If nothing else, Advent should remind us of this inconvenient truth: We are people in a hurry. The other day, I was leaving Walmart and noticed a tent set up in the parking lot. I looked closer. They had drones…
I have a theory. Endeavour is based on the same premise as Doc Martin. You probably think that sounds ridiculous but think about it. Both series feature introverted eccentrics who come up with elaborate solutions to complex problems. In one case they’re medical, in the other criminal. I recently bought box sets of both on…
Warsaw (KNA): For the first time, the Polish parliament will not only invite catholic clergy to its Christmas celebrations this year. Protestant and Orthodox clergy will also receive an invitation to the traditional celebration this time, the president of the Sejm lower house of parliament, Szymon Holownia, said in Warsaw. If there are to be…
Brendan O’Regan
Peter Costello
Aubrey Malone