St John Henry Newman, patron saint of Newman Centres at secular universities and students, is celebrated on October 9, marking the day of his conversion from the Anglican to the Catholic Church. Newman University Church in Dublin recently commemorated his feast day on October 6 with two Masses. The first, at 11am, was led by…
Could there be straws in the wind of a mini-religious revival underway, not so much here in Ireland (yet), but in countries like the United States? Recent data seem to show that among young American men in particular there has been a small uptick in the numbers regularly attending church services. Some opinion polls can…
Co. Cavan received the relics of its native St Kilian and his companions St Kolonat and St Totnan last week. The relics came from Würzburg, Germany, where the saints lived and were killed over 1,300 years ago. The relics stayed in Ireland for four days, arriving on October 2 and returning to Germany on October…
Over one hundred people gathered for a one-day symposium entitled ‘Mission Now’ organised by the Association of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland (AMRI). The event hosted in Avila Retreat Centre in Dublin happened on October 4 and included the launch of the book Retired Missionaries and Faith in a Changing Society. The publication is the…
The new legal year commenced on October 7 with the traditional Michaelmas Law Term services held at St Michan’s Church, Halston Street, Dublin. The ceremony, attended by barristers, solicitors, and members of the judiciary, marks the beginning of the legal calendar, and offers prayers for those working within the justice system. Bishop Paul Dempsey celebrated…
Next week, on October 16, the British parliament will once again debate ‘assisted dying’, following a private member’s bill to be introduced by Kim Leadbeater. Ms Leadbeater is the younger sister of the murdered MP Jo Cox – who was killed by a right-wing extremist in 2016 – and stepped forward to succeed her sister…
Bishop of Cork and Ross Fintan Gavin in a new pastoral message has called for people in the diocese to commit to a year-long time of prayer, listening and discernment about the future of the Church. The bishop said people are understandably concerned about their parishes’ future when speaking to pilgrims attending the annual Mass at…
Speaking after the second anniversary of the Creeslough tragedy, where 10 people lost their lives after a sudden explosion occurred on the premises of a petrol station in Co. Donegal, Fr John Joe Duffy, hailed for his ministry to the community as parish priest at the time, said that people are now attempting to “come to…
Monasticism in Ireland AD 900-1250, by Edel Bhreathnach (Four Courts Press, €45 / £51.50) This volume arises from the Monastic Ireland project begun in 2011 and is a follow-up to Monastic Europe (Brepols, 2019), edited by the author. It provides an extremely wide-ranging overview of academic developments in the almost hundred years since John…
A primary school teacher based in Dublin who drew attention to the apparent removal of references to Christmas/Nollaig in the textbook Abair Liom for 5th class pupils, has described the change in language, which makes reference to ‘winter markets’ instead, as not something that teachers or parents have advocated for while others involved in Catholic…
David Quinn
Renata Steffens
Mary Kenny
Brandon Scott