Watching the ceremonies from Notre Dame, whether in the congregation or on television (where the view was better), for the occasion of the rededication of the great cathedral, many must have had their attention caught over the two days by the vestments worn by the participating clergy. These certainly struck a very different and new…
Bishop of Killaloe Fintan Monahan is looking forward to the Jubilee 2025. “The whole Year of Hope gives me a great sense of joy and happiness. It is a wonderful theme to have and to develop with,” he said. The Diocese of Killaloe is trying to identify pilgrimage sites around the diocese and “encouraging pilgrims…
Two Catholic education stalwarts have called the Catholic Religious Education Certificate “necessary” and “not a barrier” after a recently published RTE article asked whether or not the certificate was a barrier to diversity in teaching while outlining the experiences of a Muslim trainee primary school teacher who did not take it as she doesn’t want…
Garry O’Sullivan & Brandon Scott Dioceses are increasingly turning to shared funeral ministry as a consequence of priest shortages, with plans to develop the collaborative ministry at various stages of development in a number of dioceses. The Archdiocese of Dublin is very much ahead of other dioceses in terms of funeral ministry says Patricia Carroll,…
Luca Attanasio speaks with the theologian and lecturer “The Church is a woman,’ Pope Francis had said exactly one year ago in his audience to members of the International Theological Commission. “And one of the great sins we have had,” he had added, “is ‘masculinising’ the Church. In a concrete attempt to reduce the prevailing…
Catholic school leaders have praised the enormous work and generosity of school children and staff who throughout the country have been raising tens of thousands of Euro for those in need at Christmas. “Across the country, in schools large and small, pupils and staff are actively engaged in fundraising for those less fortunate. The type…
Newly elected politicians must have a “sincere commitment” to serving the common good and a “prioritisation of the needs of the most vulnerable”, according to the Archbishop of Dublin. After the formation of the 34th Dáil, Archbishop Dermot Farrell called on parishes to pray for politicians. Archbishop Farrell said that in current times “wise” governance…
In the midst of war, the Holy Land’s Christians are struggling to remain united, writes Michael Kelly It was not in splendour and worldly power that God came to Earth, but in the humility of a defenceless baby born in the manger of Bethlehem. No wonder the strong and the powerful are so perplexed by…
Ann Marie Foley Portlaoise is growing as a commuter town and in diversity, and the parish is something of a ‘United Nations’ of priests and religious from Brazil, China, Romania, Indonesia and India serving with PP Msgr John Byrne, PPVG and a local Deacon Eugene Keyes. “When I came here (in 2000) I was one…
When a woman decides to become a nun, they leave behind old traditions and practices and open themselves for a new life with their religious order, which becomes their new family. That include Christmas traditions. As every family has their own Christmas customs, with the nuns that is not different. The Irish Catholic talked to…
Peter Costello
Renata Steffens
Brandon Scott
Chai Brady
Michael Kelly