Regular Mass going protects against feelings of loneliness and suicidal thoughts a new Irish study has revealed, with weekly attendence being better than monthly. The Trinity College Dublin (TCD) study found there are increasing rates of both loneliness and suicidal thoughts among older adults in Ireland, but that attending Mass can “protect against these negative…
Pope Francis arrived in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Tuesday, kicking off the longest and farthest trip of his tenure to the Asia Pacific region. He is expected to highlight environmental concerns and the importance of interfaith dialogue during the 12 day trip, which will also see him travel to Papua New Guinea, Singapore and Timor-Leste –…
St Baithin’s Church in St Johnston, Donegal, originally built in the 1850s was the target of an arson attack last Wednesday which saw its sacristy “totally blackened with soot”. But despite the shocking attack, which resulted in a man being charged last Thursday, Pastor Emeritus of the parish, Monsignor Dan Carr allayed fears and said…
After six years with no entrant for the priesthood, Clogher Diocese welcomes its first seminarian. He is a former teacher in his 20s, and is entering the propaedeutic year this month. Gary Carville, Clogher Diocesan Communications Officer said this is the answering to all the prayers and hopes “that others will continue to answer the…
Perhaps this is the kind of conversation that must often take place in private. Recently, a friend reflectively aired this thought, “with so much contraception now available, one must wonder why Irish abortion figures continued to rise.” There were 10,033 abortions in the Irish Republic in 2023, increased from 8,156 in 2022 and 6,577 in…
Communications Officer for The Diocese of Down and Connor Fr Eddie McGee has described the vocation success of the diocese, with 6 seminarians poised to enter the national seminary in Maynooth this September, as being the product of years of work, work invested by the diocese but also supplemented by “the calling of God”. Speaking…
The Irish Catholic Autumn Legacy Supplement 2024 Professor Nick Maynard is a consultant gastrointestinal surgeon at Oxford University Hospital in England who has been visiting Gaza regularly since 2010. Working with Trócaire’s partner organisation Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), Prof. Maynard has travelled to Gaza three times since the latest devastating war began last October, putting himself at great personal risk…
Singer Morrissey has sent a letter to Pope Francis asking him “to condemn the sinful spectacle of bullfighting”. The former frontman of The Smiths, who lent his support to Notre Dame Cathedral after it was damaged following a fire and has famously championed animal rights, sent an open letter addressed to the head of the…
From time to time, in my capacity as head of The Iona Institute, I commission an opinion poll on some topic or another. When I do so, I am always aware that asking questions in a certain way is more likely to result in a certain outcome. That is why I often base the questions…
On September 3, the relics of St Bernadette were entrusted to Bishop Kevin Doran to bring home to Ireland, who was leading a pilgrimage to Lourdes with the Diocese of Elphin. This marks the first visit of St Bernadette’s relics to Ireland. The Elphin pilgrims brought these relics to Ireland, beginning a journey around the…
Chai Brady
Brandon Scott
Renata Steffens
Mary Kenny
David Quinn