A group of Derry pilgrims have celebrated the Year of Faith with a pilgrimage to Iona, Scotland, to celebrate the 1450th anniversary of St Columba’s departure from their home city. Led by Fr Roland Colhoun and Fr Paddy O’Kane, the pilgrims retraced St Columba’s footsteps on the island he had made his home for…
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Sixmilebridge/Kilmurry parish gatherings
Since 2007 the Sixmilebridge/Kilmurry Parish Area have been hosting gatherings in each corner of the parish for friends and neighbours to meet and celebrate the Eucharist. Each house in the parish got a special invitation to become part of the initiative and the gatherings are held during the summer months beginning on May Eve each…
International news briefs
Syria Day of prayer The September 7 day of prayer for peace in Syria, called by Pope Francis, was matched by the Sunni Muslim community in the war-torn country. Ahead of the worldwide event, the Grand Mufti of Syria, Ahmad Badreddin Hassou, publicly welcomed the Pope’s appeal as “good and for the good of humanity”…
The confidence of priesthood
Dear Editor, Over the past few years and especially during the ordination ‘season’ of June/July, you have covered the phenomenon which can only be described as a sort of clericalism (in the best sense of the word). By that your pictures show the newly ordained in full cottas, amices and bright gold Roman vestments; heightened…
Questions for Bishop Smith
Dear Editor, I can’t help but wonder what Bishop Smith, Fr Patrick Mulcahy and the rest of the ‘ban the eulogy and all traces of humanity from funerals’ wing of the Catholic Church made of the carry-on at the funeral of the late, great Seamus Heaney. There you had piper Liam O’Flynn celebrating with Port…
Vatican News
Pope to visit Assisi Pope Francis will visit Assisi, the birthplace of St Francis this October 4, the saintís feast day. Following a meeting with ill and disabled children, the Pontiff follows a busy itinerary, moving to pray at the shrine of San Damiano and afterwards paying a visit to the Basilica of St Francis…
Pope sets scene for Vatican reform
Pope Francis hosted a key meeting with the heads of all Vatican departments on Tuesday in anticipation of expected Vatican reforms. A committee of senior cardinals – who the Pope has picked to advise him on reform of the Church’s central governance – is due to meet in Rome early next month. The so-called…
Gay marriage impacts on religious freedom
The fight between religious rights and gay rights that started at state ballot boxes and in courtrooms has moved to floral shops, bakeries and photo studios. As churches are concerned about the potential of facing lawsuits, some are changing their bylaws to explicitly reflect their views on traditional man-woman marriage. A bakery in…
Fr Rolheiser and atheists
Dear Editor, Fr Rolheiser’s weekly column is always enlightening, but is he correct in saying recently (IC 05/09/2013) that atheists who criticise the Catholic Church “…do us a huge favour,” since they offer us a chance to hear the truth about ourselves? In fact, generally speaking, atheists who criticise the Catholic Church hate it…
Boycott call for media abortion bias
Dear Editor, The time has finally come to take a stand and organise a concerted campaign to boycott the ‘likes’ of The Irish Times and The Sunday Times due to their anti-Catholic editorial bias, journalistic imbalance, and their very obvious pro-abortion stance. The impetus for such a strategy could come from the various pro-life groups.…