Two members of a group dedicated to the promotion of the cause of Blessed Carlo Acutis, an Italian teen renowned for his deep faith who died after a terminal cancer diagnosis in 2006, say they’re “happy out” after last week’s Vatican announcement to canonise the “Millennial Saint” this April and that they’ve witnessed an “explosion”…
Nigerian governor hails Irish missionaries’ contribution to Nigeria
Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, has commended Irish priests and missionaries for their dedicated efforts and sacrifices in bringing the gospel to Nigeria. Governor Soludo recently received the Papal Nuncio to Nigeria, Archbishop Michael Crotty, on a courtesy visit to the Governor’s Lodge in Amawbia, Awka, the capital of Anambra State. The governor…
Blessed Carlo connects with young and old in Kerry
The relics of the soon-to-be saint Carlo Acutis have recently visited Tralee, Co. Kerry. Large crowds descended to the Holy Cross Dominican Church and St Vincent’s Church, Ballyferriter – Gaeltacht Parish – in Tralee over the weekend to venerate the relics of the first Millennial Blessed Carlo Acutis (1991-2006) which are visiting from Assisi in Italy in…
Labour must clarify what it wants to replace religious instruction with
The Labour Party’s proposal to move religious instruction outside of daily teaching hours in schools in the party’s recent election manifesto has prompted a senior figure in Catholic education to question what sort of alternative to religious instruction they would introduce and this is something that they haven’t addressed yet according to the CEO of…
Book on holy Irish men and women seeks to ‘renew’ and ‘inspire’
Ahead of the launch of the book ‘The Rock from Which You Were Hewn: The Lives and Legacy of Holy Irish Men and Women’, co-author Fr John Hogan OCDS, said his hope is that the publication “inspires” and “renews” Catholics in the country by exploring the rich legacy of holy Irish men and women over…
Healthcare chaplain: Add assisted suicide and euthanasia to election agenda
A healthcare chaplain has said that the “concern, worry, and anxiety” around the issue of assisted suicide and euthanasia after the Dáil’s recent vote to acknowledge a report that calls on the Government to legalise assisted dying in certain restricted circumstances, demands inclusion as an item on the election agenda. Speaking to The Irish Catholic,…
Increase in enquiries to diocesan priesthood gives ‘hope’ for future
Speaking ahead of the ‘Come and See’ retreat this weekend in St Patrick’s College Maynooth, an event organised for men exploring a vocation and reflecting “more deeply on a call” to diocesan priesthood, the National Diocesan Vocations Coordinator for the Irish Episcopal Conference said that the rise in the number of enquiries discerning a vocation…
Cost of living and housing to the fore as politicians start knocking
Politicians have reported that the main issues emerging at the doors of houses across the country as they canvass their way around country lanes and sprawling estates primarily concern the “incredible” cost of living and the lack of housing, issues that are contributing to an “overwhelming sense that the Government has lost control of everything”.…
Diocese of Down and Connor contributes to abuse redress scheme
The First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland confirmed last Tuesday that a contribution has been received from the Diocese of Down and Connor towards the Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) Redress Scheme. This payment, which follows a contribution from the De La Salle Order in September, relates specifically to homes managed jointly with…
The constant conflict of ideas
When Donald Trump was first elected President of the USA, I wrote that I had a feeling of dread. This time I have that same feeling, but it is mixed with curiosity – Trump is so unpredictable that anything could happen, from World War 3 to World peace. Worrying and intriguing times ahead! A few…