Youth Space Colm Fitzpatrick reports from a conference for Catholic young adults In 1 Peter 3:5, all Christians are taught, “Whenever anyone asks of you to speak of your hope, be ready to defend it”. This was the key theme at a recent Catholic apologetics conference in Belfast which celebrated both faith and reason.…
Colm Fitzpatrick speaks with missionaries about their impact in South Sudan In a place of despair, starvation and even death, Irish missionaries have begun to bring hope back into the down-trodden lives of thousands. South Sudan remains one of the world’s poorest countries, and continues to be ravaged by violence, illness and extreme poverty which…
Although schools are all too often associated with academic and sporting achievement, a new school-based Irish initiative is beginning to place mental well-being and health on the radar. Buddy Bench Ireland is a child-led positive mental health programme in a schooling environment that promotes emotional resilience and mental wellbeing, through supporting the core competencies of…
I grew up in Co. Armagh – one of nine children: eight boys and a girl, which as anyone can imagine placed serious financial pressure on my parents growing up. This was especially true as I come from a working-class background and grew up on a council estate marked by all challenges you would expect…
In spite of his surname, Columban Fr Tomás King, has lived a life far removed from social prestige and wealth, spending the past 25 years away from his Irish home, in a country which suffers from internal political disputes, severe poverty and ongoing violence. His journey from working with the Traveller community in Galway to…
As the most recent census indicates, the number of young people today attending Church is in serious decline. Although many still identify as “spiritual”, the Church and its message is one that has been rejected by much of the youth in Ireland. There are, however, various ways in which young people can be drawn back…
UTV presenter Paul Clark has taken to social media to reject claims that children with Down Syndrome lead unhappy lives. The remark comes after a Twitter user said: “It’s unfathomable how anyone would want to put a soul through life suffering with Down’s. Religious driven madness.” The television presenter, who has a deep Christian faith…
The African Chaplaincy in Dublin, which provides support for African communities in Ireland, will be celebrating their 10-year anniversary this weekend. The Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin will be the chief celebrant at a Mass where he will be joined by over five hundred members of the African congregation and several other members of…
EXCLUSIVE There will be just six first year seminarians at the national seminary when classes resume later this month, according to figures obtained by The Irish Catholic. It is thought to be the lowest number on record in Maynooth’s 222 year history. While returns from 25 of the country’s 26 dioceses show that 15 men…
Over 1,000 young Catholics from across the island of Ireland came together in the Cistercian College, Roscrea at the weekend – not to study – but to celebrate their faith at the annual Youth 2000 Summer Festival. Youth 2000 is a Catholic youth organisation that organises lively faith festivals, retreats, prayer groups and other events…