Believers have been given the opportunity to find God “in the joy of discovery” and in the “elegance of the way that the Creator actually made this wonderful universe,” according to papal astronomer Bro. Guy Consolmagno SJ following NASA’s successful Osiris-Rex mission. NASA’s first-ever samples of an asteroid in deep space landed safely on Earth…
A prominent pro-life spokeswoman in Northern Ireland has struck a defiant tone as the date was confirmed for “Safe Access Zones” at abortion providers across Northern Ireland. The exclusion zones come into effect September 29 and apply to a number of hospitals and centres across the North, with the intention of deterring pro-life presence outside…
Bishop Michael Router has warned that men have “slowly but surely slipped out of the picture,” when it comes to promoting the Faith in Ireland. For so long, Bishop Router said, professing faith was left solely to the women of Ireland. “They have done a remarkable job, and we are indebted to the women in…
The failure to consult parents about new regulations on Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) in the North has caused “massive anger,” according to Baroness Nuala O’Loan writing in this week’s edition of The Irish Catholic. Noting that education is a devolved matter for the Assembly, the former Police Ombudsman writes that when a law was introduced…
A priest who has played a prominent role in peace-building efforts in the North has criticised as a “major oversight” the use of the phrase “both communities” in the announcement of the EU’s ‘Peace Plus’ funding. Fr Martin Magill of St John’s on Falls Road said that the €1bn peace fund came as a “relief”…
The Dominican Order in Ireland continues to see vocations’ success as it recently welcomed two new novices and saw the first profession of three new brothers. The Dominicans currently have 17 brothers in varying stages of formation with another man due to be ordained October 1. Speaking to The Irish Catholic newspaper, the order’s vocations…
Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin visited Lough Neagh as the largest freshwater lake in Ireland succumbs to toxic blue-green algae and as the Archbishops of Armagh issued a joint call for a Lough Neagh taskforce to tackle the issue. The algae is killing fish, birds and dogs, with concerns about public health arising too as…
Fr Stephen Ward is Derry’s newest priest following his ordination to the priesthood in Christ the King in Omagh, Co. Tyrone by Bishop McKeown, September 10. The eldest of two children, Fr Ward was born to Patricia and the late Paul Ward, of Killyclogher, Co Tyrone. In January, at Fr Ward’s ordination to the Diaconate…
Ireland’s ambassador to Poland, Patrick Haughey has described as “poignant” and “impressive” the ceremony over the weekend that saw the Polish Ulma family beatified after they were murdered at the hands of Nazi Germany for sheltering jews during World War Two. In an unprecedented move, Józef and Wiktoria Ulma along with their seven children, one…
One of Ireland’s foremost historians has been warmly remembered by many, with President Higgins leading the tributes to former Professor of History at University College Cork, Dermot Keogh. President Higgins described Prof. Keogh as “one of our finest historians,” bringing in particular a “valuable insight into the history of Ireland’s connection with South America”. The…