Knock Shrine’s Mass of Remembrance “went down extremely well”, according to Fr Richard Gibbons, Rector of Knock Shrine, citing a “fantastic response” to the event. “We’d a fantastic response to it, actually, because it just struck a chord with people in terms of even the visual effect of seeing all those candles for each one…
Dairy farmers rally to raise €200,000 for Yemen
Longford-based dairy farmer Mike Magan has expressed his gratitude to his fellow farmers after raising just under €200,000 for people suffering in Yemen. “It’s now close to €200,000. All of the co-ops got involved and they have collected, by one means or another, the equivalent of €10 from every one of 16,000 dairy farmers. Some…
Guiding a parish through winter’s darkness
Personal Profile Recognised around the world for his extensive cycling around the parish, with pictures of his travels reaching America and Australia, parish priest of Headford, Fr Ray Flaherty has made every effort to remain connected despite the unusual year everyone has faced. “People are hugely important. The connection with people – I think that’s…
Argentina president presents bill to decriminalise abortion
Argentine President Alberto Fernández sent a bill to Congress to decriminalise abortion, despite Catholic objections. In anticipation of the abortion bill being proposed, Argentina’s bishops blasted the president’s plans for decriminalisation as “untenable and inappropriate” – both on ethical grounds and the timing during a pandemic. President Fernández presented the bill November 17 and said…
Eamon Ryan expresses support for churches reopening for Mass in December
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said he believes churches should be reopened once Level 5 restrictions lift on December 1. He expressed the belief that “controlled environments” should be allowed to reopen, arguing that gyms, shops and golf courses should be opened again come December 1 alongside churches. This morning on Newstalk Breakfast, Minister Ryan said,…
Cavan priest threatened with prosecution following public Masses
The Anglo-Celt has reported that a Cavan-based priest was threatened with prosecution after gardaí attended his church last Sunday to check compliance with Covid-19 regulations. While the country remains under Level 5 restrictions, public Masses remain suspended, with the exception of six for a wedding and 25 for a funeral Mass. A priest in Cork was…
Senator Mullen criticises Seanad Bill on ‘Hate Crimes’
Senator Mullen has voiced opposition to legislation that has come before the Seanad, viewing it as being full of errors and “dangerous to the legitimate freedom of human expression”. The Criminal Justice (Hate Crime) Bill 2020, was initiated on November 6, and seeks to provide that a court may impose the maximum penalty for offences…
QUB Catholic chaplaincy partners with L’Arche
The Catholic chaplaincy at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) has partnered with L’Arche Belfast to provide them with shelter and space for their activities over the winter months. L’Arche Belfast is part of a worldwide organisation which seeks to provide support for those with intellectual disabilities. With the arrival of Covid-19 in Ireland in March and…
NET Missionaries sent forth despite constant ‘battles’
NET Ministries Ireland has finished six weeks of training and has sent their five teams off to their local areas despite a “battle” due to Covid-19, NET Ministries Ireland Director Tony Foy has told The Irish Catholic. Following a day of celebration of their commissioning, Mr Foy said, “The day was great. It was very,…
Christians again top list of faiths facing hostility worldwide
Christians top the list for countries where they face either governmental or social hostility, according to a new report issued November 10 by the Pew Research Center. Christians have topped the list each year since Pew started collecting data in 2007. The number of countries where Christians face some form of hostility rose from 143…