The European Union has become too focused on narrow economic goals, writes Ben Ryan I’ve finally found common ground with British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. I can finally come out in public as someone who also likes to think of the EU as a “teleological construction”. Of course, Johnson is learning, as I’ve long experienced,…
Episode 2 of the new series The Irish Catholic Podcast has been released, with an honest and engaging discussion about dynamic Catholic youth ministry in Ireland today. Claire Devaney is the Primary School Coordinator with Scripture Union Ireland. She spoke with John Quinn about the Dynamite Confirmation programme she has developed, what she sees as the…
Donal Harrington joins John Quinn for the very first episode of The Irish Catholic Podcast. This new podcast series looks at practical ways of revitalising Catholic parishes in Ireland today. Donal and John discuss what exactly makes a parish welcoming and hospitable; how parishes can engage with young families; and how Parish Pastoral Councils can…
The Church must do everything possible to support women facing crisis pregnancies, the new Bishop of Galway has said. Dr Brendan Kelly told The Irish Catholic that Church and society need to “support them in every way that we possibly can if there’s a child on the way” pointing out that people must be unafraid…
Young couples hoping to tie the knot may get some reprieve from wedding costs as parish halls are encouraged to open for evening receptions. It comes as new research suggests that some couples are just too poor to get married. Bishop Denis Nulty – head of the Church’s marriage agency Accord – told The Irish…
Over one million Trócaire boxes will be delivered to homes and schools across Ireland this week in order to raise funds for vulnerable people globally. The charity’s Lenten campaign is Ireland’s largest fundraiser and saw €8.5m donated last year. This year’s campaign focuses upon the Koroma family in Freetown, Sierra Leone, who were affected by…
Many Catholics feel they have to keep their heads down because their faith attracts criticism from the dominant culture, the Papal Nuncio has warned. Archbishop Jude Okolo told a gathering in Galway in the weekend that it was also disappointing that the media tends to focus on negativity – particularly when it comes to reporting…
Fr Dermot Meehan has been elected Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Achonry, following last Sunday’s installation of Bishop Brendan Kelly as the new Bishop of Galway, Kilfenora and Kilmacduagh. Fr Meehan, who will continue in his ministry as parish Priest of Swinford, Co. Mayo, will now be responsible for the day-to-day running of the diocese and will represent it at plenary meetings of the Irish Episcopal Conference in Maynooth. The Diocese of Achonry, which includes parts of counties Mayo, Roscommon, and Sligo, has a Catholic population of 34,826 and 30 active priests, consists of 23 parishes and 48 churches
Pope Francis’ marriage exhortation is a rich source of advice for families, writes Julie Kavanagh In the coming weeks, many parishes across the country and beyond will begin to host a series of parish conversations as part of their preparations for the World Meeting of Families 2018. This series will give anybody who wants to…
Monkey see, monkey do. Small children are shaped, more than anything, by example. As life underwent a metamorphosis with the arrival of children, many old habits and hobbies had to go by the wayside. Playing guitar was of the few things that survived into this chaotic new epoch. I found I could continue to play,…
Greg Daly
Chai Brady
Colm Fitzpatrick
Rory Fitzgerald