It is just standard for students to share houses/apartments with other students while in college, however, that’s not the only option. The Dominican Sisters, Cabra are providing an alternative to that, opening a house in Harold’s Cross to young women who would like to live in community with Sisters. Sr Eileen O’Connell and Sr Eilís…
Category: Feature
Crossmaglen’s guardian: From oppression to glory
Growing up in Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh during the turbulent 1980s, Paul Hearty’s world was shaped by more than just Gaelic football. The shadow of the Troubles loomed large, with the border town finding itself at the very centre of the sectarian conflict. The colossal British army barracks also cast a dark cloud over the very…
‘What we were doing was right’
Msgr Raymond Murray had an uphill battle exposing human rights abuses, writes Martin O’Brien This in depth interview with Fr Raymond Murray was first published on November 14, 2013. It is being republished following the death of Fr Murray on February 25, 2025. “It was all about breaking the wall of silence,” explains Armagh priest…
What does it mean to be a priest in today’s world?
Fr Joe Mullen I once heard an amusing description of the three stages of priestly ministry. Seemingly it begins at ordination with a big head, continues in middle years with a big belly and concludes when the Lord calls one home with a big funeral! As so often with the dig of gentle humour,…
‘Carlo Acutis, I am in your hands’: Catholic paediatrician recovers from cancer
Diego Lopez Marina – ACI PRENSA With a radiant smile, paediatric physician María Dolores Rosique, known as ‘Lola’, to family and friends, recounted her testimony of healing after overcoming aggressive abdominal cancer. She believes her recovery began after visiting the tomb of Blessed Carlo Acutis in Assisi, Italy, placing herself completely under his care.…
The Irish Synod must ask harder questions to secure the Church’s future
The National Synodal Team has released a list of themes and resources for proposed Spring Gatherings at local level nationally. Revisiting the generalised themes that emerged from the parish focus group stages of the Universal Synod in Ireland is useful, but three years after initial focus groups identified broad themes for discussion, the upcoming Synod…
Diary of a parish Pastor Notes in haste – February 2025
Re-instating St Valentine? St Valentines Day was a hard day for me this year. It was a Friday, remember, an ‘ordinary’ weekday. And in my rural parish, weekday Masses are not big hits: usually it’s the sacristan and me and one or two others who concelebrate the liturgy. This means that strange feasts like that of…
Graeme Mulcahy: Guided by faith, family and perseverance
An ever-present in the emerald green of Limerick for sixteen seasons Graeme Mulcahy has seen it all. From the doldrums of the hurling strike in 2010 to the glory of the four in a row, the thirty-four-year-old Kilmallock native has etched his name as one of the all-time Limerick greats. Having retired shortly after the…
People need priests more than ever before
When I was asked to contribute to The Irish Catholic series of articles on exploring the challenges of being a priest in Ireland today, I was a bit hesitant as I have never done anything like that before. Then I thought to myself after 43 years in ministry I surely have something to say from…
Faith is on the menu at busy Belfast university chaplaincy
Fr Gerry Clarke SJ introduces Joanne Savage to members of the UU Belfast Chaplaincy lunch where students of all faiths and none find spiritual sustenance Best known for his directorship role at the Belfast Jesuit Centre, Fr Gerry Clarke is also a half-time chaplain at the University of Ulster’s bespoke new Belfast campus, his role…