The consecrated life is at the very heart of the Church as a decisive element for her mission.” (Vita Consecrata, 3). Consecrated life is a gift that has shaped Ireland for centuries. In monasteries, schools, hospitals, and among the poor, men and women have given themselves entirely to God. They are witnesses to a joy…

“Becoming profoundly deaf at the age of seven shaped my perspective and gave me a unique understanding of the challenges faced by the Deaf Community,” John Patrick Doherty, Chaplain for the Deaf Community in Munster told The Irish Catholic. Mr Doherty believes that was God’s way to prepare him to serve others with compassion and…

Relentless Ministry – In a new series written by Priests, we will explore what most priests describe as “Relentless Ministry” and the challenges of being a priest in Ireland today Listening to priests around the country – and reading what some have written – there is a discernible sense of the ‘end of an era’…

As an athlete, being second choice is never easy. But when the man ahead of you is often regarded as the greatest of all time, the challenge becomes both humbling and motivating. Now retired, thirty-five-year-old Barry Hennessy had spent nearly a decade as part of Limerick’s golden generation, a key member of one of the…

For our new series on priests and the challenges in their busy lives, Garry O’Sullivan sat down for an exclusive interview with Fr Ron Rolheiser speaking on this topic. Fr Rolheiser, could you speak a little bit about the state of priesthood, the challenges for priests these days? “Well, one of the big challenges is…

Society has lost touch with the importance of the family. In a world increasingly driven by individualism, the community once nurtured by family networks has faded, leaving behind a sense of “fragility and isolation,” explained Vincenzo Bassi speaking to The Irish Catholic. The president of the Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE) and…

  When thinking about the nationality of chaplains to foreign communities, it is usually assumed they are a native from that community’s country, however, this is not the case with the Brazilian Chaplaincy in Cork. Fr Bernard Morawski OFMCap is a Polish priest who worked with Spanish speakers for many years and today says Mass…

‘My two priest uncles were a great example of the Faith and priesthood,’ Gary Brennan tells Chai Brady Gary Brennan, Clare GAA stalwart and respected secondary school teacher, has warned that social media poses one of the greatest challenges to young people today. In a wide-ranging interview with The Irish Catholic, he shared how his…