Priests increasingly demoralised by uncommitted Catholics’ lack of appreciation for sacred – Bishop The sacredness of the liturgy is being eroded by people who don’t understand it and want to personalise it, and this is demoralising priests, according to Bishop Donal Roche, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin. Speaking to The Irish Catholic as a contributor…
Category: News
Government gives €2.3M to international abortion provider
The Department of Foreign Affairs has provided €2.3 million to the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) between 2019 and 2024, Minister for Foreign Affairs Neale Richmond has confirmed. Carol Nolan TD recently questioned Minister Richmond regarding the impact of Ireland’s abortion legislation since its legalisation in 2018. Ireland now aligns with the “European Union’s position…
TDs bash bill seeking removal of ‘God’ from judicial oath
A bill introduced last week which aims to change the Constitution and remove the oath to God judges must take has been criticised by TDs. It was introduced by Fine Gael’s Barry Ward TD of Dún Laoghaire and to fully pass would require a referendum. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Carol Nolan TD of Laois-Offaly…
Outreach push planned for PSNI Catholic recruits
The Catholic Police Guild of Northern Ireland are planning a new outreach push in schools before the end of the academic year to tackle the low numbers of Catholics joining the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The Catholic Guild has received funds under the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Reconciliation Fund for an outreach programme…
Ireland’s oldest woman had strong faith says family
Born on New Year’s Eve in 1915, at Sandy Row, Ruby Druce was 109 years and 80 days old and was Ireland’s oldest person before her death. Martin Harran, the husband of Ruby’s niece Carmel, with whom Ruby spent the final eight months of her life, told the The Irish Catholic that Ruby’s faith was…
600 students gather in Malahide to venerate Blessed Carlo Acutis
Over 600 schoolchildren and teenagers gathered at St Sylvester’s Parish, Malahide, for a grace-filled day honouring Bl. Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint set to be canonised on April 27. Mary-Aoife and Séamus Ong from Carlo Acutis Ireland shared moving testimonies about Carlo’s deep love for the Eucharist, inspiring young hearts to follow his example…
Young people not negative towards Church -Bishop Roche
“Most young people today don’t have a lot of negativity towards the Church , they might actually be more curious about what the Church is offering,” Bishop Donal Roche told The Irish Catholic. Bishop Roche is an auxiliary bishop in the Dublin Archdiocese and is charged with visiting the priests and laity of the parishes…
Come and See: fostering vocations amid a priest shortage
According to the Vatican’s Central Office of Church Statistics, the global Catholic population has grown from 1.39 billion to 1.4 billion. However, priest shortages persist in Europe, the Americas, and Oceania, despite vocational growth in Africa and Asia. Against this backdrop, Fr Willie Purcell, head of the National Vocations Office in Ireland, has observed increased…
New community centre to open in former parish church building
St Margaret’s Parish Hall in Finglas, which was purchased by Fingal County Council in 2023 and renovated, will reopen at the end of April as a community centre. The parish hall had been in the centre of the community life for decades and when plans of selling the hall were announced in 2022, the community…
Radio Maria appoints new Priest Director
Radio Maria Ireland appointed a new Priest Director this week. Fr Des Farren MSC is joining the Catholic radio station as it reaches its tenth anniversary. Fr Farren’s new role is to ensure the charism and identity of the radio station are upheld, evangelise and serve as the spiritual and institutional leader for both staff…