With just 19 weeks to go to the opening of the International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin a visit from Pope Benedict XVI seems increasingly unlikely. Well, at least to the Republic. But, the Pope could still make a visit to the North as part of a carefully choreographed sequence aimed at demonstrating just how…
Tyrone man devotes himself to pilgrimage As Catholics there are many ways that we can show devotion to our faith. Regular attendance at Mass and perhaps voluntary work in our dioceses are ways that spring to mind immediately. Then there are pilgrimages. Year after year Irish people flock to significant religious destinations on the…
Dublin’s Capuchin Day Centre is working to meet increasing needs, writes Paul Keenan Mid-way through his interview at the Capuchin Day Centre, gardai come for Bro. Kevin Crowley. The interruption and feigned admissions of guilt become a moment of levity in an otherwise serious dealing with the ongoing work of — and need for…
Wexford parish concludes year of service The faith community of St Martin, Piercestown and St Catherine, Murrintown in Co. Wexford came together last weekend to mark the conclusion of a successful Year of Celebrating Service. The idea for the special year came from the joint pastoral council formed in 2009 who were looking at ways…
Vatican may face huge tax bill The head of the Italian bishops’ conference has signalled the Vatican may be willing to examine tax obligations amid new austerity measures in Italy. As world media reported a growing campaign within the country’s parliament towards seeking taxation on the Vatican’s extensive property portfolio, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco indicated…
Letter from Australia: The Battler of Ballarat George Weigel hails the ministry of Cardinal George Pell In the Baltimore of the 1960s, my canny pastor devised a neat scheme for getting ‘Father Visitor’ (as the confessional doors read) to fill in during the summer for his vacationing curates: bring over newly-ordained Australians from their…
Is St Nicholas buried in Ireland, asks Tom Prenderville St Nicholas of Myra was the Bishop of Lycia in modern day Turkey. Renowned for his extraordinary generosity, in his lifetime he was venerated as a living saint. However, during the Saracen (Muslim) revolt which began in 1087, Eastern Christendom came under increasing attack.…
Across the country, participants at this year’s World Youth Day (WYD) have reunited to celebrate Christmas together with lively, youth-centred liturgies. About 500 people attended a youth Mass in St Michael’s Church, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, organised by Clogher Don Oige, the diocesan youth ministry group. ”Following an evaluation after WYD, the young pilgrims wanted…
Prime Minister David Cameron’s King James Bible speech Edited for length. Full length speech on www.irishcatholic.ie ‘It’s great to be here and to have this opportunity to come together today to mark the end of this very special 400th anniversary year for the King James Bible. The Bible is a book that has not just…
Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s speech against the Vatican set the scene for low media standards, writes Fr Andrew McMahon It was ironic to hear Taoiseach Enda Kenny lament, a couple of weeks ago, ”a grievous loss of standards” at RTÉ, given that the backdrop for his comments was a controversy around alleged child abuse by Catholic…
Mags Gargan