Migrants at sea should never be denied aid – Pope Francis
Addressing the faithful gathered in St Peter’s Square for the recitation of the Regina Coeli prayer last Sunday, Pope Francis turned his thoughts to the tragic loss of lives, once again, in the Mediterranean sea. We ought to be ashamed, said the Pope, remembering the 130 victims who died in the shipwreck off the coast of […]
Bishop Cullinan welcomes Pope Francis’ message for Vocations Sunday 2021
The 2021 World Day of Prayer for Vocations will be celebrated this Sunday, 25 April. Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan, chair of the Bishops’ Council for Vocations, has welcomed Pope Francis’ message on the theme ‘Saint Joseph: The Dream of Vocation’. He said, “It was a joy to read Pope Francis’ Message for the World Day of […]
Official prayer and hashtag launched for the 10th World Meeting of Families
The Diocese of Rome and the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life have today launched the official prayer for the 10th World Meeting of Families to be held in Rome from 22 to 26 June 2022. The official hashtag has also been launched today as #WMOF2022. The prayer, composed for the 10th World Meeting of […]
Maynooth to consider the challenges facing the future of Christian thinking
Next Thursday, 29 April 2021, Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth will host a virtual conference on ‘The Future of Christian Metaphysics’. What might the future of Christian thinking represent? If we start from today, perhaps now, more than ever before, it is clear that Christian thought faces unprecedented challenges. These range from a denial of metaphysics, […]
Pope Francis urges Catholics to Pray in May for an end to the Covid-19 pandemic
Catholics across the globe are encouraged to dedicate the Marian month of May to praying for an end to the pandemic. The initiative, behind which the Pope has thrown his support, involves 30 Marian Shrines from various parts of the world. The Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization announced the news with a press […]
Bishop Leahy announces July return for Communions and Confirmations in Limerick
Bishop of Limerick Brendan Leahy has announced that, subject to COVID-19 guidelines, First Holy Communions and Confirmations across the diocese will be celebrated from 1 July onwards. While the dates for both will be made on a parish-by-parish level, Bishop Leahy said that all the indications now at a national level indicate that arrangements can […]
Pope announces theme for first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
Sunday 25 July will see the celebration of the first World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. The Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life has today announced the theme chosen by Pope Francis for this year’s celebration, which is ‘I am with you always’ (Mt 28:20). This theme has been chosen as a way […]
Attack on Jewish graves ‘shocking’ – Bishop Treanor
Bishop Noel Treanor has condemned the recent attacks on Jewish graves in Belfast’s City Cemetery. The Bishop of Down & Connor extended his heartfelt support to both the families involved and the wider Belfast Jewish community. Bishop Treanor said, “These senseless acts of vandalism violate the sanctuary of the cemetery and they display a total […]
New Maynooth College publication delves into the big faith questions of the pandemic
A new publication by Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, which reflects on COVID-19: New Realities in Uncertain Times, seeks to map out the Church of the future. The book’s content offers a variety of reflections, preceded with a foreword by Archbishop Eamon Martin, and these include perspectives from theology, scripture, philosophy, ethics, liturgy, pastoral, and canon […]
Peace, protection of family life needed to combat parental alienation – Bishop Michael Router
Bishop Michael Router has encouraged parents not to distance children from the other parent in situations when marriage or relationships end, stressing that it is “a particular form of domestic abuse that manifests itself in more subtle ways than physical or sexual violence.” The Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh made this appeal during his homily at […]