Pope Francis writes to former Presbyterian Moderator Norman Hamilton
Pope Francis has written a personal letter of thanks to former Presbyterian Moderator Norman Hamilton after reading an article on the Holy Father’s Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti which was published in The Irish News. The unique papal seal of approval comes after Dr Hamilton wrote about the Pope’s latest encyclical in the paper’s Faith Matters section. […]
Dublin’s Capuchin Day Centre brings hope amid pandemic
A long queue of people forms outside the Capuchin Day Centre, which has, for over 40 years been welcoming and assisting the homeless and needy of Dublin. It’s lunchtime, and volunteers are giving out meals from a window under the shelter of a new canape which has been put up to protect people from the […]
We are an Easter people: our faith in the Risen Lord remains undimmed – Bishop Francis Duffy
In his message for Easter 2021, Bishop Francis Duffy, Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, recalls a year of the Covid-19 pandemic in which we have witnessed the wonderful courage, sacrifice and kindness of so many people. Bishop Duffy said, “We have also seen suffering in a variety of different ways, front line workers exhausted and those […]
Pope Francis at Easter Urbi et Orbi: ‘Risen Christ is hope that does not disappoint’
Throughout the world, the Church proclaims the joyous news that “Jesus, who was crucified, has risen as He said. Alleluia!”, Pope Francis said at the start of his Easter message broadcast live around the world. He delivered his Urbi et Orbi message inside St. Peter’s Basilica, just like last year, due to coronavirus safety measures. He […]
Easter Joy from the Cathedrals City
An evening of music and reflection will be presented from St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh on Easter Sunday Sunday, 4 April. The event entitled ‘Easter Joy from the Cathedrals City’ will be led by the Catholic and Church of Ireland Archbishops of Armagh, Archbishop Eamon Martin and Archbishop John McDowell. Singers Malachi Cush, Janet Dowd, Karl […]
‘Easter: the Definitive Answer to Every Lockdown’ – Bishop Kevin Doran
In his homily for the Easter Vigil, which was celebrated in the Cathedral in Sligo, Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin offered a reflection on the 14th Station of the Cross, an image of a small gathering with a handful of people, an image, he said, that we have sadly become too familiar in our own […]
Preaching of the Gospel always linked to the embrace of a Cross – Pope Francis
In his homily during Holy Thursday’s Chrism Mass, Pope Francis underlined that the preaching of the Gospel “is always linked to the embrace of some particular cross.” He explained that the Gospel shows us the extent to which “persecution and the cross are linked to the proclamation of the Gospel.” Dwelling on the “hours” leading […]
Vatican provides Covid-19 vaccination for 100 homeless people
The Office of Papal Charities, in response to Pope Francis’ appeals that no one be excluded from receiving the Covid-19 vaccines, organised an initiative of providing 1,200 of the poorest and most vulnerable people in society with an opportunity of getting vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine – the same administered to the Pope and the […]
Chaplains in Ireland looking to innovative ways to reach out to prisoners in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic
Over the past year, many people have been coming together to lend their help and support to each other as the invisible enemy that is COVID-19 continues to spread. One has only to look at the thousands of people volunteering at vaccine centres, helping to ensure the process of administering inoculations runs smoothly. Healthcare workers […]
Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan calls for proper consideration for Public Worship
Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan of Waterford and Lismore has this evening called for proper consideration for Public Worship. Bishop Cullinan said, “I must speak out to represent the voices of a very large cohort of people who are growing increasingly weary of being unable to attend Mass and whose spiritual and mental wellbeing is being eroded. […]