Reflections on life, meaning and purpose

Saint Joan of Arc – A Catholic Heroine: 9 Things to Know & Share

Saint Joan of Arc’s extraordinary life serves as a testament to the power of faith and obedience to God’s will. Her unwavering commitment to her Catholic beliefs, determination to fulfill her divine mission, and ultimate sacrifice embody the essence of a true Catholic hero. Today, she is venerated as a saint within the Catholic Church, […]

Laity must accept overburdened priests need time off – Bishop Roche

An enthusiastic Church-led youth group helped to shape new Dublin bishop’s faith and path to priesthood, writes Chai Brady Young priests are “very courageous” and countercultural in following their vocation in modern Ireland, Dublin’s new auxiliary bishop has said, adding that there is a need to alleviate pressure on priests who are tasked with a… […]

A son’s quest – A mother’s dilemma

Around the beginning of this century, I worked on London newspaper alongside a lively and admirable writer, Andrew Pierce. I came to know that Andrew was adopted, and just recently he has published an account of his search for his birth mother, ‘Finding Margaret’. Margaret’s story was not an unusual one. She was a nurse… […]

We need courageous political candidates

The World is Big and I’m so Small’, is the title of a children’s book that I’ve never read. Maybe I should pick it up sometime. I suspect a lot of voters, as they prepare their list for the European and local election candidates, feel a bit daunted by the list of problems facing the… […]

Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration initiative in Dublin

Over forty people are committing to spend at least an hour weekly in front of the Blessed Sacrament with the aim of establishing 24/7 adoration. A Legion of Mary praesidium joined Radio Maria with the purpose of promoting adoration and helping to establish the Blessed Sacrament being exposed 24/7 -perpetual adoration. This would make Radio […]

Does anti-Semitism exist in Ireland?

Does anti-Semitism exist in Ireland and how widespread is it? How do you even define the term? Ever since the brutal war in Gaza began last year, following the Hamas atrocities inside Israel, criticism of Israel in this country and elsewhere has intensified. The criticisms are so strong, that many Jews are saying it is… […]

Lough Derg blooms and booms

This May, Lough Derg has welcomed more than a thousand pilgrims to the island, and this is only the start of the pilgrimage season. Also, this year, more than 1100 teenagers attended a pre-Confirmation retreat. 816 attended the same retreat in 2023. “Lough Derg is increasing the outreach to young people. Ireland has missed out […]

Two Benemerenti medals awarded in space of a week

Pope Francis has awarded the Benemerenti medal for service to the Church to two Irish parishioners in the space of a week. Belfast Christian musician Rita Goldsmith and Tipperary sacristan Willie Fogarty were bestowed with the award in recognition of their “long and untiring service” to their respective Catholic communities. Rita Goldsmith was formally presented […]

Novena giving hope for pro-lifers

The Prayer for Life Novena is taking place this week and according to Petra Conroy, one of the organisers, it is well necessitated. Petra is just one of many among the Council for  Life of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference who have organised the initiative. Petra believes it is a crucial time to host such […]