Priest will continue blessing planes despite airport ban
Exclusive The chaplain of Dublin Airport has insisted he will continue the Christmas tradition of blessing planes whether that be from the altar or 35,000 feet in the air, following the announcement it is to be banned. The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) confirmed to The Irish Catholic that due to “changes in security protocols”, the […]
The History of France’s ‘Chocolate Sisters’: Inside the Monastic Life of a 160-Year-Old Religious Community
Located in the Maritimes-Alpes – north of Nice – this Cistercian abbey is home to 14 sisters, also known in the region as the “chocolate sisters.” What does this strange name stand for? These Provençal nuns have run a small artisanal chocolate factory for over 70 years. Below is the incredible history of Castagniers Abbey […]
10 Fascinating Facts About 19th-C. Italian Mystic Saint Gemma Galgani
How much do you know about Saint Gemma Galgani? Here are 10 things you should know about Saint Gemma Galgani, followed by a prayer written by this amazing saint! Caroline Perkins, ChurchPOP 1) Born March 12, 1878. 2) Lost both parents to illness in her late teens. 3) Her faith was often misunderstood and ridiculed […]
Revolutionary Praxis at Work with Fiducia Supplicans
“Christianity is a praxis: this seems to be the synthetic criteria for evaluating what happened with and after Fiducia supplicans.” So says Stefano Fontana in La Nuova Bussola Quotidiana on February 12, 2024.
Toward a Remaking of the American Episcopacy
On March 19, 2024, Cardinal Blase Cupich–known to be close to Francis–turned 75 years old, the age limit for exercising his office. In total, a little less than half of American dioceses will become vacant by 2025, giving the Pope the opportunity to lastingly reshape an episcopate that has made life difficult for him since […]
Netherlands: Euthanasia Accounts for More Than 5% of Deaths in 2023
According to the Netherlands Times, 9,068 deaths by euthanasia were reported in the Netherlands in 2023, as opposed to 8,720 the preceding year. Furthermore, the report underlines an increase of 20% in cases of euthanasia for psychological reasons.
Diocesan shake-up: What do these changes mean?
As with most things ecclesiastical, change comes slowly and the last three papal nuncios pushed the Irish hierarchy to reduce the number of dioceses as priests numbers collapsed and attendance began to dwindle. The bishops for the most part resisted and the Vatican had a long running stand-off with them. This new nuncio, Archbishop Luis […]
Papal Nuncio: Ireland’s Western dioceses must ‘pool resources’ to increase vitality
As four dioceses in the West merge, the Papal Nuncio to Ireland said the seismic changes were needed to meet “new challenges” facing the Church, “pooling resources” to increase vitality. “A gradual process of reorganisation” will “give added impetus and vitality to the communities concerned”, Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor said in a statement today. His […]
Dublin bishop gets second auxiliary in shock announcement
Dublin diocese is set to get a second auxiliary bishop, after Pope Francis announced Bishop Paul Dempsey will move from his position in Achonry as part of seismic changes in the Church in Ireland. Bishop Dempsey takes on the role of auxiliary alongside Bishop-elect Donal Roche, whose appointment was only announced last month. The former […]
Dignitas Infinita: Lowering the Bar
In my study of the current crisis in the Church, I have learned that it can all be summed up by one core problem: a collective lowering of the bar. Every parent, teacher, coach, manager, supervisor, or babysitter knows that children are overachievers. They will do anything they can to meet your expectations, no matter […]