The Association of Catholics in Ireland (ACI) carried out a pilot study among members in 36 parishes to explore the extent of lay leadership in the Catholic Church and the role that the laity plays in parish leadership.
The Department of Education information calculates that the number of children in Industrial Schools and Reformatories from 1930–1970 now stands at approximately 42,000—less than one-fourth of the original figure.
The Christmas Retreat will be packed full of talks with top Catholic lay and religious speakers, workshops, time to hang out, music, prayer, sacraments and more.
Eighty percent of all acts of religious persecution around the world today are being committed against Christians – Archbishop Eamon Martin.
Everybody will have an opportunity to have a direct encounter with witnesses — that is, people who have directly experienced violence in defending their faith — and that’s a rare opportunity for people in Ireland - Dr Michael Kinsella.
ACN points out that 80 per cent of people persecuted throughout the world are Christians. This amounts to 245 million Christians who face extreme persecution for their faith.
The season of Advent marks the beginning of the Catholic new year and the time of spiritual preparation for the Lord’s coming at Christmas. It is a time of waiting, conversion and hope – Archbishop Eamon Martin.
Columban missionary Fr Michael Sinnott set up the Hangop Kabataan (The Children’s Shelter) foundation for children with special needs in the Philippines in 1998. In October 2009 he was kidnapped by six extremists and held for 31 days.
Bill comes at a time when pornography is widely available in Ireland and over half of teenage boys in Ireland see pornography before the age of 13.
"We are indebted to the continued support from the GAA clubs and supporters in Co. Antrim in helping brighten the festive season,” said Pauline Brown of the SVP.
“Our brothers and sisters in Nigeria have been facing an ongoing onslaught from extremists wanting to eradicate the Christian Faith.”
At a service marking the Church of Ireland’s 150th anniversary of its Disestablishment, Archbishop Justin Welby describes the Archbishop of Dublin as "a wonderful man of God whose courage and leadership is known well beyond these shores".
Bishop Michael Router launched ‘Week of Witness’ in St Patrick's Cathedral Armagh on Sunday and invited Christians to stand in solidarity with the "heroic example of our persecuted brothers and sisters in faith across the world".
"The people of the diocese have been very generous over these years in supporting Share even at moments of serious economic difficulties. I thank you for that generosity and I encourage you to continue in the support given to Share," says Archbishop Martin
The walk starts from St Finian’s Lutheran Church on Adelaide Road, crosses the canal to Mary Immaculate's on Rathmines Road Lower then on to Holy Trinity CofI in Upper Rathmines.
The premise of SLS20 is to teach teachers to teach and live out the Great Commission.
Clonmel-based Fr Michael Toomey welcomed news that a Jigsaw project will be located in Thurles over the coming months but warned of a lack of acute and crisis mental health beds.
Repeat abortion rates among UK teenagers paint a heartbreaking picture of betrayal – Pro Life Campaign.
“If this was proposed even a few years ago, there would almost certainly have been a public outcry of some sort” – David Quinn, Iona Institute
Service will ensure that unaccompanied children referred by their social workers and aftercare workers are matched with pro bono legal help.
Christmas puts serious strain on the resources of those who seek help from the SVP.
We are people of hope, and we are very positive, and we always try to push the message that although Haiti has many problems, we can do many things and many other people like us are doing great things – Gena Heraty.
“Today, the urgency of vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and lay ministry and the question of self-care for priests are ones that must be addressed in a meaningful way" - Bishop Larry Duffy.
Cavan parish priest offered "moral leadership in a difficult time” through his homily following the kidnapping and assault on Kevin Lunney, a director of Quinn Industrial Holdings.
Through the awards, young people are able to take an active part in the life of their Church and become more aware of the teaching and role of the Catholic Church in the world.
The Mass for the feast of St Laurence O’Toole was “a sign of the continuity of the mission of the Church and the way that the message of Jesus shows its relevance from one generation to the next”, said Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.
“I encourage you to seek, in every poor person whom you encounter, his or her true needs, not to stop at their most obvious material needs, but to discover their inner goodness,” Pope Francis told the faithful.
"The statues will serve as an ongoing reminder to pray for all of those who fell in the Falklands War, while also giving us a symbol of unity in faith and an aid to our prayers for peace," says the UK's Bishop of the Forces, Paul Mason.
Trócaire well project has changed our lives, says Malawi village leader Fastino Kimwendo.
Spiritual Batteries is designed to be welcoming. There's no pressure, no follow ups, it's easy to invite your friends too, whether they have some faith or none - Edward Barrett-Shortt.
