Ciara Mageean hailed by parish before Paris Olympics Celebrated runner Ciara Mageean who is set to represent Ireland in the Paris Olympics has been described as a “natural evangeliser” who is not ashamed to speak of her Catholic Faith. Fr Feargal McGrady PP of Ms Mageean’s home parish of Portaferry, Co. Down said locally they are “very, very proud of Ciara”. Speaking of the middle-distance runner’s influence on young people, Fr McGrady said: “I do know that she has a big impact on the young people when she speaks to them – and to everybody. “When she gets home to her family, she has so little ..read more

On both sides of the Atlantic, Catholic newspapers are ceasing publication. The Universe Catholic Weekly, second oldest Catholic publication in the UK will publish its last issue tomorrow, July 26. While Our Sunday Visitor, an American weekly newspaper will transition to a monthly lifestyle magazine format later this year. The last Our Sunday Visitor newspaper issue will be published in the last week of September, with the first issue for the magazine printed for October. The British 164-years-old publication called the Universe had its paper version closed in June 2021, as the main way of di ..read more

On May 14 of this year, Pope Francis announced the appointment of Ennis priest, Monsignor Seamus Horgan as the first Nuncio to South Sudan, residing in Juba. The ordination Mass will take place this Saturday at 11am in the Cathedral of Saint Peter and Paul, Ennis, Co. Clare and will feature an array of special guests, extending from cardinals, archbishops, bishops and local councillors. Born in 1968 in Ennis, Co. Clare, in the Diocese of Killaloe, Ireland, Monsignor Séamus Horgan attended the local primary school, before completing his secondary schooling at St Flannan’s College, Ennis ..read more

The Capuchin Friary in Ards, Donegal is breathing new life, combining the serene art of coffee-making with a focus on ecology and spirituality. Recent efforts have rejuvenated Ards as a centre for eco-spirituality. This transformation includes creating new walking paths, planting over 1,000 native Irish trees, and developing a vibrant walled garden. A new retreat program, website, coffee shop, and welcome area reflect the centre’s commitment to renewal. Bro. Laurence Kettle, affectionately known as the ‘Barista Brother’, has been crafting cappuccinos, symbolising a broader revival at the Ards ..read more

It’s hard to make any certain calls about American politics these days with something new and dramatic seeming to happen every time you turn on the news, but at the moment it looks like the presidential election will be fought between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, Joe Biden’s Vice-President. In the last few weeks, we have… The post The hard choices facing Catholics in US presidential election appeared first on The Irish Catholic ..read more

Any discussions regarding reunification and a border poll must include difficult questions on what vision there is for those suffering from social division, poverty, addiction and more, according to the Bishop of Derry. Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Bishop Donal McKeown said that “big picture” tensions in the North are being caused by “uncertainty in unionism caused by the border poll and by Brexit” which are “bound to be undermining for the unionists’ sense of self identity”. He said this has been exacerbated following the recent Westminster elections which saw poor results for the DUP, wh ..read more

The late comedian, Robin Williams, once joked that politicians should be like professional sports stars: “They should wear sponsor jackets like Nascar drivers, then we know who owns them.” It is a good joke, and it’s not hard to imagine politicians with such badges on blazers. Even so, there are still noble men and women in… The post Faith in the public space appeared first on The Irish Catholic ..read more

Courtney Mares The National Eucharistic Congress concluded Sunday with a Mass with tens of thousands of people in an NFL football stadium, where the crowd prayed for “a new Pentecost” in the US Church. Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle presided over the closing Mass in Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium on July 21 as Pope Francis’ special envoy for the event. He shared that the Pope told him that he desires the congress to lead to “conversion to the Eucharist”. “The presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is a gift and the fulfilment of his mission,” said the cardinal pro-pref ..read more

Bishop of Killaloe Fintan Monahan has expressed his joy at the scheduled presence of Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretariat of State, at Monsignor Séamus Horgan’s consecration as Papal Nuncio to South Sudan at Ennis Cathedral, Co. Clare, this coming Saturday. In a press release distributed today, Bishop Monahan said, “We are honoured to be welcoming the Secretariat of State to Co. Clare. As the principal collaborator of His Holiness Pope Francis, Cardinal Parolin’s presence at Ennis Cathedral this weekend will add to the sense of occasion during what will be a hugely proud da ..read more

An artist who stabbed a man to death is having two of his paintings exhibited at the Ulster Museum in Belfast. Although no stranger to brawling and prison, powerful connections enabled his notorious behaviour for years; and his talent for producing psychologically complex, deeply spiritual masterpieces helped sustain him. At present, there is a steady stream of admirers, many of them Catholics, entering the Ulster Museum to marvel at his religious themes and his original use of light and darkness - a technique known as chiaroscuro. If you have not guessed, the artist is Michelangelo Merisi, a ..read more