Pope Francis remembered as a leader who ‘knew how to give hope’Pontiff’s funeral could take place as early as Friday, with Vatican authorities expected to confirm details on TuesdayMon Apr 21 2025 - 21:41
Pope Francis 2018 visit to Capuchin Day Centre DublinPope Francis visited the Capuchin Day Centre on Church St Dublin during his 2018 trip to Ireland. Video: Patsy McGarryMon Apr 21 2025 - 13:16
Who will be the next pope after Francis and how does the process work?Speculation around who is in the running to succeed Pope Francis comes with health warnings as favourites, or papabiles, often remain cardinalsMon Apr 21 2025 - 13:06
In a Word ... Pearse A surname believed one of the oldest in England though of French originMon Apr 21 2025 - 00:30
‘Many are delighted to see a lay person present’: Growing numbers of laity helping out with ministry in Catholic churchesMore than 60 have been formally taken on to help out in the Killala diocese following two-year study courseSun Apr 20 2025 - 06:00
Destruction of Gaza hospital supported by Dublin diocese ‘an outrage’, says senior Irish clericChurch of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin and Glendalough Michael Jackson says bombing of Al-Ahli Arab hospital tore at his heart Tue Apr 15 2025 - 06:00
Catholic Church ‘greatly regrets’ seeking removal of Tricolour from Army veteran’s coffinPriest at Kilkenny church asked that Irish flag be removed from coffin of Defence Forces veteran John PhelanFri Apr 11 2025 - 06:00
In a Word ... GrateOur hope must be that retaliatory tariffs bring US voters to their senses before the midterm elections Mon Apr 07 2025 - 15:48
Dublin police officers killed before city’s force merged with An Garda Síochána are commemorated 100 years onCeremony marks century of Act transferring 1,049 Dublin Metropolitan Police officers to the GardaThu Apr 03 2025 - 17:08
In a Word...HomonymsHow do you explain to a foreign national the meaning of the word ‘grand’, as we use it?Mon Mar 31 2025 - 00:30
Two West of Ireland Catholic dioceses united under one bishop as Church continues to downsizeVatican continues with plan to reduce the number of bishops/dioceses in IrelandSun Mar 30 2025 - 18:52
In a Word...FoodWhen it came to food, we lived in a very monochrome Ireland, spuds with everything, cabbage and carrots with most, plus meat or fishMon Mar 24 2025 - 00:30
Irish pilgrims join faithful in Rome celebrating Pope Francis recoveryPope Francis’s decision to declare 2025 a ‘Jubilee Year of Hope’ entirely prescient, says Limerick BishopSun Mar 23 2025 - 17:31
In a Word...PatrickWhen I joined this newspaper years ago, I announced: ‘I am Patsy and by this name shall I be known heretofore. Hear ye me!’ And, lo, so it has beenMon Mar 17 2025 - 00:30
Sculpture to honour abuse survivors at Jesuit schools unveiled in DublinReplicas are to be put on public display in Jesuit schools throughout IrelandSat Mar 15 2025 - 09:00
Christ Church Leeson Park in Dublin deconsecrated and to be put on property market Among worshippers at the church in earlier times was writer George Bernard ShawFri Mar 14 2025 - 06:00
In a Word... CoffeeA coffee shop experience something of a trial - here is some advice to navigate those exotic menusMon Mar 10 2025 - 00:30
In a Word ... GenerationYou might say that, by any objective standard, the current designation of ‘a generation’ has become absurdMon Mar 03 2025 - 00:30
Spiritans accused of two-tier approach to redress for sex abuse casesSurvivors' group calls for common scheme to be established by June 1st to avoid need for legal routeFri Feb 28 2025 - 07:00
Spiritans have paid €8.8m in settlements to 125 abuse survivors since 1998Incidents of sexual abuse by Spiritans were among 2,395 allegations at 308 schools run by religious ordersTue Feb 25 2025 - 11:00
In a Word ... YouthA report has found that Irish 15-year-olds smoke less, drink less alcohol and exercise more than their European peers. This is disgracefulMon Feb 24 2025 - 00:30
Former bishop of Killaloe Willie Walsh was ahead of his time in Catholic ChurchThroughout his period as bishop he was at odds with the rigidities of the papacies of John Paul II and Benedict XVIThu Feb 20 2025 - 19:00
In a Word ... CorkCork people believe they have it so good they are not bothered about making an impact on the national consciousness at all. To them, clearly, Cork is allMon Feb 17 2025 - 00:30
A new generation heralds change in approach for Jesuits in naming probable abusersNew provincial Fr Shane Daly (51) was ordained just 10 years agoWed Feb 12 2025 - 20:29
Fifteen Irish Jesuits ‘credibly accused of child abuse’Publication of names by congregation follows an investigation into the files of 37 dead Jesuit priests or brothers Wed Feb 12 2025 - 19:37
In a Word ... PhoneFor years, I have mocked neighbours in the big country next door by reminding them of the 1957 Times newspaper headline: ‘Fog in the Channel. Continent cut off.’ Now, I understoodMon Feb 10 2025 - 00:30
Rev Trevor Gribben elected to lead the Presbyterian Church in IrelandNew Moderator-designate is from Co Armagh and received 16 of 19 votesThu Feb 06 2025 - 11:09
In a Word ... PoliticsIt might be argued that some smaller parties were outmanoeuvred in negotiations to form this Government, while others chose to make demands they knew would be refusedMon Feb 03 2025 - 00:30
In a Word ... WaitingLimbo may have been abolished but it lives, hale and hearty, at an emergency department near youMon Jan 27 2025 - 00:30
Commission of investigation into abuse in schools ‘a priority’ for new governmentNorma Foley informs survivors ‘there has been no let-up in the work being carried out... to progress the establishment of the commission of investigation’Wed Jan 22 2025 - 06:00
In a Word ... InaugurationDonald Trump at age 78 will become the 47th president of the USAMon Jan 20 2025 - 00:30
Hope by Pope Francis review: Don’t believe the hype, this is another triumph of marketing over substanceFar from the autobiography it is described as, Francis uses recollections to reflect on current eventsWed Jan 15 2025 - 11:14
Navigating spam emails: ‘I’m overwhelmed that my address won me ‘the sum of $500,000’’It is heartwarming to know so many people are thinking of me and ready to offer unexpected giftsMon Jan 13 2025 - 05:10
Ireland has been surpassed as ‘the largest open-air lunatic asylum in the world’In a Word ... OldMon Dec 30 2024 - 00:30
Monasticism in Ireland: AD 900-1250 by Edel Bhreathnach – A valuable contribution to the history of the Irish churchA scholarly work that seeks to deepen our understanding of Irish monasticism and its influence on church traditionsSat Dec 28 2024 - 00:00
Vatican Spies by Yvonnick Denoel: This could have provided John le Carré with enough material for a second careerThis is a thoroughly researched book about espionage on and by the VaticanWed Dec 25 2024 - 05:00
Where to now for our declining churches? Younger clergy reflect on a brighter futureExciting times are ahead for Christian communities, based on joy, hope, energy and finding context and relevance in contemporary societyTue Dec 24 2024 - 06:00
Bethlehem now ‘a Palestinian village subjected to intense intimidation, social starvation’, say church leadersChurch of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin Michael Jackson says reaction to immigration in Ireland has been ‘physical and shameful’Mon Dec 23 2024 - 06:00
In a Word ... Stable‘Looking at her there in the stable he pondered on what might lie ahead’Mon Dec 23 2024 - 00:30
Irish Quakers join ‘Twitter eXodus’, abandoning social network over misinformation and harmful contentElon Musk’s social media network has been a source of ‘disquiet for many years’, says religious groupTue Dec 17 2024 - 17:32
Archbishop of Dublin says public’s expectation for the new Dáil should be ‘tempered with realism’Catholic Archbishop Dermot Farrell said people needed to be realistic even with ‘unprecedented revenue flows’Tue Dec 17 2024 - 17:17
Beware of vegan propaganda. Carrots have feelings tooMeat abstainers cry ‘fowl’ at those eating turkey, duck or goose this Christmas. But is there not an inconsistency here?Mon Dec 16 2024 - 00:30
Presbyterian leadership accused of reducing church to a ‘sect’ and importing culture warsRetired academic criticises treatment of former minister at Sandymount who resigned after disciplinary inquiriesFri Dec 13 2024 - 06:00
A critique of those who have opinions on everything but do very little about anythingYou may find the following attitude strange from an ex-theatre criticMon Dec 09 2024 - 00:30
Abused by Br Paul Dunleavy: ‘The real damage was not just what happened physically, but the lessons I learned from it’Brendan Dowling made a complaint to the Christian Brothers about abuse by one of their members long before criminal cases were takenTue Dec 03 2024 - 06:00
Bishop cries foul over closure of Mountjoy prison chapel amid works linked to overcrowdingPrison seeks to ‘adjust the footprint of an underutilised space to the rear of Mountjoy chapel’ to create video link area for court appearancesFri Nov 29 2024 - 06:00
In a Word ... Swiftie (the originals)Those of us who admire Jonathan Swift, the contrary old weed, were the original SwiftiesMon Nov 25 2024 - 00:30
Protestants in Ireland: ‘We’ve gone after the young generations. We’ve listened and changed how we do things’A younger generation of Protestants ‘are flocking away from the church’ yet ‘becoming more spiritual’Sun Nov 24 2024 - 06:00
Further 12 Spiritan abuse survivors come forward since September’s scoping inquiryMore survivors of abuse at Spiritan schools come forward since September when the inquiry found 347 allegations of child sex abuse at the five schoolsWed Nov 20 2024 - 06:00
