“I’m not sure whether the government are saying that there is no place for Christians within medicine and if that is the case I don’t think that’s a very positive direction for Ireland to take,” says Pentecostal pastor.

While there was much debate as to the numbers of pilgrims who attended the events of WMOF between 21 and 26 August 2018, the figures collated as WMOF wound down its operations show that 499,000 attended the wide variety of events.

In Syria there is no place for the usual consumerist frenzy, so the lights of the Christmas tree and the Christmas crib have once more become a sign of salvation. Aid to the Church in Need charity, which works with people in Syria, stated that many families there are in makeshift shelters, just like the Holy Family in Bethlehem.

In his traditional Christmas day Urbi et Orbi message, the Pontiff prayed that Syrians might “find fraternity after long years of war” and that Yemen’s recent truce would bring relief to its people and children “exhausted by war and famine”.

So many persons stop every Christmas before the mystery of God made man, represented in the crib with statuettes, which in many cases are authentic masterpieces of art to pray, to reflect and to discover the love of God who becomes a child for us – Archbishop Rino Fisichella.

Archbishop Eamon Martin urges people to continue to witness to the fact that there are two lives worthy of protection.

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin ponders implications of Irish people’s expressed concern that the celebration of Christmas has become too commercial.

Parishioners have invoked a medieval law that prevents civil authorities entering a building where a religious service is ongoing.

“May all of us, by our love, bring light and hope to all whose lives are troubled this Christmas.”

Students at Dublin school are hopeful they can match last year's donations which raised almost €200,000 for Focus Ireland, the Peter McVerry Trust and Home Again.

The publication is the result of a collaboration between Irish language spirituality magazine An Timire and FÁS.

“Let it be clear that before these abominations the Church will spare no effort to do all that is necessary to bring to justice whosoever has committed such crimes.”

“We must not tolerate the fact that nearly 4,000 children are homelessness in our society.”

We’re just sitting in amazement watching the green shoots coming from people’s hearts because we all know that we are a mission field in Ireland – Dominic Perrem, Alpha Ireland.

Katowice agreement was not sufficient to give us confidence that the Paris agreement would be implemented says Irish delegate at Climate Conference.

SVP is still receiving an average of 1000 calls for help every day from worried families in the run-up to Christmas and is particularly concerned about some people in private rented accommodation.

“Very many are under great strain because accommodation and housing is scarce or beyond their reach. A new political impetus is required along with real determination to make inroads into this critical need in so many people’s lives” – Bishop William Crean, Cloyne.

The Christmas experience may have evolved, but the nativity remains at the centre of what Christmas is all about – IFA.

In the 52nd World Day of Peace message, Pope Francis admonishes those whose political addresses blame every evil on migrants as “unacceptable”.

Capital punishment is “contrary to the Gospel as it implies suppressing a life that is always sacred in the eyes of the Creator, and of which only God is the true judge and guarantor”.

Catholic Bishop of Meath and Church of Ireland Primate focus on the human cost of the homeless crisis in their Christmas messages.

"This day is a sacred day, the day we created an autocephalous local Orthodox Church. It is a day of final independence from Russia." – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

“The lessons we have learned in the European Union during the 2015 migration crisis should serve to remind us of the need to address migration in a cooperative and comprehensive manner. ”

“When you pray for someone every day for more than a year, you start to build some sort of a relationship, even if one-sided.”

“We strongly oppose the decision to charge people for securing the rights they already have. This is not only unprincipled but will also create a barrier for larger families or people facing financial difficulties."

“In the clear, cold night of Christmas Eve, his voice carried very far. The shooting had stopped and in that silence he sang and the British knew the song and sang back.”

“Think for a moment of what it would be like this Christmas to be without a home. To be without a place of shelter. To be out in the cold. To be on your own, living on the streets.”

Crosscare Report highlights how government’s own policies are not being implemented at Intreo offices.

On a visit to region devastated by war, Archbishop Eamon Martin appeals to Christians to support Trócaire Christmas appeal which “eases people’s suffering and allows them to dream of brighter days ahead”.

“We filmed in the months leading up to it and from the day [Pope Francis] arrived. That is captured and the highs and lows, the anticipation and the preparation for the event and then Croke Park and the days in the RDS and the papal mass” – Ciara Nic Chormaic.