In new book, Pontiff states “The Church does not exist to condemn people, but to bring about an encounter with the visceral love of God’s mercy.”

Redemptorist Church in Dundalk where Garda Adrian Donoghue’s funeral took place to host concert & all proceeds to go towards a sports scholarship for young people.

One of the aims of the visit is to learn more about the impact of the Syrian crisis throughout the region and to discuss how schools and churches can link up.

Parishes raised €63,625 to help the victims of last April and May’s devastating earthquakes which killed over 9,000 people and left countless others homeless.

The first phase of restoration work on 200 year old St Patrick's church in Belfast will cost in the region of £1.5m, with total works likely to exceed £5m.

A special Mass commemorating the Abbey's 800-year history has been commissioned from composer Fr Liam Lawton as part of the octocentenary celebrations.

Archbishop of Dublin celebrates Mass today with 26 Irish pilgrims from 11 dioceses who will attend 51st International Eucharistic Congress from 24 – 31 January 2016.

The focus of the first prayer intention of the New Year is inter-religious dialogue and is “further incontrovertible evidence that Pope Francis is a man of dialogue”.

"Other views on Ireland's approach to abortion ... were not provided to listeners.”

The Government's focus should be on the provision of hospice care for children born with life limiting conditions: Bishop Kevin Doran.

Ruan Pienaar, Wiehahn Herbst and Paul Marshall will be interviewed by the BBC’s Mark Simpson St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast on 25 January.

"The needs we have to be successful, to be liked, to avoid criticism, to be noticed, are often not met. There are many who would gladly serve God in an advisory capacity.”

Grant totals €268,000 over three years and is intended is help Vocations Ireland support and nurture vocations to the consecrated religious life in Ireland today.

New figures show that the children's charity helped 340 more children in 2015 than in 2014.

“It is possible to create safe spaces for those who think alike and who may come to feel that because they are like-minded they have discovered to right way.”

“The Catholic Church has no interest in having a monopoly of all the schools of Ireland," Primate tells RTE Radio.

“The Custody [of the Holy Land] does not forget that other religious are still missing in Syria and invites everyone to continue praying for peace.”

“The determination of the bishops, priests and people ... to restore St Mel’s is a source of encouragement and a sign of faith in the community” - Bishop Smith.

'We need to let those who are new citizens to this bickering Ireland look critically at us and help us to become a rather different Ireland': Archbishop Jackson.

Support group calls on the Government to make proper provision for perinatal hospice care nationally.

Holy Land Coordination group will celebrate Mass in Bethlehem and visit the Christian community of Beit Jala which has suffered the loss of land and livelihood.

Let commemorations “inspire us as a people to give of our best for our own people in Ireland and to open our hearts to world needs too”.

"We remember in a special way during this Christmas season the plight of those Christians who have lost everything for their faith.”

Jesuit Fr Peter McVerry warns that there are a lot more people “on the edge of homelessness” than is realised.

“Our solidarity with one another, and especially with those in the greatest need, is an expression of who we are as the people of a merciful God.”

Rare designation is given by the Holy Father to places of worship which are of particular historical significance.

Praise for Peter Robinson's role in overseeing the devolution of policing and justice powers from Westminster to Stormont in 2010.

Bishop Leahy pays tribute to DUP leader Arlene Foster as an example of how we can deal with the past.

Pope Francis message marking 49th World Day of Peace, calls people to overcome indifference and win peace. "God is not indifferent" - neither should we be.

"It’s about the importance of being a merciful person. I always say - it‘s not enough to be compassionate - you must act.”