‘The Lord sets our hearts free and heals them if only we ask Him,’ said Pope Francis in Rome yesterday.

Ahead of the canonisation of Cardinal John Henry Newman on Sunday, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin spoke at the Irish College in Rome about the Saint’s relevance in Ireland today.

The Columban Schools Journalism competition is in its third year and the title for 2020 is “Tackling our Throwaway Culture”.

Two men are beginning their studies for the priesthood this autumn and a third is embarking on the permanent diaconate.

The Synod is expected to generate carbon emissions of 572,809kg. In compensation, forestry licenses for the reforestation of ​​50 hectares in the Amazon basin will be purchased.

In his address, Pope Francis hit out at the “mocking comments” made by some about the feathers worn by an indigenous man at the Synod’s opening Mass on Sunday.

In a pastoral letter issued for the Church’s annual ‘Day for Life' the Bishops express concern over the number of terrible cases of domestic abuse in Ireland in recent years which have led to extreme violence and murder.

Archbishop Eamon Martin launches the Extraordinary Month of Mission and urges dioceses, congregations and young people to support the ‘Laudato Tree’ project.

Missionary spring in the Church

Tributes paid to Dr Walsh's roles with the Irish Bishops Drugs Initiative, the Bishops’ Commission for Pastoral Care, Cura, and as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Ferns.

At the Faith and Life convention in Belfast, Dr Michel Camdessus, who was appointed by John Paul II to serve on the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, suggests five “paths of humanity” that could contribute towards a universal common good.

Pope Francis and Cardinal Pietro Parolin highlight the work done by church initiatives such as Talitha Kum and the Santa Marta Group in fighting this global scourge.

Archbishop Eamon Martin appeals to the faithful to join him in commemorating two papal visits at the Papal Cross near Drogheda, Co. Louth.

We are all urged to adopt a decided stance and course of action summed up in four simple verbs: welcome, protect, promote and integrate, says Bishop Denis Brennan.

Since the publication of the report in 2009 there has been a decline in the number of child abuse allegations coming to the attention of the Diocesan Child Safeguarding and Protection Service.

“My key message today is: wherever we call home it is incumbent on all of us to live responsibly, and in a sustainable way, always thinking of our neighbour” – Bishop Alan McGuckian, chair of the Bishops’ Council for Justice and Peace.

"The joining of the relics of the two brother Apostles can also serve as a constant reminder and encouragement that, on this continuing journey, our divergences will no longer stand in the way of our common witness and our evangelising mission."

“A society that has no room for the elderly or discards them because they create problems has a deadly virus.”

The disease continues to spread in Madagascar because immunisation levels are low.

“As a nation, we claim to support refugees and oppose persecution, while simultaneously selling weapons to those responsible for killing innocent civilians and driving families from their homes.”

Protecting the oceans

“You, the Polish people, have known first-hand the horror and demeaning impact of the Second World War.”

Chairman of CAFOD, the Catholic Church’s aid and development agency in Britain, issues statement for World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.

Individuals, schools, organisations, dioceses, parishes, communities and congregations urged to participate in a series of initiatives to celebrate October’s Extraordinary Month of Mission (EMM2019).

"The Church must learn anew the ability to speak the things of God – not to flee from the realities of life, but to challenge the men and women of our time and the culture of our time to become the seedbed of a new humanity."

In his homily, the Archbishop told pilgrims that, for many, material success and personal fulfilment have become the goal and purpose of human life.

In his article “Rejecting Racism: Welcome, Protect, Promote and Integrate”, Bishop Doran asks why this is happening in Ireland, “considering our strong missionary tradition” and support for Trócaire, Concern and Goal.

The situation in Kerala is considered the worst, and that area was also severely affected one year ago when rain and floods killed 480 people.

“He always brought integrity, justice and balance to the causes which he espoused.”

Families, Schools of Human Development