St. Patrick’s Day celebration twist: Catholic Irish actress brings pro-life message to Oscars stage March 17, 2026By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Movie & Television Reviews, News, Respect Life, World News On March 17, as the world’s 80 million people of Irish descent celebrate Ireland’s national patron St. Patrick — a Briton who brought Christianity to the island in 432 — the Irish convent school that gave the world Oscar-winning actress Jessie Buckley is brimming with pride.
As excavation begins at Irish maternity home, Catholic experts urge fact-based news reporting July 16, 2025By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Child & Youth Protection, Journalism, News, World News A full excavation began July 14 at a site near a former mother-and-baby home in the west of Ireland, believed to be the final resting place of up to 800 infants.
Red Wednesday to put Christian persecution in the spotlight November 16, 2024By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Religious Freedom, World News This coming Nov. 20 will mark “Red Wednesday,” a commemoration held annually by Aid to the Church in Need to highlight the fact that today one in seven Christians face extreme hostility, violence and repression because of their faith in Christ. In some countries, the observance is being extended throughout the week and is called a “Red Week.”
Sainthood cause to open for beloved Irish actress turned nun, parish priest confirms November 8, 2024By Michael Kelly Filed Under: News, Saints, World News Derry-born Sister Clare Crockett was a promising actress with little interest in religion when she went on a Holy Week retreat in Spain in 2000 that changed her life.
Argentina’s slum priests hope for papal Mass at pope’s favorite soccer stadium April 28, 2024By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News An Argentine priest who works with the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people is hopeful that Pope Francis will visit the community during a proposed trip to the pontiff’s homeland later this year.
Report: Children ‘let down’ by a lack of research on use of puberty blockers April 12, 2024By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Feature, Health Care, News, Respect Life, World News A landmark report published April 10 in the United Kingdom said children had been “let down” by a lack of research on the use of puberty blockers.
‘Return to Holy Land!’ bishop says, urging pilgrims to visit West Bank, support Christians March 14, 2024By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News A bishop in Jerusalem has appealed for Christians to start returning to the Holy Land on pilgrimage, insisting they should visit holy places located within Israel and the Palestinian Territories.
Irish voters resoundingly reject proposals to redefine family, undermine motherhood March 11, 2024By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Marriage & Family Life, News, World News The Irish prime minister, known as the Taoiseach, has conceded that his government was defeated “comprehensively” when voters rejected amendments to the constitution that the country’s bishops warned would have weakened supports for marriage and undermined motherhood.
Irish bishops appeal for protecting identity of family amid March 8 constitutional referendum March 7, 2024By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Marriage & Family Life, News, World News A constitutional referendum scheduled for March 8 could weaken the incentive for young people to get married, Ireland’s bishops have warned.
Irish bishops urge immediate end to Israel-Hamas hostilities as children in Gaza face starvation March 6, 2024By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Feature, News, World News Ireland’s Catholic bishops called on Israel and Hamas to immediately end hostilities in the Holy Land as the war triggered by the Oct. 7 attacks enters its sixth month, and U.N. agencies warn that children are dying of starvation in Gaza.
Benedictine abbot calls Jerusalem spitting incident against him ‘heartbreaking’ February 6, 2024By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Conflict in the Middle East, Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, World News The head of the Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem has described as “heartbreaking” an incident of being spat at by Jewish extremists in the Old City, describing the suspects as “hooligans of religion.”
As King Charles is diagnosed with cancer, Cardinal Nichols offers ‘steadfast prayers’ February 6, 2024By Michael Kelly OSV News Filed Under: Ecumenism and Interfaith Relations, Feature, News, World News Cardinal Vincent Nichols has offered “steadfast prayers” on behalf of Catholics after it was announced that Britain’s King Charles III is undergoing treatment for cancer.
