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Herald Malaysia
29-07-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Thousands climb Ireland's Croagh Patrick for annual pilgrimage
Archbishop Duffy said hope grows through elders' faith in his message for Reek Sunday and the Jubilee Year Jul 29, 2025 Croagh Patrick, nicknamed 'the Reek' is a mountain with a height of 764 m and an important site of pilgrimage in County Mayo, Ireland. (Photo: Wikipedia) By Sarah Mac Donald, OSV NewsArchbishop Francis Duffy of Tuam put grandparents and the elderly at the heart of his message for the Jubilee Year's "Reek Sunday" pilgrimage at Ireland's holy mountain, Croagh Patrick, on July his homily on the eve of the pilgrimage, the archbishop told the congregation in St. Mary's Church in Westport, County Mayo, that it was "providential" that the pilgrimage, which takes place every year on the last Sunday in July, coincided this year with World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly. Over 6,000 pilgrims, from before dawn until late Sunday afternoon, made the 2,500-foot climb of the Reek, as Croagh Patrick is popularly known locally. Many had traveled long distances from the surrounding counties to participate. "The pilgrim path to the summit of the Reek has been made holy by the feet of those who have walked it before us, people who often had very little except for their faith and the virtue of hope that faith generated within them," Archbishop Duffy said. Describing the importance of hope in this Jubilee year, he said an important channel for building hope was "the example and encouragement of older people." The archbishop of Tuam noted that for many Catholics around the world, pilgrimage is in the air this year, because of the Jubilee Year of Hope. "Here, locally in Westport, there is a familiarity with pilgrimage, with the majestic presence of Croagh Patrick, 'the Reek,'" he explained. Speaking to OSV News in the shadow of the mountain where St. Patrick is reputed to have spent 40 days fasting in the fifth century, Archbishop Duffy said the mountain is "part of the living history of this beautiful area." Among the pilgrims undertaking the arduous climb for the first time was Dominican Father Fons Wilmes from Leuven in Belgium, who was wearing his white habit. "I have done the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela all the way from Belgium. This is much shorter, but I expect it to be rather challenging. Pilgrimages are an important part of our faith -- we walk together and pray together as we reach our goal together," he told OSV Dominican undertaking the climb, though in his bare feet, was Brother Bruno Mary Kelleher from Kilkenny who was ordained a deacon for the Dominicans in Ireland in June. He was wearing the distinctive black and white of the Order of that his habit was "not ideal hiking gear," the young friar underlined that "we are not just going on a hike here -- it is a pilgrimage. The habit is an opportunity to bear witness and an opportunity for people to dialogue with me and ask questions. There are plenty of people here today doing this out of a faith motivation, but there are also many who are doing it for cultural reasons or the exercise. The Dominicans are the Order of Preachers so every moment is an opportunity to preach the Word."Twenty-one-year-old Catherine Cooney from Newtownforbes in County Longford is a student of agricultural science. When OSV News spoke to her, she was carrying a box of rosaries and holy medals for the Legion of Mary to distribute from the organization's stand at the base of the too, was undertaking the climb in her bare feet. "I have done the climb many times; I think it is something that should be done by everyone. Afterwards, I feel like I am taken care of by Our Lady," she many undertake the pilgrimage on their own, others do it as a family unit or as part of a couple. Both Scott Goodwin from Great Britain and Jean Picardao from the Philippines wore rosary beads for the pilgrimage. The couple plan to marry in the Philippines next year following their engagement in February."Jean came over from the Philippines to work in the U.K. three years ago and we met online through a Catholic friendship page. We met in person in a church for our first date," Goodwin explained. "This is our first pilgrimage together and it is partly a preparation for getting married next year. We can see God in everything we do and that he is walking with us and guiding us on all his paths," he
Belfast Telegraph
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
My life as an exorcist: ‘I have been spat at, punched, choked, bitten and kicked by demons'
Sarah Mac Donald meets leading exorcist Stephen Rossetti as he is mobbed by the faithful at Knock. Spiritual warfare against the forces of darkness can involve vomiting, levitation, growling voices and flying objects It is one of cinema's most iconic images. The silhouette of a priest in a black fedora hat and overcoat, armed with a black briefcase, paused in the eerie foggy light of a streetlamp. He cuts a solitary figure. An exorcist about to tackle paranormal horror in the house before him. But this evocative portrayal in 'the scariest film ever made' does not match the reality today according to Monsignor Stephen Rossetti, an American Catholic priest, who is a licensed psychologist and an exorcist. 'The old idea of an exorcist being a single guy walking in with his black suitcase: those days are over,' he told Review in Knock last weekend. These days, exorcists work as part of a team. 'We have psychologists. We have medical doctors. We have clinicians. We have tough guys to pull the person down and someone who deals with the person outside the session.'
Time of India
09-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Netflix, Apple, and Amazon fight against the CRTC rule as they push back on the Canadian order to fund local news and culture
What's at stake? Why the legal fight? Live Events Canadian broadcasters respond Unintended consequences Looking ahead (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel When Netflix, Spotify Apple , and Amazon show up in court Monday(June 9), they won't just challenge a regulation, they'll bring the voices of creators, broadcasters, and everyday Canadians into the Canada's Online Streaming Act (Bill C‑11), which became law in April 2023, the Canadian Radio‑television and Telecommunications Commission ( CRTC ) gained powers to regulate streaming services. Any service earning more than $25 million in Canada must invest 5 percent of its Canadian revenues into Canadian content from Indigenous and francophone programming to local indie news. That is expected to generate roughly $200 million Amazon, and Spotify argue the CRTC exceeded its authority under the Broadcasting Act. Spotify says the charge is a hidden tax, while Amazon claims it's unfair to treat foreign services differently from Canadian media companies. Apple adds that the rule is premature and inequitable as it requires five times the contribution of radio, yet leaves out access to the very funds streamers pay the Motion Picture Association–Canada (representing Netflix, Paramount Disney , others) takes issue with a 1.5 percent local news fund contribution. It argues streamers don't produce news, have no news licenses, and can't access the funds they're asked to Canadian Association of Broadcasters counters that traditional media has shouldered the burden of funding Canadian content for decades, while online players escaped unscathed. Broadcasters warn streaming giants have accelerated a funding crisis for local news and independent TV journalist Sarah MacDonald from rural Ontario shared, 'Our newsroom covers everything from high‑school sports to floods, without this funding, what happens to people's stories?' Meanwhile, Ottawa-based media watchdog Joe Patel cautions: 'These contributions aren't taxes, they're investments in Canadian identity.'But critics, including University of Ottawa professor Michael Geist, warn the 5 percent levy could raise subscription costs or spark market exits, just as Spotify did in France when similar regulations Federal Court of Appeal will likely rule this summer. The decision could redefine 'fair' regulation in the digital age, balancing global services and Canadian culture, while deciding who ultimately pays for your local news.
Belfast Telegraph
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
White smoke and dark secrets: How Catholic cardinals choose a new pope
Deep inside the Sistine Chapel cardinals are casting secret ballots, in a process shrouded in secrecy and tradition. But in the Vatican of 2025, even ancient rites come wrapped in modern convention and controversy. So how is a modern pope elected? Why are phones confiscated? Who really pulls the strings? And who is the cardinal who has been banned from Conclave? Kevin Doyle is joined by journalist Sarah MacDonald and Michael Kelly (Director of Public Affairs for Aid to the Church in Need) to look at an election where faith and political intrigue collide.
Irish Independent
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
The Indo Daily: Conclave - White smoke and dark secrets
Today at 01:14 In centuries past, conclave meant cardinals that were literally locked away until a new pope had been elected. Today, it's the world that's locked out - awaiting the unmistakable white smoke. Deep inside the Sistine Chapel cardinals are casting secret ballots, in a process shrouded in secrecy and tradition. But in the Vatican of 2025, even ancient rites come wrapped in modern convention and controversy. So how is a modern pope elected? Why are phones confiscated? Who really pulls the strings? And who is the cardinal who has been banned from Conclave? In today's Indo Daily, Kevin Doyle is joined by journalist Sarah MacDonald and Michael Kelly (Director of Public Affairs for Aid to the Church in Need) to look at an election where faith and political intrigue collide.
