Latest news with #SundayMass
Irish Independent
17-07-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Blasket Islands' oldest living inhabitant, Máiréad, dies aged 102 in Massachusetts
Máiréad turned 102 last December and was the oldest of three surviving inhabitants of the famous Great Blasket Islands off the Kerry coast. When the Great Blaskets were evacuated in 1954, Mairéad's parents, Pats Tom and Nellí Jerry Kearney went to live in Gorta Dubha. Máiréad had moved to the mainland in the late 1940s before going to America in 1949 at the age of 26. At the time, the Nun's Convent in Baile 'n Fheirtéaraigh operated a knitting factory that employed young ladies from the locality. It was here that Máiréad and other young women earned and saved money to emigrate to the US. Paying tribute to Máiréad is her Gorta Dubha neighbour and US resident Maurice Brick. Maurice said people from the Blasket Island were at one with nature. Máiréad was in tune with this way of life and she often parted her advice to the youngsters of Gorta Dubha. When Maurice lived in New York he would regularly drive the two hour journey to western Massachusetts to meet and chat with Máiréad and the family. Even though he now lives in Chicago, he kept in touch with Máiréad over the years. 'Máiréad didn't tell us she was leaving for America all those years ago. Her sister, Hannah told us she had already left. We were shocked and not at all within ourselves for some time thereafter. I did meet Máiréad in Springfield many years after,' Maurice said. 'I would drive there often to meet with some of the other Blasket islanders who had settled there. I remember attending Sunday Mass there once and as I was leaving I spotted a group of men in conversation by the gate. As I neared, I could hear they were speaking Irish and of course I introduced myself in Irish and I was greeted with joy. "Any time I met Máiréad we talked about our time in Gorta Dubha and we laughed heartily as we recounted some of the shenanigans we were up to. Beannacht Dé Lena hAnam Uasal God Bless Her Noble Soul,' he said. In 2023, US Republican Congressman Richard Neal made a presentation to Máiréad at the Irish Cultural Centre of Western New England in honour of being the oldest surviving Blasket Islander.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
California bishop allows parishioners to skip Mass amid ICE raids
Members of the Diocese of San Bernardino were relieved of the obligation to attend Mass and encouraged to take up personal prayer on Tuesday in light of the increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids throughout the state of California. 'All members of the faithful in the Diocese of San Bernardino who, due to genuine fear of immigration enforcement actions, are unable to attend Sunday Mass or Masses on holy days of obligation are dispensed from this obligation, as provided for in Canon 1247, until such time as this decree is revoked or amended,' Bishop Alberto Rojas of San Bernardino wrote on the social platform X. The bishop's office said the decree will remain in effect until further notice or until the 'circumstances necessitating this decree are sufficiently resolved.' 'In issuing this decree, I am guided by the Church's mission to care for the spiritual welfare of all entrusted to my care, particularly those who face fear or hardship. I entrust this diocese to the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, and invoke God's blessing upon all the faithful,' Rojas said. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) chimed in on the move, stating First Amendment rights were being attacked under the Trump administration. 'Freedom of religion? Not in Donald Trump's America. People now have to choose between their faith and their freedom,' Newsom wrote in a Wednesday post on X. His comments come after weeks of controversy as the state engages in a lawsuit against the federal government for deploying National Guard soldiers against anti-ICE protests. Democratic lawmakers have alleged that individuals are being detained without due process, deprived of clean drinking water and electricity. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CNBC
09-07-2025
- Politics
- CNBC
Bishop of major Catholic diocese exempts parishioners from Mass over fears of ICE raids
A Catholic bishop in California has issued a rare decree allowing parishioners to miss Mass due to fears of raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Bishop Alberto Rojas of the Diocese of San Bernardino wrote that "such fear constitutes a grave inconvenience that may impede the spiritual good of the faithful." Catholic bishops have occasionally granted Mass exemptions during natural disasters, war or societal events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. But this appears to be the first time a bishop has invoked such a decree over immigration enforcement. "All members of the faithful in the Diocese of San Bernardino who, due to genuine fear of immigration enforcement actions, are unable to attend Sunday Mass or Masses on holy days of obligation are dispensed from this obligation, as provided for in Canon 1247, until such time as this decree is revoked or amended," Rojas wrote in the decree released Tuesday. The Diocese of Sen Bernardino is among the largest in the United States, and serves approximately 1.6 million Catholics in San Bernardino and Riverside counties in Southern California. "In issuing this decree, I am guided by the Church's mission to care for the spiritual welfare of all entrusted to my care, particular those who face fear or hardship," Rojas wrote. Rojas encouraged members of the diocese to find alternative ways to "maintain their spiritual communion with Christ," including through virtual Masses when offered. For decades, American presidents have traditionally limited the authority of federal agencies to conduct civil immigration enforcement actions in sensitive locations like churches, hospitals and schools. President Donald Trump revoked these restrictions on his first day in office. Since then, federal immigration officials have detained people suspected of being undocumented in schools and on church grounds. California Gov. Gavin Newsom pointed to the decree to highlight the Trump administration's aggressive immigration enforcement actions, which have included ICE raids at stores and courthouses. "Freedom of religion? Not in Donald Trump's America," Newsom wrote on X. "People now have to choose between their faith and their freedom." The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on the decree or Newsom's comments.
Axios
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Axios
2 Catholic dioceses say immigrants can skip Mass over ICE raid fears
At least two Catholic dioceses in the U.S. say immigrants fearful of detentions from ongoing immigration raids are not required to attend Sunday Mass. Why it matters: The rare dispensations from the dioceses of Nashville and San Bernardino, California, signal how some local Catholic officials are responding to the growing panic that immigrants feel from the Trump administration's intensified immigration enforcement. Driving the news: The Diocese of San Bernardino announced Tuesday that immigrants who had a "genuine fear" about getting caught in immigration raids were dispensed from the weekly obligation of Sunday Mass. "In issuing this decree, I'm guided by the Church's mission to care for the spiritual welfare of all entrusted under my care, particularly those who face fear or hardship," San Bernardino Bishop Alberto Rojas and Vicar General Gerard M. Lopez wrote. The diocese east of Los Angeles is the sixth-largest in the U.S. and serves around 1 million Catholics, according to its website. The Diocese of Nashville issued a similar decree in May after officials noticed a significant decline in attendance at Spanish-speaking Mass services, per local media. "In response to the recent immigration enforcement activities in the Nashville area, many of those in our diocese are concerned about possibly being confronted or detained while attending Mass or other parish events," the diocese said in a statement. "Our churches remain open to welcome and serve our parish communities, but no Catholic is obligated to attend Mass on Sunday if doing so puts their safety at risk." The intrigue: Catholic priest and author James Martin called the San Bernardino dispensation a wise move. "It is a dramatic sign that not even Catholic churches are considered safe places any longer. Where are the voices for religious freedom now?" Martin posted on X. State of play: The move comes after President Trump changed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policy that previously prevented agents from raiding churches. The move has met with intense criticism from some Christian leaders but drew praise from some white evangelicals. Zoom in: It's unclear how many other dioceses are considering or have issued similar announcements. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. Zoom out: Dispensations from attending Mass for large populations are rare and occur only during times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. They are usually granted to sick people who physically can't attend Mass, but rarely do they involve people targeted by law enforcement. Between the lines: A recent survey shows the issue of immigration divides white and Latino Catholics, both of whom are also split along racial lines in their support for President Trump.
The Hill
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
California bishop allows parishioners to skip Mass amid ICE raids
Members of the Diocese of San Bernardino were relieved of the obligation to attend Mass and encouraged to take up personal prayer on Tuesday in light of the increase in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids throughout the state of California. 'All members of the faithful in the Diocese of San Bernardino who, due to genuine fear of immigration enforcement actions, are unable to attend Sunday Mass or Masses on holy days of obligation are dispensed from this obligation, as provided for in Canon 1247, until such time as this decree is revoked or amended,' Bishop Alberto Rojas of San Bernardino wrote on X. The Bishop's Office said the decree will remain in effect until further notice or until the 'circumstances necessitating this decree are sufficiently resolved.' 'In issuing this decree, I am guided by the Church's mission to care for the spiritual welfare of all entrusted to my care, particularly those who face fear or hardship. I entrust this diocese to the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, and invoke God's blessing upon all the faithful,' Rojas said. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) chimed in on the move, stating First Amendment rights were being attacked under the Trump administration. 'Freedom of religion? Not in Donald Trump's America. People now have to choose between their faith and their freedom,' Newsom wrote in a Wednesday post on X. His comments come after weeks of controversy as the state engages in a lawsuit against the federal government for dispersing National Guard soldiers on anti-ICE protestors. Democratic lawmakers have alleged that individuals are being detained without due process, deprived of clean drinking water and electricity.
