Paul KeenanFilming on Silence, the epic tale of Jesuit priests struggling to spread the Faith in 17th-Century Japan begins in September, with Ireland’s Liam Neeson in the lead role. Earlier this year it was confirmed that, following years of delay on the project, the Martin Scorsese-directed film will finally reach the screen, telling the story…
Month: July 2014
Quotes of the Week July 31
“It would be so right if the commanders of all missile systems that were in the crash area on July 17 told the whole truth about what they did and saw, if they said it to everyone, to God and people!" Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, head of the Russian Orthodox Churcjh’s Synodal department for Relations between…
Pope urges ceasefire in Gaza and prays for victims of conflict
“Stop. I am asking you with all my heart, stop.” This was the Pope’s heartfelt plea to the warring sides in the Gaza conflict on July 27. Setting aside his prepared Sunday Angelus script to pray for those caught up in conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine and Iraq, the Pontiff insisted that “all is…
A jolly fine game
Mary KennyIs golf a genuine sport? A veteran sports writer, Simon Barnes, has suggested that it is not, because "sport should involve some risk". Golf is way too comfortable to be a real sport, he suggests. It's no more a sport than croquet – a mere pastime. I've always had mixed feelings about golf,…
Christians unite online for Iraq
Twitter hashtag brings solidarity
Jesuit honoured for astronomy work
A member of the Vatican Observatory has been honoured for his “outstanding” work in astronomy Jesuit Br Guy Consolmagno, who is also the curator of the Vatican’s meteorite collection has been named a recipient of the Carl Sagan Medal, bestowed by the American Astronomical Society, which cited the Jesuit’s “outstanding communication by an active planetary…
The ‘alluring curse’ of addiction to heroin
I felt very sad about the late Peaches Geldof (pictured) when her inquest was made public last week – her death having taken place in April. It was disclosed that 79 heroin syringes were found in her home in Kent, plus a large stash of high-quality heroin. Due to her death, her baby son Phaedra…
Large crowds expected at Knock for annual Novena
Mags GarganOver 250,000 people from across the island of Ireland are expected to attend the annual National Solemn Novena at Knock Shrine this month, which is celebrating 135 years since the Marian apparition. The theme this year is ‘Witness to Hope’ and will see two novena sessions daily at 3pm and 8.30pm, and workshops or…
The ‘One of Us’ hearing appeal is launched in Europe
The Pro Life Campaign (PLC) has welcomed the launch of an appeal for a hearing of the ‘One of Us’ petition against human embryo research in Europe. Following the May rejection of the 1.8 million-strong petition, the largest in European history, by the EU Commission, organisers of ‘One of Us’ lodged an appeal with…
Strathroy Community Mass
Courtney McGrailThe scene at Strathroy, Omagh, Co. Tyrone on Sunday during the outdoor Mass to celebrate the estate's 40th anniversary. Fr Kevin Mullan, a former parish priest, returned for the celebration. Photo: Pat McSorley