Puerto Rico’s archbishop tackles debt Puerto Rico’s Archbishop Robert Gonzales Nieves of San Juan, accompanied by the country’s Bible Society president Revd Heriberto Martinez Rivera, has met with congressional leaders and the White House in order to work towards a resolution to the US territory’s debt crisis. “We want to create more awareness of the urgency of the situation…
Month: October 2015
jordan prince hails christianity
Jordan’s Prince Hassan has claimed that the Middle East is the home of Christianity, which has contributed greatly to Arab culture and Arab-Islamic civilization. Speaking at a book launch in the Israeli city of Acre, he said the presence of Christians in the Middle East must be guaranteed “human protection”. Abu Saada, Greek-Melkite parish priest…
Discernment and vocation
Dear Editor, I particularly liked the piece by Gavan Kerrr on discernment and vocation in The Irish Catholic on September 24. It reminded me of the book Priestly Vocation by John Blowick, co-founder with Bishop Galvin, of the Society of St Columbanus (now based at Dalgan Park Navan.) Fr Blowick’s book was essentially based on…
Interfaith peace bid continues despite CAR violence
An archbishop in the Central African Republic has vowed to persist in interfaith peace efforts, after at least 42 people were killed and 27,000 forced to flee during five days of violence between Christian and Muslim groups in the capital Bangui. The city’s Archbishop Dieudonne Nzapalainga, president of the national bishops’ conference, said he will…
Syria without Assad would be like Libya – bishop
If Syrian president Bashar al-Assad were removed from power now, Syria would become like Libya, a Syrian bishop has warned. Archbishop Jacques Behnan Hindo, Syrian Catholic Archbishop of Hasakeh-Nisibi, said “the Syrians will decide if and when Assad has to go away, and not the Daesh [the so-called Islamic State] or the West,” continuing “and…
Absence makes the heart grow fonder
Fr Martin Delaney reflects on the greatest irony- how we don’t appreciate something until it is gone
The World of Books
The Books Editor
Heroes of the frozen wastes
Shackleton’s Boat: The story of the James Caird by Harding McGregor Dunnett (Collins Press, €12.99)
Recent books in brief
To Live in the Love of God: A Guide to Prayer by parishioners of Kirkinriola Parish, ed. Fr P. Delargy (Ballymena Parish Centre, £5.00) This book is an unusual effort by local people from an Ulster parish to answer the question: “Do you want to discover the truth and be a good person and make others…
Catholic education and the future of faith
Catholic Primary Education in a Pluralist Environment by Anne Hession (Veritas, €14.99)

Courtney McGrail