Stitches: A Handbook on Meaning, Hope and Repair by Anne Lamont (Hodder & Stoughton, £9.99) In this wise little book, popular writer Anne Lamont draws on the now almost lost art of make and mend which our grandmothers so firmly believed in. A stitch in time can save not only that favourite garment, but also, she…
The memory of a lifetime’s work of one Irish nun won’t be forgotten, writes Greg Daly Jennie O’Sullivan was 98 when she returned from Japan, having spent 75 years teaching English there as Sr Paschal, a member of the Infant Jesus Sisters who had educated her as a child in Drishane, Co. Cork. She died…
‘God’s healing mercy and love in the story of life’ was the theme of Méabh Carlin’s testimony at the Lenten retreat in St Philomena’s church in Palmerstown, Dublin over the weekend. Many people first heard Méabh’s story at the Eucharistic Congress in 2012 when she spoke from a wheelchair after being knocked down crossing a…
The sound of song and laughter emanating from the Church of the Most Holy Sacrament in Cherry Orchard, Dublin last week, not to mention the giant inflatable candle at the door, signalled that the Redemptorist parish was once again hosting its annual Candleweek mission, the “biggest event of the year” in the parish. This year…
A human rights lawyer and anti-death penalty activist named Julian McMahon, who was recently proclaimed ‘Australian of the Year’ in his home state of Victoria, is every bit as much a part of the Catholic story in Australia today as the embattled Cardinal George Pell. You really wouldn’t know that, however, from coverage of the…
Dear Editor, I was intrigued to read a report in last week’s edition of The Irish Catholic (25/02/2016) describing how faith and sport were the “matrix” for strong and healthy parishes. Physical Therapist Gerard Hartmann hit the nail on the head when he described how faith and sport are “intertwined”. It’s a pity that more…
Dear Editor, In the Trinity College Long Room lies an original copy of the 1916 Proclamation. As I read the words that helped establish a Republic (on the Irish model) I could not help but reflect on the deep irony of parties like Sinn Féin and in particular the Labour Party calling for abortion based…
Brendan O’Regan rounds up “a flurry of election activity” and “broken pro-life promises” There was a flurry of election activity on Thursday of last week to squeeze in as much political commentary as possible before the moratorium kicked in at 2pm that day. On Newstalk’s Breakfast that morning, comedian Oliver Callan was particularly hilarious doing…
My Indian Journal: Exploring Interfaith Connections by Catherine McCann (ISPCK, €8.00; ISBN 978-81-8465-529-2; available from Veritas, Dubray and Easons) They say that there are two ways to get to know the heart of a country: either make a brief intense visit, or spend a lifetime there. Anything in between may well leave one confused about the…
My Other Self: Conversations with Christ on Living Your Faith by Clarence J. Enzler (Christian Classics Ave Maria Press, $13.95 / £8.99; e-book £8.54; ISBN: 978-0870612480) Donal Anthony Foley This book comes with high praise from figures including the late Fr Benedict Groeschel (who also wrote the foreword to this edition), in which he argues that “trust” is…
Peter Costello
Greg Daly
Mags Gargan
John L. Allen Jr.
Brendan O’Regan