Dear Editor, I am sometimes amused by discussions within the Church about the possibility of Catholics with same-sex attraction. Much of the commentary seems entirely unaware that gay Catholics – many of them couples with fellow gay Catholics – are part and parcel of every parish community in the country. In some parishes, they are…
Month: February 2018
Panther roars in seismic genre shift for Marvel Studios
Aubrey Malone
Black Panther (PG) Both directed and written by Ryan Googler, this is yet another highly entertaining offering from Marvel Studios. It concerns a king, T’challa (Chadwick Boseman) who returns to the technologically advanced fictional nation of Wakanda to be its leader. His path to power is threatened by a cadre of ne-er-do-wells but a consignment of…
Dad’s Diary
Monkey see, monkey do. Small children are shaped, more than anything, by example. As life underwent a metamorphosis with the arrival of children, many old habits and hobbies had to go by the wayside. Playing guitar was of the few things that survived into this chaotic new epoch. I found I could continue to play,…
A journey of faith
Greg Daly
The basic Christian task is to help people live fully, Bishop Brendan Kelly tells Greg Daly Few issues are as pressing or more commonly raised in discussions about the state and future of the Church in Ireland than declining numbers of clergy, with the Association of Catholic Priests’ claim that the Irish Church is…
Vatican Roundup
Healing found in wounds of Christ, Pope tells Stigmatines A devotion to and meditation on the five wounds of Christ “may sound a bit medieval”, but anyone who recognises he or she is wounded will find mercy and healing in the passion of Christ, Pope Francis has said. Meeting with members of the Stigmatine order, the Pope distributed his prepared text and then…
Pearls sometimes found in strange places
Brendan O’Regan
If you needed something spiritual and relaxing (and don’t we all) I can recommend a good show this week. I rarely watch BBC Alba, but I enjoyed their religious music show Alleluia, on Tuesday of last week. It’s a simple format: spiritual songs, with interviews and readings. Of course it’s in Scots Gaelic, which is…
Full Pope-Melkite communion formalised
Formalising their unity in the intimate setting of the papal residence’s chapel, Pope Francis and Melkite Patriarch Joseph Absi have concelebrated Mass together in the presence of members of the Melkite synod of bishops. Instead of giving a homily at the February 13 early morning Mass, Pope Francis explained the special nature of Patriarch Absi’s…
Sharing a token of love this Valentine’s Day
Colm Fitzpatrick
The World Meeting of Families is inviting couples to share special tokens of love with a difference for Saint Valentine’s Day this year. Following Pope Francis’ calls to celebrate St Valentine’s Day in a more meaningful way, WMOF2018 is asking couples to think beyond the traditional box of chocolates or bunch of flowers to tokens…
Listening and faith are united – Pope says
Pope Francis has said that the faithful who attend Mass lack a fundamental right if they do not receive a well-prepared and well-preached homily. Speaking in St Peter’s Square during his weekly general address on Ash Wednesday, the Pontiff said that in the Liturgy of the Word, the Lord speaks for both pastors and faithful,…
Pathway from homelessness helped hundreds in 2017 – charity
Depaul helped move almost 600 homeless people into more permanent accommodation last year, the charity has said. In a statement, the charity revealed that in 2017, Depaul’s Assertive Engagement (AE) helped 593 people who were using emergency, night-time only hostels move to a variety of more stable arrangements. Depaul currently operate two of the largest…