God ‘searches for disciples amongst sinners’ God went looking for and chose so many Christians and saints from the dregs of society, inviting some of the worst sinners to be his disciples, Pope Francis said in a morning homily. It would be easy to think, he said, that Jesus “doesn’t have good judgment in choosing people” given that he chose…
The Parnell Split in Westmeath: the bishop and the newspaper editor by Michael Nolan (Four Courts Press, €9.95) Felix M. Larkin John Patrick Hayden established the Westmeath Examiner in Mullingar in 1882, and was its editor and proprietor for a record 72 years – until his death in 1954, aged 91. His father, and later his brother, owned the Roscommon Messenger,…
Pilgrimage can teach about your own Faith, writes Fr Shane Sullivan From July 16-July 31, I had to opportunity to go to Ecuador with a group of seven young adults from different parts of Ireland (Mayo, Galway, Tipperary and Antrim) along with two of the Roscommon-based Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother…
Tara McGahan When I was planning my Summer holidays this year, I had no idea that they would include a unique experience as part of a group of international media who were in Ireland for the visit of Pope Francis for the World Meeting of Families 2018. But, that’s exactly what happened on Saturday…
During a two-week period in July our parish was faced with the reality of suicide three times. The magnificent summer sunshine somehow jarred with the dark clouds of sadness and despair which hovered over our frightened community. Two single men, one 58 the other 26, and then a young mother of four children whose youngest…
It can be hard these days to find a TV drama that’s not marred by gratuitous crude language and worse, so I took notice of pre-publicity for a new show whose creator was reported as saying “the show I want to produce is playful, family friendly and a celebration of old-fashioned puzzle solving”. So said…
Go to Babaró! With a range of workshops, literature, and artistic performances, the Babaró International Arts Festival for Children is certainly one not to be missed. Suitable for the whole family, especially the kids, the October 15-21 festival will be based in a variety of venues in Galway City and County venues, and aims at…
A beautiful commemorative book following Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland last August, has been released on sale this week. Pope Francis in Ireland is published by Columba Books and written in partnership with The Irish Catholic, leaving pilgrims with a lasting souvenir of this historic papal visit to Dublin and Knock, as well as the…
Pat O’Kelly Although it officially opens tomorrow evening, Friday, September 28, the 2018 New Ross Piano Festival is already under way. It began yesterday, Wednesday, September 26, with its Young Pianists’ Concert when a fledgling group, ranging in age from seven to 17, tried out the Steinway grand at the festival’s base – the…
Dear Editor, If ever there was a case of a picture being worth a thousand words, the map accompanying your analysis of changes in Clogher Diocese (‘Mission-focused parishes: a vision for the laity’ IC 20/9/2018) was it. Just 52 men in diocesan formation for formation across Ireland, and that’s including those men doing a propaedeutic…
Brendan O’Regan