A well-known cardinal from China, Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, flew to Rome to hand Pope Francis a seven-page letter appealing for him to pay attention to the crisis facing his country’s underground Church. The former bishop of Hong Kong said underground clerics have cried to him since the Vatican-China deal on the appointment of bishops.…
The Notebook Fr Bernard Healy Every year on November 1, after All Saints’ Day Mass, the community of the Pontifical Irish College heads to the Campo Verano Cemetery, just outside the walls of Rome, in order to pray midday prayer at the college burial vault. It’s a good way to begin the month…
It’s seems almost obligatory these days for TV cops to be dysfunctional in their personal lives, even deranged at times. Defenders may say it’s gritty realism, accusers may call it destructive nihilism. I’ve been following Informer on BBC1, Tuesday nights, and the main policeman, Gabe, played with nuance by the versatile Paddy Considine, is certainly…
Widows (15A) Almost every line in this film is gold. And almost every character, no matter how small, is exquisitely drawn. A kind of distaff Goodfellas, it takes off when Harry Rawlings (Liam Neeson as, surprise, surprise, a villain) gets killed during a heist. Or does he? The money is burned. Or is it? These…
With the abuse crisis continuing to rock the Church at its highest levels, some thoughtful material is starting to be produced online grappling with the issues of abuse and concealment. Commonwealmagazine.org has published one of the most insightful and impassioned pieces in James Heaney’s article ‘Our myth, their lie’. “Ten years ago, I believed a…
Dear Editor, On the evidence of last week’s proceedings at the Select Oireachtas Committee on Health, Minister Simon Harris is determined to force healthcare professionals who object to abortion on clinical and/or conscientious grounds to refer women seeking abortions to colleagues with no such objections. Has he considered how this can to be operationalised? How…
A Flavour of Kylemore Abbey by the Sisters of the Community (Columba Books, €24.99) When this book came to hand, I turned over the pages to see what made this cook book different from all the others that flood the market. My attention was immediately taken by a recipe for Frangipane Mince Pies, the last one in the…
Pope recognises martyrdom of Christian Brother Pope Francis has recognised the martyrdom of De La Salle Christian Brother James Miller, who was born in Wisconsin and was shot to death in Guatemala in 1982. The recognition of the martyrdom of Bro. James, or Bro. Santiago as he also was known, clears the way for his beatification; the date and location…
‘Gooch’ encourages young generation to read history Speaking at the launch of a new novel for young people, Leo’s War, GAA star Colm ‘Gooch’ Cooper said he wishes he had taken more time to explore history when he was young. This novel, written by author Patricia Murphy, is based on the true story of one of Killarney’s heroes, Msgr Hugh…
Children’s Corner Since we were kids, all of us have made innocent bets with our siblings, parents or friends that we will be able to achieve something they won’t expect us capable of. Often these bets are very funny and, to give an example, might look like: “I bet you I can eat this…
Brendan O’Regan
Aubrey Malone
Greg Daly
Peter Costello
Colm Fitzpatrick