Notebook Fr Bernard Healy If I were to say Carnevale to you, you might think of the masked celebrations of Venice or the samba-dancing of Rio de Janeiro. However, there was once a time when Rome was also famous for its Carnevale, the festival bidding a farewell to meat before the Lenten fast. Rome’s…
Thirty or 40 years ago when vocations to the priesthood in Ireland were plentiful, the prospect of becoming a bishop probably seemed quite appealing to parish priests – at least to the ambitious ones. The joke was that once a man had been appointed to the episcopate, he would never again eat a bad meal…or…
Beware of slide into worldliness – Pope Pope Francis warned against letting our hearts wander unwittingly into “apostasy”, stressing that we lose loyalty to God when “relativising” and negotiating with money, vanity and pride. The Pontiff cited the story of King Solomon, who turns away from the Lord in his old age, in his homily at…
Dear Editor, In Catholic circles mention the words ‘torchlight procession’ and most will think of Lourdes, southern France, where Our Lady appeared more than a dozen times to a 14-year-old peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. In this little French town since then a public Torchlight Procession takes place every night, with pilgrims from all…
Father Ted’s co-creator says the show would have not have been as popular today due to changing attitudes and perspectives on comedy. Graham Linehan said his famous sitcom would have been different in this day and age. “The Catholic Church has taken a lot of beatings (over the years) and (now) it would be like…
Young people from 21 schools and 47 parishes thanked for ‘lifting hearts’ Archbishop of Salzburg Franz Lackner and Bishop Donal McKeown presented the Pope John Paul II Award to 549 young people from across the Diocese of Derry and beyond in the Millennium Forum, Derry City. The young people came from 21 second level…
Campaigner Adi Roche speaks to Chai Brady about nuclear weapons, politically- correct Ireland and ‘inspirational’ St Brigid For the founder of a charity dedicated to those affected by the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, addressing a crowd gathered in the Vatican was the perfect opportunity to tell St Brigid’s story and how the saint has given inspiration…
Frequently in these pages contributors speculate and agon-ise over what is needed to make the Church healthy and vibrant into the future. No easy solutions there, but cheerfulness, positivity, purpose, service and innovation will go a long way. Sr Stanislaus Kennedy encapsulates all of the above and watching the excellent documentary Being Stan – A…
Puppy Play Dates in Dublin Have you recently added a new member to the family? The Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) is running free Puppy Play Dates on Saturdays so you can let your new little one socialise. Early puppy socialisation is important as puppies that grow up in isolation –…
Wendy Grace Like a lot of people I made a lot of New Year’s Resolutions, I had a lot of enthusiasm in January, but now am finding it really difficult, have you any advice as to how I can stay motivated? Many of us make New Year’s resolutions that are hopeful but unrealistic and come…
Michael Kelly
Chai Brady
Brendan O’Regan
Wendy Grace