Despite the coronavirus pandemic coming at a time “of weakness unparalleled” in the Church’s recent history, the “challenge has been met” according to Archbishop Michael Neary. “Parishes organised Masses on webcam and radio. Many priests and bishops took to ministry via online and digital media with flair and creativity. A tired Church, wearied by relentless change, found new strength…
The death has occurred of prominent educationalist Msgr Jim Cassin. He was a priest of the Diocese of Ossory and served for many years as the Church’s national secretary for education. He died in St Luke’s Hospital in Kilkenny on Friday and was laid to rest following a private requiem Mass on Tuesday. He was…
Where’s the fairness in life? Why are some people so undeservedly blessed in this world while others are seemingly cursed? Why are craftiness, self-serving ambition, taking advantage of others, and dishonesty so frequently rewarded? This has no quick answer. In his book The Magnificent Defeat, the renowned novelist and preacher, Frederick Buechner, takes up this…
The hippocampus, deep within our brain, gathers and organises short term memories, laying down the synaptic pathways for long term memories. Every time we recall a memory we travel down that synaptic pathway and the more we do so, the stronger and more lasting the memory becomes. Memories have the capacity to shape attitudes and…
Vatican Santa Marta Paediatric Dispensary reopens The Vatican’s Santa Marta Paediatric Dispensary has reopened after being forced to shut down for more than two and a half months due to the Covid-19 crisis. Despite the pandemic still being present at large, the Dispensary in the heart of the Vatican re-started its services for needy children…
One of the great hurts that parishioners share with me over a cup of tea when I speak at missions and novena (remember when we used to be able to do things like that?) is the disappointment that their adult children don’t bring their own children up in the faith. Grandparents often feel marooned with…
Notebook For some Irish Catholics, it’s hard to think of Corpus Christi, the feast we celebrate this weekend, without getting nostalgic about the beauty of past celebrations, and even becoming resentful about the almost total absence of Eucharistic processions in the life of the Church today. I never experienced Corpus Christi processions when I was…
Indian priest and director to release new film A priest and film director in India is to release a new film of someone living with HIV and their family. Michael’s Coffee House, by Fr Anil Philip, will soon be released in Indian cinemas. Fr Philip, a member of the Congregation of Mary Immaculate (CMI), based…
In these strange and wearying times, I tend to welcome feel-good programmes, perhaps too uncritically, and if they manage deeper meaning as well, it’s a bonus. Unsung Heroes (RTÉ1) on Wednesday night of last week was conductor David Brophy’s third outing with special focus choirs – previously there was the High Hopes Choir (for people…
Dear Editor, I would like to commend Maria Steen on an excellent article [IC 28/05/2020] on why we should not outsource the moral formation of our children. As a corollary to that article, I thought it might be opportune to succinctly summarise the Church’s beautiful theology of the body. This theology teaches that the sexual…
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Bairbre Cahill
Michael Kelly
Brendan O’Regan