The president of the German bishops’ conference has expressed his belief that Church teaching needs further development, in response to critique of the synodal path in that country. The statement came in the latest instance of epistolary exchange between Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg and Archbishop Samuel Aquila of Denver. “Our Church needs change in…
Charlotte Vard It was a little over ten years ago when little old me at 18 was put into a leadership role in my youth group and to say I was winging it was an understatement. Fast forward to November 2020 when I officially took up a youth ministry position in my parish, I decided…
The poem (Page 36) was written a quarter century ago, at another time of conflict, but the new war in Eastern Europe has made it relevant again. Poster created by Brian Bourke. A limited edition, signed and numbered, in size A3 poster form, is available from Goldsmith Press, Newbridge, Co. Kildare, W12 X260; price €150 post free. …
The Vatican response to the arrest of Cardinal Joseph Zen should concern us all, writes David Quinn In February 1949, the head of the Catholic Church in Hungary, Cardinal József Mindszenty, was sentenced to life in prison by the country’s communist government, one that had been put into power by Joseph Stalin, the Soviet Union’s communist dictator.…
Thousands of Catholics across the island of Ireland celebrated the 105th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima, with 515 public rosary rallies held May 14. Organisers the Irish Society for Christian Civilisation (ISFCC) said the number of rallies is growing quickly, describing it as “a tsunami of graces for Ireland”. “You can…
Pope Francis to visit three cities in Canada in July The Vatican confirmed Friday that Pope Francis will visit three cities in Canada during the last week of July. The Pope will travel to Edmonton, Quebec City, and Iqaluit on July 24-30, the Holy See press office said on May 13. The Pope had announced…
Personal Profile When Karen Wynne left home to work in Dublin, her mother encouraged her to join a prayer group. But Karen resisted until a trip to Medjugorje open her eyes to the importance of prayer and work in community are to strengthen your faith. Karen always had a connection to the Faith due to…
Irish delegations attended the canonisation of ten new saints, May 15, the Church’s first canonisation since that of St John Henry Newman and four others in October 2019. Religious and lay alike flocked to Rome to see male and female religious, priests and a lay man recognised for their lives filled with “small acts of…
The Monastic Heart, 50 Simple Practices for a Contemplative and Fulfilling Life by Sister Joan Chittister (Hodder & Stoughton, £22.99/€27.00) The kind of peace of mind and heart which poets and sages write about proves elusive for many of us these days. We need to remind ourselves, or perhaps for many of us, to actually…
The excusable doesn’t need to be excused and the inexcusable cannot be excused. Michael Buckley wrote those words commenting on St Peter’s triple betrayal of Jesus. Here’s the context. Peter had betrayed Jesus in his most needy hour, not out of malice, simply out of weakness. Now, facing Jesus for the first time since that…
Peter Costello
David Quinn
Ruadhán Jones
Fr Ronald Rolheiser