by Jonah McKeown A study that claims to be the largest national survey of Catholic priests conducted in more than 50 years has found that despite relatively high levels of personal well-being and fulfilment among priests as a whole, a significant percentage of priests have issues with burnout, distrust in their bishop, and fears of…
New Government grants aimed at harvesting the sun may not be enough of a push for parishes, writes Chai Brady Rapidly increasing energy costs are on everyone’s mind in Europe as Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine continues to rage, driving up the price of gas. It’s somewhat of a perfect storm for consumers since fuel…
Ireland’s Hidden Medicine: An exploration of Irish indigenous medicine from legend and myth to the present day by Rosarie Kingston (Aeon Books, €19.99/£16.99) This book will be compelling reading for those interested in folk medicine, also known as indigenous or traditional medicine. Such ideas are an important part of our heritage, for some of these ideas…
The oldest surviving codex containing the four canonical Gospels is open for all to see, Ruadhán Jones hears Given that Christianity is two millennia old, it is not surprising that documents from close to the time of its inception are hard to come by. How fortunate we are, then, to have ancient Biblical manuscripts dating…
Agatha Christie: A Very Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley (Hodder & Stoughton, €23.99/£25.00) Dr Lucy Worsley has become very much a fixture on our small screens, with a distinct penchant for dressing up in period costumes, which to some leaves an impression of history as mere fancy dress with a modern accent, rather than the…
Personal Profile Fr Ronan Sheehan (28) went straight from finishing his Leaving Certificate into seminary. While some people said he was too young to start, he has no regrets and is “excited” to begin his ministry as curate to the Cork family of parishes Ballincollig, Ovens and Ballinora. His decision to join the priesthood didn’t…
Eritrean authorities are continuing to detain Catholic Bishop Fikremariam Hagos Tsalim of Segheneity, who was arrested at the Asmara International Airport October 15. After the Catholic Church queried about the situation and his whereabouts, government authorities confirmed the bishop, who turned 52 October 23, is in their custody. Bishop Tsalim was picked up soon after…
Shortly after ordination, doing replacement work in a parish, I found myself in a rectory with a saintly old priest. He was over 80, nearly blind, but widely sought out and respected, especially as a confessor. One night, alone with him, I asked him this question: “If you had your priesthood to live over again,…
Children’s Corner A very popular experiment which always delivers quite spectacular results is the Diet Coke and Mentos geyser. It’s a lot of fun and sure to amaze your friends and family (assuming you do it outside rather than inside your house). Apparatus: Large bottle of Diet Coke About half a pack of Mentos Geyser tube…
Neil Jordan: Works for the Page, by Val Nolan Jr. (Cork University Press, €39.00 / £35.00) Neil Jordan’s career as an artist has been a curious one. He started, as so many writers do, by publishing a slim book with a short-lived and long vanished Irish publisher. But then a period of time working for…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones
Peter Costello
Fr Ronald Rolheiser