Ruadhán JonesThe decision by some rural Catholic schools to change to integrated education in the North has been described as “deathbed conversions” by the bishop of Derry.
Rural schools’ moves to integrated education ‘deathbed conversions’
Month: December 2023
There is nothing simple about the conflict in the Holy Land
Breda O'Brien
For the first time ever, this year some of my second level students queried whether we should be singing, ‘O Come Emmanuel, the great Advent hymn. The reason? It refers to Israel, and in particular, to ransoming captive Israel. Students politely explained that they do not support Israel’s action in Gaza and as a result,…
Insta-culture and a powerful Advent lesson on delayed gratification
Scott Richert When my sisters and I were young, my mother would spend all of Advent baking cookies and making candy. That may hardly seem remarkable; after all, countless millions of Christmas cookies are baked and consumed every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. But my mother didn’t eat any of the cookies she…
Finding God’s many gifts in the rush of everyday life
Peter Costello
The Universe Provides: Finding Miracles and Inspiration in Unexpected Places, by Eddie Gilmore (Darton, Longman & Todd, £9.99) At the beginning of December and the coming of the Christmas season, Eddie Gilmore had only been a couple of weeks in Ireland. He came here to work at An Síol, the L’Arche residence down in Callan…
In 2023, does marriage really still matter?
David Quinn
We are rapidly moving far beyond the family based on the love of one man and one woman for the good of children, writes David Quinn The Government has announced that two more referendums on the Constitution are to be held. The date of the vote will be March 8. Given that Christmas looms, this…
Pray the news, pray the media, and imbue the culture with Christ
Sr Nancy Usselmann Though they’re gifts from God, living and working behind our media screens can sap our energy and leave us feeling listless and spiritually dry. Growing our spiritual lives while immersed in a digital world requires a media spirituality that centres us in Christ, the perfect communicator. Blessed James Alberione developed Pauline spirituality…
Sex, money and ‘manure for marriage’
90-year-old Sr Mary Neville MSHR tells Ruadhán Jones about life on the missions “Holy Rosary Sisters, we love you,” sang the group of Cameroonian women in one of the Irish order’s houses in Dublin city. “And we’ve come to say thank you.” The women had gathered in Dublin to say thank you to the…
Puerto Rican star swaps rap for the Risen Lord
Popstar Daddy Yankee has shocked fans with the announcement that he’s giving up his life in music in favour of his faith.
Baroness O’Loan introduces pro-life bill in Westminster
Baroness Nuala O’Loan has introduced a private members bill to Westminster, seeking to reduce the time limit for abortion in the UK from 24 to 22 weeks.
Gaza pastor stresses spiritual life for Advent
As the Church begins its Advent and Christmas seasons, the pastor of Gaza’s lone Catholic parish stressed the importance of stepping up one’s spiritual life amid the tragedies of war, and said the Pope’s attention to them has been a major consolation. “It is truly a tough time,” said Fr Gabriel Romanelli, an Argentinian priest…