Letter from Jerusalem Justin Robinson OSB Easter is a time of hope, something which has occupied me a lot lately as the season comes to a close and my three-year sojourn in a war-torn Holy Land comes to an end. We hope for things all the time. I have a long-standing hope that Middlesbrough FC…
Michael R. Heinlein What does it mean to receive Jesus Christ in the Eucharist? How are our lives to be changed from such an encounter? In fact, the fruits of the Eucharist are many. They bring about a unity in diversity, wherein each member of the body – responding to grace – can live unique…
The station manager John Nugent writes about it Not everybody gets excited about their third birthday, but the people involved in ourvoicefm.com certainly are! This internet radio station was set up to support individuals and groups who don’t often get the chance to have their voices heard. Truly heard! The Brothers of Charity Services West…
It is long overdue to tackle the false prophets, writes Mike Lewis On Tuesday, May 7, the Vatican Press Office announced that a press conference will be held on May 17 where the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) will present a new document containing provisions for discerning the authenticity of claimed apparitions…
Lauretta Brown When I mention to priests and religious that I am reading one spiritual classic a month this year, I often immediately get the advice not to read The Dark Night of the Soul by St John of the Cross. I have obligingly avoided that intimidating work, but when one Carmelite encouraged me to…
Alan Whelan The recent International Catholic GRACE Report pointed out that 35% of Irish Catholic school teachers do not believe in God and that only 48% of Catholic Religious Education teachers attend weekly Mass. Meanwhile there is the Dublin Archdiocese decision of a very few years ago that sacramental preparation should be more firmly placed…
Silvio Cuéllar Over a decade ago, my wife Becky and I decided to cut our cable service and go without television. It was a drastic decision at the time, but one that helped our children learn many skills, such as playing instruments, painting and developing their talents at a young age. We made that decision…
Effie Caldarola One morning, I was half-listening to America’s National Public Radio as I quickly prepared for an appointment. Into the shower, grab the coffee, find the toothbrush and in the midst of this, bits and pieces of the day’s news. Then, ‘StoryCorps’ was playing. An independent nonprofit, StoryCorps exists to let people tell their…
Fr Shay Cullen During a meeting of top cabinet members, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed shock and dismay. He was very disturbed about the prevalence of online sexual abuse and exploitation of small children as young as three years old. This is due to the inaction of the telecommunications corporations that defy the law (RA…
Letter from Florence Micheal Sanfey A leading art expert friend of mine – speaking with a degree of Roman hauteur – declared that while she sometimes needed to be in Venice, she didn’t need to be in Florence. Quite frankly she just didn’t seem to like Florence very much, if at all. Scrambling for examples…