Fr Colm Mannion Born in Birr, Co. Offaly, I didn’t come in contact with the Dominican Order until I moved to Dublin in my early 20’s. After some years involved with the Legion of Mary, I eventually received the grace to put myself forward for the priesthood. While it took some years for me to…
The Presentation Brothers extends their prayers, thoughts, best wishes and expression of solidarity to all affected in so many ways by this COVID-19 outbreak. The united effort, both local and global, to combat this virus, has been phenomenal. People have rallied together to do their part in the flight against the spread of the virus.…
Edmund Rice 1762-1844 The Christian Brothers were founded just over two hundred years ago by a remarkable Irishman called Edmund Rice. Born into a situation where his people had little share in their country’s resources, Edmund was part of a minority who had the advantage of a good education and everything needed in the way…
An Indonesian Catholic youth organisation has formed a solidarity movement where people are being encouraged to help support families during the coronavirus. The ‘Adopt One Brother’ movement, started by Catholic Youth, has spread to 26 of the country’s 34 provinces, according to Stefanus Asat Gusma, who heads up the group’s Covid-19 task force. He said…
The Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary was founded in 1800 in France in the aftermath of the French Revolution. It was a time of great disorder and fear. One of God’s responses to the cries of the people of that time was to call together a community of men and women…
Fr Alan Neville My favourite painting, without doubt, is found in a small church in Rome, just off the Piazza Navona, only a short walk from St. Peter’s. The Call of St. Matthew is tucked away in a corner with two other works by the same painter, Michelangelo Merisi de Caravaggio. It depicts the very…
A Quiet Tide by Marianne Lee (New Island Books, €14.95) Felix M. Larkin Ellen Hutchins (1785-1815) is described in the Dictionary of Irish Biography as “one of the earliest Irish women scientists…an avid collector of plants, especially the mosses, bryophytes, fungi and lichens around the family home on Bantry Bay”. Though she never published anything…
The mission of the Sisters of Mercy is to be a compassionate presence in the world. Through their work they are involved in multiple ministries including addiction centres, prison chaplaincy, education, catechesis and advocacy. One particular example of how the Sisters of Mercy have made their compassion known is through the Children’s Grief Centre in…
When Presentation Sisters reflect on Vocation Sunday, the timing of the annual day of prayer influences their reflection. The day is placed in the post-Easter calendar, the same time of the year as when the foundress of Presentation Sisters, Nano Nagle, passed from the world (26th April 1784). One month after her death one of…
Pope and French President discuss global unity Pope Francis has expressed his closeness and support to France during a telephone conversation with the country’s leader. The President’s office said the Pope and President Emmanuel Macron spoke for about 45 minutes last week by telephone. The Pope positively acknowledged “the constructive responses taken by France at…