The life of Fr Patrick Burke was celebrated in a homily by Tuam’s archbishop Michael Neary after the 38-year-old Westport-based priest died on June 25. Speaking in St Mary’s Church, Galway, where Fr Burke had his first Communion and was ordained as a priest, Archbishop Neary described the church as being Fr Burke’s “spiritual home”,…
Fr Conor McDonough “Where are all the married saints?” It’s a question we might find ourselves asking as we prepare for the upcoming World Meeting of Families. Of course, countless unknown saints have been raised up by God in the heart of family life, but very few of them are officially canonised or beatified.…
Pat O’Kelly The National Concert Hall ended its 2017/18 International Concert Season recently with the first visit to Ireland of the Würth Philharmonic Orchestra. Initially I mistakenly thought Würth to be a place but closer scrutiny revealed it to be the name of an individual – the businessman, philanthropist and art collector, Reinhold Würth.…
Fun in the sun It’s festivals galore this summer and one that always stands out is the annual St Anne’s Park Rose Festival which is taking place on July 14-15 from 10am-6pm each day. It takes place on Dublin’s northside where the public can enjoy woodland walks, recreational facilities and, of course, the beautiful Rose…
Personal Profile Matthew Carlson speaks with a Holocaust survivor Tomi Reichental has lived quite a life, even by normal standards. He is an author, public speaker, world traveller and to top it off, is one of the last survivors of one of humanities darkest time, the Holocaust. Born in Slovakia in 1935, Tomi has…
Dear Editor, The national airwaves and dailies have been full of late with references to how, fresh from her victory in the abortion referendum, Minister Josepha Madigan led a Communion service for those gathered for Mass. One aspect of this we must surely grapple with honestly is whether people who flout Church teaching should be…
Do not fear the Cross, Pope tells Christians during homily For Jesus, suffering and glory go hand in hand, Pope Francis said, urging Christians not to fall into the temptation of running from the Cross, but to imitate Christ in bending down to embrace the weak and vulnerable. In his homily for the June 29 Solemnity of Ss Peter and Paul, the official patrons…
Elise Harris In his latest prayer video, Pope Francis asked Catholics to dedicate the month of July to giving a spiritual gift to their pastors by praying for them, especially the priests who are tired or lonely. “The tiredness of priests…Do you know how often I think about it?” This is the opening line…
Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide was sentenced to 12 months of house arrest following his conviction for failing to inform police about child sexual abuse allegations. Magistrate Robert Stone announced the sentence in Newcastle Lower Court July 3 and ordered an assessment of the 67-year-old archbishop to determine his suitability to serve the sentence at…
Elise Harris In his latest move on the Chilean clerical abuse crisis, Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Horacio del Carmen Valenzuela Abarca of Talca, and Bishop Alejandro Goić Karmelić of Rancagua, both of whom have come under fire for their reaction to abuse allegations. Valenzuela, 64, is one of four bishops…