Dear Editor, I do not think that I can be alone in seeing the publicity surrounding Archbishop Diarmuid Martin’s recent speech on the New Evangelisation in a New Ireland as being a missed opportunity. Whilst there is much of interest and value in the speech itself, drawing on the call of Pope Francis and Pope Benedict…
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More insights into Africa’s mission era
In this book Fr Hogan, now living in Cork after a life spent on the missions in Africa, continues his interesting investigations of the social, political and religious interactions in the early years of colonial Nigeria. The Ebira of his study maynot be so familiar a name as the Ibo or Yoruba are to many…
At Home in My Body, CD1: Reconnecting
A sign of the changing times: this is a CD by a Connemara based priest, influenced perhaps by Eastern ideas, which allows listeners to become at home in themselves, and in doing so open up their spirit to wider influences. His insights are intended for both individuals and for prayer groups. There has been a long…
Seamless Robe: New and Collected Poems
The allusion in the title is, of course, to the robe of Christ, but in these poems by the parish priest of a parish near Dublin, they might also allude to the seamless nature of life and spirit. Poets he notes write from what they know, and what a parish priest has is a very…
St Gerard Majella: Rediscovering a Saint
Majella is a familiar enough personal name in Northern Ireland, as Fr McConvery reminds us, and in past decades there was a wide spread devotion to him, especially in matters that concerned what the author calls ìthe great life- giving mysteriesî of conception, labour and birth. Though St Gerard (born in 1726 and died in 1755),…
Under Pope Francis, liberation theology comes of age
Pope Francis’ September 11 meeting with Dominican Fr Gustavo Gutierrez was an informal one, held in the in the Pope’s residence, the Domus Sanctae Marthae, and not listed on his official schedule. Yet the news that Pope Francis had received the 85-year old Peruvian priest, who is widely considered the father of liberation theology, has…
Challenging the Church
"Despite their condemnation of violence, the Churches were not seen as neutral and above the fray. They were seen as part of the problem. This made it very difficult for them to be seen as part of the solution.” That was John Brewer, Professor of Post-Conflict Studies, one of the foremost sociologists of religion,…
Tánaiste’s move on uniforms ‘strange’ – education chief
Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore’s plans to force schools to allow parents opt for cheaper uniforms has been branded “strange” by an senior education chief. Ferdia Kelly, General Secretary of the Joint Managerial Body (JMB) told The Irish Catholic “it seems strange that the Minister for Foreign Affairs would want to bring in regulations on school…
Dublin parish to launch Year of Faith boat
Cherry Orchard Parish in Dublin will launch a custom-made Year of Faith boat next week, built by the local men’s shed group. The idea for the boat, based on the Year of Faith logo, was originally floated by parish priest, Fr Sean Duggan. Parish Pastoral Worker, Jane Mellet and parishioner Mary Barrett both jumped…
Raphoe launches Faith Gathering
Bishop Philip Boyce officially launched the Raphoe Faith Gathering at an event in the Pastoral Centre in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal last Monday. The Faith Gathering will take place on the weekend of October 19-20 in the Loreto Secondary School Letterkenny with a variety of keynote speakers and workshops, including an address by Papal Nuncio,…