Questions of Faith One question which often ruminates in the minds of those exploring the Faith is ‘Who created God?’ This theological question is so perplexing in that everything around us that we see and feel has a cause. The watch that we wear was made by a watchmaker and the houses we live in…
Questions of Faith Most people have experienced the sadness of witnessing an animal die, usually a beloved pet who brought great joy throughout their short lifespan. During the grieving period, it’s common for parents to tell children that there’s a special place for all the animals who have departed from their world – like a…
Parishes must be like early Christian communities which reach out to help, Colm Fitzpatrick learns Churches are often referred to as the ‘heart of a community’, but in order for this living, breathing muscle to continue to beat, the parish must sustain and support it. This is no easy task; and requires more than…
A group which represents more than 1,000 Irish priests has said Pope Francis’ comments about the status of women deacons is a “major disappointment”. The reaction comes after the Pope revealed that the 2016 commission he appointed to study women deacons in the early Church could not reach a consensus on whether female ordination was…
CCTV cameras are helping to reduce crime in churches and are improving parishioners’ safety, a priest has said. Fr Declan Hurley of Navan’s St Mary’s parish told this newspaper that the church’s security camera system increases the chances of criminals being identified, creating a safer environment for worship. “We have the constant passage of people…
This month saw the culmination of festivities at St Conleth’s church, where the people of Newbridge’s parish came together on his Feast Day to mark the 1,500th anniversary of his death and to celebrate the vibrant parish life that still exists in his name today. The weekend of celebrations began with Mass where Kildare and…
A new book exploring how God can be found in the most dark and chaotic parts of life has been praised as inspiring. The Jewel in the Mess, the latest book by the Church of Ireland Bishop of Connor Rev. Alan Abernethy which was launched this month, details how Bishop Alan came to find the…
New pro-life party Aontú has said it is “delighted” with the Northern Irish local election results, which saw one candidate take up a seat in Derry. Dr Anne McCloskey was elected in the Ballyarnett area of the city, and is the first Aontú representative to be elected in the North. Overall, the recently-formed party polled…
Vocations Sunday Supplement 2019 Joining a religious order could be the best decision you ever make, writes Colm Fitzpatrick There’s an old, well-known joke about how different religious communities are constantly competing with one another, vying to decide which order is the best. It goes something like this: a Franciscan and a Dominican were…
Questions of Faith There’s an old story about an astronaut who went far out into space and upon his return was asked if he had seen God. He replied, to their surprise, that he had, and when pushed to describe what God looked like, he said: “She’s black.” It’s not clear when this thought-provoking tale…