Personal profile Colm Fitzpatrick learns about the power of the homily Although homilies at Mass can sometimes sound repetitive or even boring, one Capuchin priest is offering helpful tips on how to make the homily more interesting and thought-provoking. Cork-born Fr Silvester O’Flynn is well known for his reflections on the three cycles of…
Children’s Corner Displays of incredible strength have been a form of entertainment for centuries, whereby performers attempt to lift or endure the force of extremely heavy weights. Usually known as ‘strongmen’, these performers would dazzle crowds with their incredible feats, and would compete with one another to show their uniqueness. One strongman was Pierre…
Ireland is performing in the bottom half of 15 similar European countries on a range of social, economic and environmental indicators, a new study has revealed. Published yesterday by Social Justice Ireland (SJI), Measuring Progress: Economy, Society and Environment in Ireland 2018 assessed performance across the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report highlighted Ireland’s…
An investigation into allegations of sexual abuse and cover-up in Chile will continue despite the prelate tasked with leading it having been admitted to hospital for gallbladder surgery, it has been announced. Malta’s Archbishop Charles Scicluna was in Chile to meet with survivors of abuse from Fr Fernando Karadima, who in 2011 was found guilty…
Many Catholics feel they have to keep their heads down because their faith attracts criticism from the dominant culture, the Papal Nuncio has warned. Archbishop Jude Okolo told a gathering in Galway in the weekend that it was also disappointing that the media tends to focus on negativity – particularly when it comes to reporting…
Only the Gospel can rescue our society, writes Colm Fitzpatrick Focusing on our multiple global crises from environmental disasters and financial instability to political upheaval and security threats, Dr Michael Kirwan SJ, Adjunct Associate Professor of the Loyola Institute in Trinity College, Dublin, recently gave a thought-provoking lecture about the failures of secularism and…
A pro-life group and parents of children with Down syndrome have expressed their hurt and anger following remarks made by Micheál Martin concerning the presence of disability activists in the Eighth Amendment debate. Micheal O’Dowd of the group Disability Voices for Life said that the Fianna Fáil leader had “crossed a line” and “was trying…
Porn addiction can have longstanding effects, writes Colm Fitzpatrick With one in three Irish people viewing porn before turning 16, addiction can become a serious and harmful issue. In an age where sexually explicit images and videos are available at the push of a button, questions need to be raised about the negative effects…
Personal Profile Claire Devaney tells Colm Fitzpatrick about her youth mission From exciting camps and clubs to vital school ministry, one woman is stepping up to the mark to give religious education a new lease of life. Claire Devaney is Primary School Co-ordinator with Scripture Union Ireland, an ecumenical Christian organisation which focuses on…
The World Meeting of Families is inviting couples to share special tokens of love with a difference for Saint Valentine’s Day this year. Following Pope Francis’ calls to celebrate St Valentine’s Day in a more meaningful way, WMOF2018 is asking couples to think beyond the traditional box of chocolates or bunch of flowers to tokens…