Questions of Faith The practice of marrying multiple spouses – also known as polygamy – is a hot topic at the moment. Not completely dissimilar to an open relationship where a couple agrees to having sexual relations with other people, polygamy takes this a step further and enshrines the relationship in marriage. There are three…
Waving goodbye to your child is hard but there are ways to cope, writes Colm Fitzpatrick There are times during parenthood when mums and dads fantasise about their child finally leaving home; perhaps it’s during the infancy stage after a series of sleepless nights, or when their stroppy teenager refuses to speak to them. It’s normal…
Questions of Faith If you pop into any church around the world and have a look around, you’ll probably see a set of small candles burning with the option to light one yourself. The use of prayer or votive candles has become very popular in recent years, and they are usually lit in front of…
The outcomes of the October summit could have a huge impact on indigenous communities, writes Colm Fitzptrick It’s been a synod tinged with controversy over priestly celibacy and female leadership in the Church; amidst all of this, eyes were also focused on two statues stolen from a church near the Vatican and subsequently thrown in…
Children’s Corner There are lots of different types of tricks that magicians perform – sometimes they will make objects appear and disappear, saw a lady in half, or read people’s minds. One popular illusion that most stage conjurors still present today is levitation. This is the art of making something float off the ground without…
Personal Profile God is present in the cries and injustices of the world, Colm Fitzpatrick learns Words usually don’t do justice to depict real, lived experiences and this sentiment couldn’t be truer when describing the harrowing conditions in Kenya’s Mukuru slums. With rising poverty and violence across the region, it can be difficult to muster…
Questions of Faith Organ donation can make a tremendous difference to the quality of people’s lives – thousands suffer yearly from liver, kidney and heart problems, so a chance to find a replacement organ for its damaged counterpart can be a dream come true. Despite its benefits, it’s not uncommon to hear reservations about this…
Hallowe’en should be spent with family and friends, not in A&E, writes Colm Fitzpatrick Hallowe’en is a highlight for many in the calendar year; the opportunity to dress up as your favourite superhero or ghoul, stay up late into the night, and eat an endless supply of sweets makes it a favourite among the…
Questions of Faith Catholics believe that at the end of her life, Mary, the mother of Jesus, was assumed both body and soul into heaven. Preserved free from all stain of original sin, she was taken up by God to share in his heavenly glory. This doctrine was dogmatically defined by Pope Pius XII in…
Questions of Faith In today’s world, plenty of people have lucky charms; it might be a football that their father gave them when they were a child; a special pen that is always used in exams; or a lucky coin that is kept in one’s wallet or purse. The belief that objects or practices have…
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