Notebook I’m sure there are other similar parishes around the country, but in my pastoral experience I have never experienced any community like the people of Ballycallan. After my appointment as curate in 1992, I visited the church for the first time and I was shocked and depressed. I had just returned from studying in…
Notebook Ever since becoming Pope in 2013, Francis, the son of migrants, has sought to awaken the consciences of people worldwide to the plight of migrants and refugees, which is the result of the biggest humanitarian crisis since the end of World War II and now involves, according to the United Nations, some 70.8 million…
Notebook Sometime early in November one of my friends sent me the following bumper-sticker ‘Note to all premature Christmas decorators: Calm down, Mary hasn’t even told Joseph she’s pregnant yet!’ A few days after the bumper sticker arrived I read an essay entitled ‘Advent RIP’. Basically the writer articulates what we all know to…
Notebook November is a reflective time as we remember our loved ones who have died. It is particularly a time of remembering those who died in war and strife. For us in Ireland, remembering our fellow countrymen who died fighting for a British army has not always been easy. In recent years we have come…
Notebook A question. Do you know what the first food eaten on the moon was? The answer may surprise many of you…the Eucharist! Of the many interesting milestones marked or celebrated this past summer, one that stood out for me was the 50th anniversary of for the first people to set foot on the moon…
Notebook Jim and Leonie, thank you for asking me to be the priest who witnesses your marriage vows today in this little corner of Co. Monaghan which holds so many wonderful memories for all of us. By way of a reflection I want to share with you a story which was first given to…
The Notebook Many years ago, my friends Monica Brown and Hilary Musgrave introduced me to the whole experience of sacred clowning. Hilary and Monica lead retreats all over the world and the sacred clown ‘Naofa’ is an integral part of their unique approach to spirituality. Sacred clowning has to be experienced because trying to…
The Notebook Recently I found myself doing a little research in the area of women in leadership. I come to this topic as someone who has been fortunate to know and experience some extraordinary women leaders in my own life and particularly in ministry. Any group, any society, any church which denies an equal role…
I can hear it now! A question in a table quiz, 50 years from now: “Which animal is associated with both the first horse since Red Rum to win back to back Grand Nationals and the greatest comeback in golfing history on two consecutive weekends during April 2019?” As I watched Tiger Woods’ extraordinary victory…
The Notebook I suspect very few people would choose Ash Wednesday as one of their favourite days of the year. I have to admit that in recent times the first day of Lent has become a day I do look forward to. A number of years ago, together with my colleague from the neighbouring…