Our faith tells us that we have much to be grateful for but we rarely live as though that’s the case, writes Jason Osborne The pandemic was a real wake-up call for me when it comes to gratitude. I spent the better part of lockdown thinking and complaining bitterly about the sorry state of affairs, which…
England’s former Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, has said he made the decision to quit Boris Johnson’s Conservative government after hearing a sermon on integrity. Mr Javid told the BBC’s Sunday Morning show that he heard the sermon at a prayer breakfast in parliament, which was delivered by Reverend Les Isaac. “It might sound a bit…
Theology is an intimidating area for most Christians but it contains riches to reenergise the Church, Alister McGrath tells Jason Osborne Theology gets a bad rap in many corners of Christendom today. Some think it too difficult, others too obscure, while still more think it to be just plain, old boring. Are these attitudes towards…
The Parish of Newtownards and Comber, Co. Down, celebrated 150 years of worship in Our Lady of the Visitation Church, Saturday, May 29. Bishop of Down and Connor Noel Treanor attended on the day, con-celebrating Mass with a number of priests and deacons of the diocese. Parishioners, former priests of the parish and friends from…
The internet is a very recent development and not one without its dangers, writes Jason Osborne The weather this summer has left an awful lot to be desired and as a result, we may be inclined to spend more time indoors and on the internet than we would otherwise. Though a very recent innovation, the…
Thousands of people from around Ireland flocked to Dublin city centre on Saturday to urge both the Government and the Irish public to “rethink abortion”. The crowd assembled at Parnell square before marching down O’Connell Street and onto Custom House Quay. Speaking in St Saviour’s Church and Dominican priory ahead of the march, Archbishop of…
The ultimate goal of marriage to Tyrone star Peter Harte’s mind is “to get each other to heaven”. Speaking recently in Drumragh parish, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, Mr Harte said that just as you’re trying to get your spouse to heaven in marriage, you’re trying to get your children there too. Faith “Our challenge now for…
A great many people would probably acknowledge the pursuit of happiness as the goal undergirding many of the choices they make as they live out their lives. However, how many of us truly find it? It’s not as easy a thing to come by as many of us have heard our whole lives. So when someone…
Faith plays a crucial role in living a happy life, Harvard Professor and social scientist Arthur Brooks has said. There’s a lot of research on the main happiness habits but faith and life philosophy are the first factors to be considered, Professor Brooks told The Irish Catholic newspaper. “What you do find is that people…
If we all went home and loved our families, the world would be a better place, was Tyrone footballer Peter Harte’s message for families in Drumragh parish as he quoted St Mother Teresa. Occasioned by the World Meeting of Families in Rome, Drumragh parish in Omagh, Co. Tyrone celebrated a ‘vocation of the family Mass’…