International Men’s Health Week is coming up, and stark statistics show just how vital it is, writes Jason Osborne International Men’s Health Week begins every year on the Monday before Father’s Day and ends on Father’s Day itself, meaning this year it runs from Monday June 14 to Sunday June 20. An initiative of the…
Category: Features
Fanning the flame of God’s calling
Personal Profile Four countries and nine years of preparation later, Bro. Ryan Holovlasky CSsR made his perpetual vows to the order of Redemptorists in March 2021. “It was worth the wait,” Bro. Ryan tells The Irish Catholic, explaining that he always felt “that flame burning that God was calling me to the priesthood”. Bro. Ryan…
Hiking the hills of Ireland
Last time saw swimming discussed, but this week we take to the hills, writes Jason Osborne In the last feature, I discussed the mental and physical (and spiritual, too) benefits of open-sea swimming, but this week we’ll cast our eyes to the hills. One of the best things to come of the pandemic is a renewed appreciation of…
Following a call to promote the priesthood
Personal Profile On January 15, 1994, while she was praying before the Blessed Sacrament in adoration at a retreat, Marion Mulhall received her vocation. This vocation was and still is “to promote the priesthood at any price, to use my skills and experience in advertising for the good of the Church,” Ms Mulhall tells The…
Putting faith in the ‘Angel of the trenches’
Personal Profile In the late 1980s, Pat Sweeney and his family travelled to France for their daughter, who wanted to improve her French. They spent three weeks going around the country, including a fateful visit to Lisieux, the home of St Thérèse Martin. From that moment on, Mr Sweeney’s life was to revolve more and…
Braving the cold water
Restrictions are lifting and spring is upon us, so there’s no better time to take to the sea for a swim writes Jason Osborne Availing of the improved weather in recent weeks, I made my way to the nearby coastline for a plunge into the icy waters. Rarely does an activity result in such a…
A life ‘looking down’ to search for God
Personal Profile In the 1970s, the then Superior General of the Jesuit’s – Fr Pedro Arrupe, called by some the second founder of the Jesuits – had what Fr John Guiney SJ calls “a tremendous insight”: in order for the Jesuits to promote and preach the Faith, they must also promote justice. It was this…
Tips for successful springtime studying
Studying is difficult at the best of times, but especially as the weather turns for the better, writes Jason Osborne A number of friends of mine have been settling down to study recently as one test or another reared its head. The studies range from college to exams for work, but the fundamentals remain the same. In ordinary…
Dreaming big after a long journey
Personal Profile Vocations Sunday 2021 marked the culmination of ten years hard work for Brother – now Father – Damian Casey OFM, as he was ordained to priesthood by Archbishop of Dublin Dr Dermot Farrell. It was a joyous day for Fr Damian, whose path to the priesthood was a long one, he says. “It’s…
Sustainability in the home
Implementing sustainable practices at home is tricky, but the increased time we spend there now is an incentive, writes Jason Osborne It’s interesting that caring for the environment is such a contentious issue in many Catholic circles these days – although I think it’s often the condescending manner in which the message is sometimes communicated…