The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. Many of us will be familiar with the opening lines of Thomas Hood’s delightful poem… “I remember, I remember the house where I was born, The little window where the sun peeped in at morn.” Less familiar and less cheerful are his lines about November… “No shade,…

The Faithful gathered to mark the official opening and blessing of the new Prayer Path in Mount Saint Joseph Abbey created by the 2019-2020 Transition Year students from Cistercian College with singers, poetry readings and more. Abbott Dom Malachy Thompson blessed the path and cut the ribbon. He congratulated the students, Fr AodhánMcDunphy and Paddy…

The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. It was an attempt to start an argument with Jesus, to disconcert him, when one of the pharisees asked for his opinion on the greatest commandment. Jesus cut through all their commentaries and debates with a simple and challenging answer: “You must love the Lord your God…

World Mission Sunday (18th October, 2020) Together we can do more – Blessed are the peacemakers (Mt 5:9) Chai Brady speaks to Ireland’s OLA provincial about violence, feminism, tackling conflict and the rewarding life of a missionary Measuring the fruits of violence is always easier than those of peace, as often it’s the bomb that…

The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. Today’s Readings open up the contentious relationship between religion and politics, between the sacred and secular dimensions of life. In the First Reading the political decision of the Babylonian King, Cyrus, unwittingly served the plan of God for the release of the Jewish captives. In today’s Gospel…

Frank Browne On Saturday August 29, I was ordained a permanent deacon in the parish church of Saggart, by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin for the Dublin Diocese. The ordination ceremony was an important event for my family. My wife, and children (aged from 10 to 17 years), had some concerns over what my becoming a deacon…

In the midst of this crisis, the Pope offers a steadying and hope-filled message, writes Fr Niall Coll The recent surge in Covid-19 infections rates and tightening of restrictions throughout the country in its wake have shaken us and the world has been shocked by the news that the President of the United States, Donald…

In the midst of pandemic, the Pontiff is calling us to re-focus on a radical worldview that sees everyone as brothers and sisters, writes Michael Kelly Professing faith in God as the creator of all human beings, or even simply recognising that all people possess an inherent dignity, has concrete consequences for how people should…

In Co. Down the small and vibrant parish of Ardkeen has been bursting with creativity during lockdown ensuring that the parishioners knew the loving presence of Christ and the support of the Church, writes Paula McKeown Initially our parish started with weekly ‘Faith Survival Kits’, the family rosary, a weekly children’s Mass that teachers and…

The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. Today’s Gospel (Matthew 22:1-14) is a parable about an invitation to a wedding, not just any wedding, but the royal wedding of the king’s son. In Michelangelo’s famous fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, the finger of God is reaching towards Adam drawing him into…