The Irish Spirit – Issue No. 12 They celebrate the divine presence already in our hearts From the book Treasured and Transformed by Daniel O’Leary It is common, unfortunately, for preachers to talk about the sacraments in terms of offering grace to graceless people. This presumes, to a greater or lesser extent, that those who…

The Irish Spirit – Issue No. 12   From the book Beautiful Thoughts for Beautiful Minds by John Scally The late Pope John Paul I was known as the ‘smiling Pope’. Desmond Tutu is the laughing archbishop – a man who wears his humanity on his sleeve. When I was a boy, one of my…

The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. Today’s Gospel (Matthew 16:13-20) is a story of new names. In the Bible a new name meant a new mission. First of all, Jesus asked the disciples: “Who do people say I am?” Names of former heroes were recalled. “But who do you say I am?” Simon…

We may see the possibilities of technologies being realised more and more by faith communities even as things start to get back to normal writes Dr Brian Conway Perhaps more than at any other time in recent history, today’s pandemic world has led to a rapid reappraisal of how we organise virtually every single aspect…

Our churches holds memories, not resting in stone but in prayer writes Fr Willie Purcell There is so much to thank God for: the ancient paths where our ancestors trod on their way to Mass, the wonder of the seasons that gave them hope often in times of struggle and despair. The companionship of family…

This is a homily preached by Fr John Carroll at the funeral of Mr Donohue who died from cancer last month I don’t intend to ‘talk up’ Jason’s life, or indeed his many achievements – his is a life that speaks for itself: a gentle life, a noble life, a life marked with gratitude for…

The Sunday Gospel Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap. In today’s Gospel (Matthew 15:21-28), a troubled mother pleads with Jesus to cure her tormented daughter. We are surprised to read that he answered her not a word. It’s so unlike Jesus. But he knew what he was doing. He was drawing out deeper depths of her…

‘A paragon of peace’ Archbishop 
Eamon Martin – Primate of All-Ireland “A great sadness has descended on my home city of Derry today as we learn of the death of one of our greatest sons, Mr John Hume. That sadness ripples out to every corner of Ireland and all around the world where the mere mention…

He was a great man of faith who chose not to parade his Christianity – just to practice it and persevere through thick and thin writes Martin O’Brien John Hume was one of the greatest Irishmen who has ever lived. He was one of the greatest in this or in any age since hunter gatherers…

The proud Derry man had to do Daniel O’Connell’s work all over again writes Dr Martin Mansergh For most people in Ireland, John Hume was the guide throughout the northern conflict who advocated the necessity of a peaceful political resolution. It was one that demanded a fundamental rebalancing of institutions to reflect the fact of…