Peter Seewald’s extensive biography gives invaluable insight into Benedict XVI’s life, writes Ruadhán Jones “His resignation, and not just his resignation, showed anyone saying that this pope was ‘conservative’ how nonsensical that reductionist label was,” writes Peter Seewald in the second volume of his monumental biography of Pope-emeritus Benedict XVI. Although this comment comes in…
Amidst supporting refugees and ongoing instability the Jesuit Refugee Service are determined to support ‘hugely significant’ papal trip, Chai Brady hears The Covid pandemic and now the devastating invasion of Ukraine have gripped the world, both causing untold grief and sometimes leaving little room for other thoughts or concerns – particularly among the people of…
A pilgrimage to the Holy Land is an opportunity for faith and culture to meet writes Michael Kelly The Irish Catholic is pleased to announce to new pilgrimages to the Holy Land this autumn. The first group, accompanied by Fr Eamonn Conway, will leave Dublin on October 1. The second group, led by Fr…
On Passion Sunday each year we have what people refer to as the long Gospel, properly called The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This year we have St Luke’s version. The four evangelists basically write about the same event but each one has his own particular interests as well as his immediate readership in view. There…
When a building is shaking due to incessant bombing, it causes fear but “we are with the people” a Salesian priest delivering aid to Ukraine tells Chai Brady The world has looked on in horror at the devastation and death left behind by Russian soldiers who retreated from a town north-east of Ukraine’s capital of…
The Sunday Gospel Our Sunday Gospels this year are taken from Luke, but today’s story of the woman accused of adultery is found in John’s Gospel 8:1-11. But it is very likely that it was originally a portion of Luke that somehow found its way into the manuscripts of John. Its present location breaks the continuity of…
Former Irish international and Premier League player Keith Fahey tells Chai Brady about his winding road to faith Looking back to the time he played professional football, Keith Fahey says he received a lot of compliments and “pats on the back”, but ultimately that didn’t serve him in the long run. Nowadays, each morning, Mr…
Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz hopes to shed light on human trafficking with his new sculpture, Ruadhán Jones learns “When the Vatican asks you to do a sculpture, you have a tendency to drop everything you’re doing and dive right into it,” Canadian artist Timothy Schmalz says. He should know, having previously unveiled his sculpture ‘Angels…
The first group of post-coronavirus pilgrims in the Holy Land received a warm welcome, writes Michael Kelly It was with a certain sense of the unknown that 40 pilgrims set off from Dublin Airport late last month to make our way to the Holy Land. Regulations then in place (since thankfully dropped) meant we all…
The Sunday Gospel If all of Scripture were to be destroyed with the exception of one passage, my choice to be preserved would be today’s Gospel (Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32), the parable of the Prodigal Son. This is the essence of salvation history, the story of sin and God’s offer of forgiveness. It describes three steps…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady
Michael Kelly