Christians have been going on pilgrimages for most of the history of Christianity. The Camino de Santiago is one of the oldest pilgrimage routes in Christianity, dating back to the death of Jesus. It has stood the test of time through every world-altering event since then and continues to capture the imagination of Christians and…
The Sunday Gospel If you want to know what to believe, study the Creed: if you want to know how to pray, study the Our Father; and if you want to know how to behave, study the Sermon on the Mount. In today’s Mass we have Luke’s version of the Beatitudes at the beginning of…
The Sunday Gospel The days are lengthening, daffodils are here and there is encouraging news about control of the Covid-19 pandemic. Is there any possibility that the virus of sin might be stamped out? Sadly, following the news any night, the evidence is depressing. The readings at Mass today are about two people, Isaiah (Isaiah…
Victor Gaetan tells Ruadhán Jones about the inner-workings of papal diplomacy and evaluates Pope Francis’ contribution The Catholic Church as an institution has a curious structure. Its foot soldier, the parish priest, is visible in almost every community in Ireland. And yet, as Victor Gaetan tells me, “so much good that the Church does around…
Dr Vivian Boland OP’s latest offering is a reminder to a forgetful Church of its true nature, and the role God, Mary and all the saints play in it, writes Jason Osborne Nearly one hundred years ago, German theologian Karl Adam released what would become one of the most highly regarded and influential books on…
Consecrated life has a unique offering to a world ‘broken by hopelessness’, Chai Brady hears Pope Francis encouraged those who support consecrated life to look to the future with confidence, as he said hope continues to prevail, in a December message to some 60 members of the Vatican Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and…
Coole parish is plumbing the depths of its past to find solutions to take it into the future, writes Jason Osborne The parish of Coole (Mayne) is located in north Westmeath and borders the parishes of Abbeylara, Rathowen, Multyfarnham, Taghmon, Castlepollard and Collinstown. A quick scan of its geography is completed when you take the…
The Sunday Gospel In today’s Gospel Reading (Luke 4: 21-30) we continue last Sunday’s story of Jesus returning to his home town, Nazareth, where he preached in the local synagogue. After reading from Isaiah about the power of the Holy Spirit inaugurating a time of liberation and a new way of seeing life, he handed…
Homelessness support and prevention services predict no improvement as Ireland becomes more inhospitable for the vulnerable, writes Chai Brady Continued lack of housing, inflation and the stalling of construction during Covid has heightened the housing crisis, pushing Ireland further away from its targets. While the Government has introduced a range of policies to support people…
The parish of Johnstown/Walterstown is both struggling with and solving Church problems of the present age, writes Jason Osborne Situated in the diocese of Meath, the wider world is coming closer to the parish of Johnstown/Walterstown’s door day by day. Urbanisation is increasing, as is the area’s population, a stark contrast from recent decades. First…
Ruadhán Jones
Chai Brady