At the risk of being simplistic, I want to say something about prayer in a very simple way. While doing doctoral studies, I had a professor, an elderly Augustinian priest, who in his demeanor, speech and attitude, radiated wisdom and maturity. Everything about him bespoke integrity. You immediately trusted him, the wise old grandfather of…
Notebook I once heard the comedian Ardal O’Hanlon say that he would love to have his own chat show and invite famous people to be his guests. The twist was that he would not talk to them about what they expected. He gave an example: “I’d love to have Neil Armstrong on and talk…
Dear Editor, It was wonderful to read your front page [IC 28/05/2020] which describes how the bishops have produced an 88-point draft plan to bring the sacramental life of the Church back to the faithful. There have been so many people being negative, letting fear and blind obedience cloud their judgement rather than being productive.…
It’s 16 years since the then Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly painted the image of ‘tiptoeing’ back to the Church. “It would be good if we recognised the new religions of sex and drink and shopping for what they are and tiptoed back to the Churches,” she told the Céifin conference in 2004. New research carried out…
I’m never been much of a garden person – rather concurring with whoever described gardening as ‘outside housework’. That is, chores done to maintain some kind of domestic order, rather than for any kind of fulfillment. But the Covid-19 lockdown did make me aware that there are people who have no gardens, and no access…
The View Last week, the BBC and other outlets carried a report that a school in Hull had apologised after pupils researched porn on the internet for homework set for its pupils. Children aged 11-14 had been asked to “define” topics such as “hardcore porn”, “soft porn”, “revenge porn” and “sexting”. A mother of…
As the journey back to common worship continues, parishes will need to be ready to hit the ground running, writes Michael Kelly Archbishop Diarmuid Martin spoke for many when he said on Monday evening that “as Christians, we suffer through not being able to celebrate our faith through public worship”. The suspension of public Masses…
When the pandemic is finally over, the livelihoods of very many people will be harmed and the damage will be huge, writes David Quinn The pandemic is increasing feelings of anxiety among the population, with a bigger effect on women than men. This has now been confirmed by new data from the Central Statistics Office…
Despite the changing times in which we are living, some things remain steadfast. This weekend we celebrate Pentecost, the recognition that the Holy Spirit has come and remains in the life of every follower of Jesus Christ. Pentecost is linked closely with Easter and with the mission of Trócaire, particularly this year as we all…
I grew up in a close family and one of hardest things I ever did was to leave home and family at the age of 17 to enter the novitiate of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. That novitiate year wasn’t easy. I missed my family intensely and stayed in touch with them insofar as the…
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Michael Kelly
Mary Kenny
Maria Steen
David Quinn