While the cold winter days keep much of the garden in a state of suspended animation, there are still plenty of seasonal delights to get out and enjoy. Snowdrops pushing up through frozen soil signal that spring is on its way. The snowdrop manages this seemingly impossible feat by keeping the air temperature inside its…
Members of Tullamore Junior Parish Pastoral Council explain their work In 2006 the Junior Parish Pastoral Council (JPPC) was founded in Tullamore parish, Co. Offaly as a way of giving young people a voice in the Church. The JPPC is made up exclusively of secondary school students. Pupils first hear about it in sixth class…
With the Christmas decorations long gone, January can seem like such a bare month in contrast to the bright lights, shiny ornaments, wreaths and garlands that come out in December. Between Christmas, St Patrick’s Day and Easter, there is a long wait before adorning your home with more seasonal decorations. If you can’t wait until…
We are deep in winter now. Yet there is something brightening the grey. The New Year still shines fresh and full of possibility. The Earth is, by welcome degrees, tipping us back towards the sun – an astronomical fact quietly celebrated by the crocuses and snowdrops that emerge from the frosty ground. It is wonderfully…
The feast day of Thomas Aquinas is coming up in two weeks. Originally his feast day was celebrated on March 7, the date he died, and this was later moved to January 28. Thomas Aquinas has been considered one of the greatest and most influential intellects of the Catholic Church. Before he was born his…
Human beings are incredibly resilient in the most extraordinary of circumstances January is a dark month. When the Christmas decorations are put away we are once again obliged to deal with short hours of daylight. Many children are afraid of the dark and I know quite a few adults who cannot settle in bed unless…
I was asked today at rather short notice if I would facilitate a workshop on Saturday. The theme of the day is ‘Images of God’. I had already said yes to the request when I began to panic – what am I going to do with the group, have I time to pull together a…
After one too many Ferrero Rocher and Terry’s Chocolate Oranges at Christmas, I came up with this recipe for chocolate orange and hazelnut muffins. When I first learned how to bake, any muffin recipe I looked at always seemed to give the option of using nuts or chocolate chips. As a huge fan of both,…
Mags Gargan meets the new National Director of Youth 2000 Last October, Youth 2000 elected Belfast-woman, Lana Wilson as its new National Director. Youth 2000 is a Catholic youth organisation that organises lively faith festivals, retreats, prayer groups and other events for young people aged 16-35 across the island of Ireland. It began as one…
Not long after reports about the dangers of eating processed meats died down had the media provided further cause for concern. New research apparently found that a typical Indian takeaway meal of a starter, main course and pilau rice can contain far more calories than an adult’s total daily requirements. The study of 280 Indian…
Paul Gargan
Erin Fox
Bairbre Cahill
Mags Gargan
Cathal Barry