In the middle of a nail-biting US election this month, an event occurred which may have passed people by, but which has huge consequences for our common home. Three years ago, the Trump administration announced that it was pulling the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement, a decision which came into effect on…
New vaccines showing positive signs There’s hope on the horizon as two major pharmaceutical companies have announced successful tests of vaccines for Covid-19 Vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna have both proven more than 90% effective in preventing Covid-19, based on interim data from a late-stage clinical trial. Pending more safety data and regulatory review, the…
Mindful Living In the Church calendar the season of Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas; this year advent begins on Sunday, November 29. The word ‘advent’ derives from Latin, via the Old French word ‘to come’ and signals the coming of Jesus into the world, which we recall and celebrate each Christmas. But…
We had a liturgy of remembrance recently for those who have died over the past year, brought via Facebook into the homes of those in the parish and further afield. One of our own, a man from the parish shared his reflections on the death of his wife six years ago and of his son…
Sweet Treats Although there are very few ingredients to this recipe it makes the tastiest treat! The key to success here is the preparation beforehand as the formation of the honeycomb happens quite quickly. Be sure to have all utensils to hand and read through the method a few times before you begin. As the…
Earwax test could reveal stress levels Unlikely as it seems, your earwax could provide insight into your mental health, new research suggests. A study of 37 participants has shown a build-up of the stress hormone cortisol can be measured from the oily secretions around your ear canal. This could open the door to better ways…
A Parent’s Perspective One of my favourite hymns is ‘Where Your Treasure Is’, with its lines based on the words of St Luke’s Gospel “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be”. When everything else is stripped away and we’re forced to re-examine our priorities, what is most important to us? For…
Many who live alone are finding things difficult during the lockdown. Yet I often envy them their hours of contemplative serenity and uninterrupted sleep. For there are also challenges involved in sharing your home, as I do, with four kids, two cats, a wife, a mother-in-law and a giant dog. You can therefore imagine my…
Children’s Corner Scientific experiments are an excellent way to learn about the world around you and also allow you to create, imagine, and explore. Although in films scientists are often wearing long white lab coats and are usually surrounded with test-tubes of bubbling liquids, you don’t actually need any of these things to do your…
Covid antibodies ‘fall rapidly after infection’ Levels of protective antibodies in people wane “quite rapidly” after coronavirus infection, say researchers. Antibodies are a key part of our immune defences and stop the virus from getting inside the body’s cells. The Imperial College London team found the number of people testing positive for antibodies has fallen…
Bairbre Cahill
Maria Byrne
Chai Brady