Mark was preparing for his First Reconciliation and First Communion. These are important days for any child and a lot of work goes in to being ready to receive these sacraments. For Mark, there was even more work because Mark is autistic. His parents and his teacher had put a lot of thought into how…
Eco Eye Jonny Hanson In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis paints a compelling picture of the people of God together rediscovering their mandate to care for God’s world. But how are we to put this noble calling into practice? Here are three suggestions at three different levels: the individual; the parish; and the diocese or denomination.…
The elderflower is nearly in full bloom, and in another week or two it’ll be ready to be picked for a delicious home-made cordial. In the meantime, you can use cordial from the shop to sip on and make desserts with. Lemon and elderflower are simply delicious together but when you have it so often,…
I scream for ice cream! During our recent sunny weather you’ve no doubt been treated to one or two giant waffle cones filled with a few scoops of your favourite ice cream. We can’t rely on getting long spells of hot weather in Ireland, even in the summer, so slurping on ice cream in the…
We are on the cusp of summer. Tender leaves are unfurling on the trees, joyfully compelled by the spring sunshine. I let the children scamper happily ahead on the way to school. We prefer to take the long way, which is a path by the brook, filled with bluebells and birdsong. It is for this…
The Feast of Our Lady of Fatima is this weekend on May 13. This year, the feast day carries extra significance as it is the centenary and Pope Francis is preparing to canonise the three children Our Lady appeared to. Between May 13 and October 13, 1917 she appeared to three shepherd children, Lucia, Jacinta…
Skin cancer is the commonest cancer worldwide accounting for about 30% of all cancer diagnoses and affecting 10,000 people in Ireland every year. The lifetime risk of developing skin cancer is about 15% in males and 10% in females, yet remains one of the most preventable cancers. The vast majority of skin cancers (90%) are…
I’m doing some work at the moment tutoring students who are training to be catechists. As a result, I have been re-reading The General Directory for Catechesis and Share the Good News which explores what that means in an Irish context. In the past when people talked about catechesis they often thought of the Catechism…
May is the start of the summer and with it comes longer evenings and warmer weather. It seems every time you look at the garden, something new is in flower. Buds are bursting open to soak up the sun’s energy. Prune spring-flowering shrubs such as ribes and forsythia now that they have finished flowering. Both…
May is here and it’s a wonderful month for celebrating many different occasions. It’s the month of Mary Our Lady, the month of the Bealtine Festival and it’s also Local and Community History month. The Bealtine Festival celebrates arts and creativity as we age. And Local Community and History month encourages communities to explore their…
Bairbre Cahill
Erin Fox
Dr Kevin McCarroll
Paul Gargan