Personal Profile Fr Ronan Sheehan (28) went straight from finishing his Leaving Certificate into seminary. While some people said he was too young to start, he has no regrets and is “excited” to begin his ministry as curate to the Cork family of parishes Ballincollig, Ovens and Ballinora. His decision to join the priesthood didn’t…

Fear is a fact of life but our faith equips us to deal with it well, writes Jason Osborne We’re fast approaching the time of year when children will be donning every kind of costume under the sun and taking to the streets as darkness descends to scare people into giving them sweets. For many…

Marriage is full of grace for those who seek it, writes  Jason Osborne Just as in any state of life, it’s very easy to grow complacent and lazy in marriage. I’ve been married for just over a year now, and I already see how easy it is to slip into bad habits – scrolling rather…

Personal Profile Fr Simon Nolan O.Carm. was a young college student, he found his faith life to be drifting. But then a profound experience of God’s love at a weekend spent with the Carmelites revealed a religious vocation. Now, he is prior of Whitefriar St. in Dublin and Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy in…

The annual and liturgical calendars are useful roadmaps for directing our attention and efforts in the spiritual life, writes Jason Osborne The slow descent into autumn is well underway in the northern hemisphere, with the darkness creeping a little further at the beginning and end of every day, the cold beginning to seep back in…

Personal Profile Long before she became a nun, Sr Helen Culhane RSM wanted to study nursing. Luck didn’t favour her initially and she settled into another career. But after joining the Sisters of Mercy, new doors opened to her and she has spent many years accompanying the sick, the dying and the bereaved. Sr Culhane…

Everyday Philosophy If you see a photograph of yourself as a baby you might have all sorts of thoughts. “How cute I was”, or “peaked in infancy”, or “why was I chasing that goat?” One thought you’re unlikely to think is “I wonder what he’s doing now?” You think yourself quite entitled to believe that…

The Children’s Grief Centre has released a new bereavement toolkit to better help primary school teachers support their communities through grief, writes Jason Osborne Since 2009, the Children’s Grief Centre in Co. Limerick has been offering a support service for children, young adults and their families affected by death, separation or divorce. Established by Sister…

Personal Profile Barry Noel FPM came into contact with the Presentation Brothers while attending their secondary school in Grenada. The Irish missionaries’ commitment and dedication made a great impression on the young man, who decided to follow them into the missionary life. There was only one secondary school on the island before the Presentation Brothers…

Taking your faith seriously is bound to benefit your relationship, writes Jason Osborne A recent study from the University of Exeter caught the public eye when it boldly proclaimed that more religious people have higher sexual satisfaction. Except that it isn’t that bold, because it’s adding to a growing body of research that’s supporting that surprising…