Although suffering is unavoidable, we can see in it an ultimate meaning and value, says Jason Conroy Well, how has your Lent gone? Forgive me if I’m not surprised if your record isn’t exactly pristine. I’ve always noticed that by the time Good Friday comes around I’ve often been practically brought to my knees trying…
The need for a more realistic understanding of the Irish Church Our experience, understanding and relationships are important in helping us to lead others to Christ. Since our experience is limited and can be subject to bias, real-life data supplements this to strengthen and clarify our approach. This article focuses on factors that…
The role of the faithful in maintaining the balance For Christians, the challenge is to be careful of patterns of thought or habits of communication that too readily divide the world into ‘us’ and ‘them’, writes Fr Chris Hayden We live in a time of name-calling, pigeon-holing, and labelling. Perhaps, given our flawed human…
The sacred power of the religious habit In a world where everyone’s obsessed with being unique, the habit makes the most countercultural statement of all, ‘My truest self (Identity) is found only in Christ,’ writes Bro. Oman Ashraf OSA The religious habit is like a flame in the fog of modern life, where so…
The events surrounding the Passion and death of Jesus feature many interesting characters who show up and are then entered into legend. Joseph of Arimathea, Simon of Cyrene, the centurion. But among the secret believers is one who is not, one who in fact seemed to be the opposite of Jesus and that is the…
In the busy life of a young person trying to juggle school, work, hobbies, family and our social lives, sometimes we might forget the importance of stepping away from the constant hustle and bustle of life and giving time to reflect on spiritual growth and reconnect with God. Yet, this is often exactly what we…
Recently, the Youth 2000 regional Spring retreat for Connaught took place in The Claddagh, Galway. Facilitated by Youth 2000 National Leader, Helena O’Shea and organised by Connaught Youth 2000 leaders, Kathryn Freney and Stiofán Mac Brádaigh, the tone was set for the one-day retreat by final-year psychology student, Kieran Barrett-Gomez. Kieran, a convert to Catholicism,…
Currently based in the parish of Castlerea, Co. Roscommon and recently appointed as administrator of Sligo Cathedral parish by Bishop Kevin Doran, Fr Chris Garrett was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Elphin in May 2023 in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Sligo, by Bishop Kevin Doran. His mother was Irish, and his…
In the deep peace of Monastery of Pius XII in Fatima the Dominican Sisters of the Perpetual Rosary are rarely seen behind the grille as they devote their contemplative lives to prayer and meditation. On February 5, however, the convent was buzzing with excitement and merriment as the Sisters came forth to celebrate with joy…
Where might we experience Jesus today in a world that is seemingly too crowded with its own concerns to allow a space for him? The renowned spirituality writer Tomas Halik, in a recent book entitled The Afternoon of Christianity, makes this suggestion. As the world makes less and less explicit space for Jesus, we need…
Fr Ronald Rolheiser