The Catholic Church has always embraced meditation on death, and November is the month most associated with that, writes Jason Osborne The leaves continue to fall from the trees as nature uses the rest of autumn to prepare for winter, a fitting natural symbol of death, which is at the forefront of Catholic minds in the…

Personal Profile When Dr Alex O’Hara visited Clonmacnoise as an eleven-year-old, he could hardly have known that it would be a life-defining moment. But looking back now, the professor of early Church history and Irish monasticism knows that this visit and another to a monastery in Normandy had a “profound effect” on him. Dr O’Hara’s…

The latest trends and advances in technology are changing funeral practices in Ireland and around the world, writes Jason Osborne The world seems more fluid than ever before, and even the age-old traditions surrounding death and funerals aren’t immune to the effects of the current trends and technology reshaping everything we know. Speaking to The Irish…

Personal Profile When Sr Helen Freer made her first profession to the Redemptoristines in Dublin a few weeks ago, the celebrant said that “God is a God of surprises”. This is a truth that Sr Helen’s life testifies to – it was only in 2016 that she entered the Catholic Church, a journey sparked by…

Picking up a new language is a daunting prospect with a tantalising reward, but it’s easier now than ever, writes Jason Osborne Most of us would like to be able to speak at least one other language, and most of us leave school without the ability to do so (unless we attended a Gaelscoil). Or at…

Personal Profile Bro. Antony Kurian OFM Cap. was the first Capuchin to make his solemn profession in Ireland for seven years. The Indian-born brother first encountered the Capuchins in India, but he joined the order here hoping to join in a renewal of the Faith in Europe. Only when I had this job and I…

Procrastination is an issue that plagues everyone, and we’d be better off if we chose to confront it now, rather than later, writes Jason Osborne From schoolchildren who put off doing their homework for hours, to politicians who avoid addressing pressing issues and everyone in between, procrastination is an issue that affects us all. In…

Personal Profile When Noel Lynch travelled to South America as an envoy for the Legion of Mary, he didn’t speak a word of Spanish. Now, 60 years later, he continues his life of ministry to the Spanish speaking community that gathers at St Saviour’s Dominican church, Dublin. Noel joined the legion while still in secondary…

The return to offices, colleges and schools means more presentations, so it’s a good idea to practice public speaking, writes Jason Osborne Whether it’s in front of a large audience or before a small team of colleagues, most of us have to speak before groups of people at some time or other. The pandemic mitigated this…

Personal Profile Fr Sean Coyle and Fr Donal O’Hanlon are retired Columban missionaries who are now based in Dalgan Park, Co. Meath. Both spent the vast majority of their ministry in the Philippines, where they encountered both tragedy and fulfilment in the turbulent state. The two priests were involved in the Legion of Mary before…