Packing school lunches can be a struggle, but there are ways to ensure even the pickiest eaters are healthfully fed, writes Jason Osborne I must have caused some headaches at times in my house as a child, so picky were my eating habits. It only dawned on me in adulthood what a monumental task it is…

Personal Profile This has been a busy year for Fr Ger Jones of Ennis parish. Firstly, he celebrated 10 years as a priest this and now, following the elevation of Fr Ger Nash to be Bishop of Ferns, Fr Jones is stepping up to fill his shoes as diocesan secretary for Killaloe. “Fr Ger Nash…

A second school year begins under the shadow of the pandemic, but knowing what to expect eases anxieties,  writes Jason Osborne I doubt many would have expected such an altered start to the school year for a second year in a row, but here we are. Students heading back to school this September are entering uncharted…

Personal Profile Fr Brendan O’Donoghue celebrated 65 years of priesthood this year, and though officially retired, he continues to work in the parish of Shannon, Co. Clare. Looking back on his ministry, especially his involvement in the social work of the Church, he recalls the ways the Lord led him on paths he didn’t expect.…

The Church has highlighted the importance of playing a responsible role in the complex web of creation in recent years, writes Jason Osborne The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) made for sober reading, warning that unless there are immediate, grand reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, it won’t be possible to limit global warming…

Personal Profile When Helen Vysotska entered University College Dublin, she knew she wasn’t happy – she just wasn’t sure why. Practically in the first week, however, Ms Vysotska was drawn to the Newman Catholic society. Within a few years, the shallow faith of her youth took root and flourished and Ms Vysotska is now the…

The World Health Organisation says working longer and longer hours is killing hundreds of thousands each year, writes Jason Osborne The line between work and personal life blurred throughout the pandemic for many, with bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms slipping in and out of ‘office-mode’ during the days of the week (and sometimes the weekend).…

Personal Profile The past year and a half have been challenging for everyone, but particularly for those away from home and whose work is affected by the drastic reduction in international travel. Robert Black, 26, from Long Island, New York is one of these, as both an American and the Project Manager for undergraduate academics…

While the weather doesn’t support it at the moment, the ever-shortening summer implores us to get the grills out, writes Jason Osborne Summer’s close is always somewhat anxiety-producing as you realise how little time you have left for all of the things you wanted and planned to do during the summer. While the current weather…

Personal profile Sr Máire Bríd of the Drumcondra Redemptoristines has followed God’s call to the very margins of human experience: enclosed, monastic life. It wasn’t a step she took lightly. Asked whether it took courage at the time, she responds, “It certainly did”. “It certainly did [require courage] because it was going against the grain.…