Personal Profile Students can be a source of hope and encouragement, Colm Fitzpatrick learns It’s tough being a chaplain, especially when it involves providing pastoral support to students in one of Northern Ireland’s most popular universities. Fr Dominic McGrattan has recently been appointed as chaplain in Queen’s University, Belfast, replacing Fr Gerard Magee. He describes…

Everyone procrastinates but it can become a problem when it takes over our lives, writes Colm Fitzpatrick   There’s washing to be ironed, bills to be paid and that murder-mystery novel you’ve always wanted to write (but never found the time). With all the tasks that need to be completed in your life, it’s hard…

Personal Profile Bro. Tony Dolan’s agricultural initiatives have changed lives, writes Colm Fitzpatrick   The Italian friar St Francis of Assisi is renowned for his love of nature and is globally known as the Patron Saint of Ecologists. While few can claim that they have successfully captured the attention of birds through preaching, one Irish…

Spending time outdoors can make a massive difference to your life, writes Colm Fitzpatrick Do you remember how you had fun during your childhood? Is it radically different to how kids spend their leisure time today? When the older generation reflect on how they spent their youth, usually the images of hopscotch, conkers and tag…

Personal Profile The African Church can teach us more about Ireland than we think, Colm Fitzpatrick learns   With over 30 years of missionary experience in Ghana, a Kerry-based priest believes the Irish Church can learn a lot from its African counterpart. The second eldest of eight children, Fr Patsy Lynch who serves as parish…

Christmas spending doesn’t require breaking the bank, writes Colm Fitzpatrick   For children, Christmas is a magical day in the Christian calendar where gifts, toys and sweets miraculously appear in large, overstuffed stockings. However, behind the innocent smiles of children overwhelmed by the presents before them, is usually the worry of a stressed parent unsure…

Personal Profile Most conversion stories sound mundane. They might involve having an interesting conversation, listening to a great sermon or reading a persuasive book. But the story of Alan Field’s journey to God plays out more like a movie than a real-life experience. From criminal turned movie-writer, his story is one worth listening to. Born…

Waving goodbye to your child is hard but there are ways to cope, writes Colm Fitzpatrick There are times during parenthood when mums and dads fantasise about their child finally leaving home; perhaps it’s during the infancy stage after a series of sleepless nights, or when their stroppy teenager refuses to speak to them. It’s normal…

Personal Profile God is present in the cries and injustices of the world, Colm Fitzpatrick learns Words usually don’t do justice to depict real, lived experiences and this sentiment couldn’t be truer when describing the harrowing conditions in Kenya’s Mukuru slums. With rising poverty and violence across the region, it can be difficult to muster…

Hallowe’en should be spent with family and friends, not in A&E, writes Colm Fitzpatrick   Hallowe’en is a highlight for many in the calendar year; the opportunity to dress up as your favourite superhero or ghoul, stay up late into the night, and eat an endless supply of sweets makes it a favourite among the…