David Kennedy In his letter on the joy of love, Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis calls on Catholic families to live their Easter faith and to recognise that at its centre one finds authentic Christian hope. In fact, he emphasises that “in our own day dominated by stress and rapid technological advances, one of the…
Parents can help protect their children online, writes Colm Fitzpatrick A few decades ago the most useful safety advice given to children was that when out and about you should never speak to strangers. This message was often summed up by the useful adage ‘stranger danger’, which stressed that all strangers can be potentially dangerous. This…
Youth Space Missionaries have to trust their labours will bear fruit when they’re gone, writes Kelly Koerwer “Hi my name is Kelly and I’m a recent graduate of the University of Notre Dame. I live in Dublin and I work at the Notre Dame-Newman Centre for Faith and Reason at University Church on St…
Although gaming brings joy to millions of people globally, it is important to remember that virtual reality can have real effects. The world of gaming has evolved rapidly in the last few decades; now it is an immersive online experience where gamers can communicate internationally with one another, create their own unique characters, and enter…
From a life of music to a life of silence, one chaplain is now listening to the voice of students. Born in 1967, Fr Gerard Magee was reared in a turbulent period when the “troubles were about to break out”. He received a Catholic education from St. Malachy’s College, North Belfast, which was also complemented…
Religious scrupulosity can be destructive, writes Colm Fitzpatrick Although piety is a virtue that should be extolled, there are circumstances when devotion can become neurotic and damaging. All of us have compulsive tendencies at times that take shape in either the form of thought or action. This may be as simple as wondering if…
Personal profile Colm Fitzpatrick learns about the power of the homily Although homilies at Mass can sometimes sound repetitive or even boring, one Capuchin priest is offering helpful tips on how to make the homily more interesting and thought-provoking. Cork-born Fr Silvester O’Flynn is well known for his reflections on the three cycles of…
Porn addiction can have longstanding effects, writes Colm Fitzpatrick With one in three Irish people viewing porn before turning 16, addiction can become a serious and harmful issue. In an age where sexually explicit images and videos are available at the push of a button, questions need to be raised about the negative effects…
Personal Profile Claire Devaney tells Colm Fitzpatrick about her youth mission From exciting camps and clubs to vital school ministry, one woman is stepping up to the mark to give religious education a new lease of life. Claire Devaney is Primary School Co-ordinator with Scripture Union Ireland, an ecumenical Christian organisation which focuses on…
The people of South Sudan need Ireland’s help, writes Colm Fitzpatrick With poverty, hunger and fear still rampant in war-torn South Sudan, a lay missionary is calling on all Irish people for support. Noeleen Loughran, who originally hails from the small village of Emyvale, Co. Monaghan, now helps suffering children in Africa, having sold…
Colm Fitzpatrick