August is the new October. A succession of low-pressure systems hit the west coast of Ireland this August, just in time for peak holiday season. We found ourselves needing full winter clothing as we explored the windswept Aran islands or the rain-drenched streets of Galway. Of course there were gaps in the weather, when the…
Living Laudato Si’ The recent UN report on Climate Change (IPCC) left many people feeling overwhelmed as the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, described it as a “code red for humanity”. The report was released during a week which saw wildfires continue to rage across the world and countries such as Madagascar bracing themselves for…
In a recent issue of Comment magazine, Timothy Keller, theologian and pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, wrote an insightful essay entitled, ‘The Fading of Forgiveness’, within which he highlights how, more and more, forgiveness is being seen as a weakness and a naivete. Hence, our culture sees forgiveness more negatively than…
Young woman takes off on round-the-world record bid Pilot Zara Rutherford, 19, has taken off at the start of a three-month bid to become the youngest woman to fly solo round the world. She departed from Kortrijk-Wevelgem Airport in western Belgium in her Shark ultralight, the world’s fastest microlight aircraft. “Growing up, I loved aviation…
The Sunday Gospel Jesus was deeply disturbed by the travesty of a religion enmeshed in legalism. “You put aside the commandments of God to cling to human traditions.” Rules about ritual purification had sucked the beauty out of true worship. Pope Francis wrote that certain customs not directly related to the heart of the Gospel…
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…
Mindful Living While walking one day, Jesus caught sight of a person who had been blind from birth. We can be confident that just as Jesus didn’t ignore him neither will he ignore us. The Lord considers us worthy of his attention. While this person had been blind from birth, the parable nonetheless speaks to…
It is not that easy being a mother Christina Malone While on holiday my four-year-old developed a very bad habit of whinging. If you have children, you might know it can be hard to ignore. My nine-year-old started to develop an attitude that makes you wonder what is going in her little head and my…
Sweet Treats Kiley Britten Take advantage of the last days of the summer season with this deceptively easy dessert. It can make for a final summer soiree or even to brighten a dreary day. Make sure to make it with plenty of time to spare, as the posset needs six hours in the fridge to…
Fr Ronald Rolheiser