Medical Matters Hippocrates is credited with the ancient quote that ‘all disease begins in the gut’. While modern medicine casts a different light on factors underlying most diseases, recent research has highighted the complex and interesting role our gut may play when it comes to general health. But how exactly might the gut influence this?…
Personal Profile Fr David Vard represents a face of the Church that is not often seen in the western world today: that of a young man’s. Rarer still is the face of a young priest. While youth Catholicism has its vibrant strongholds around the country, it is yet to bear much fruit on the vocations…
Living Laudato Si’ September 1st marks the World Day of Prayer for Creation and the beginning of the Season of Creation. This season, which is now part of the Church’s liturgical calendar, runs until October 4th, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron Saint of ecology. The Season of Creation in an ecumenical season…
Even in August, the growing darkness of autumn silently approaches. Even after gloriously long days spent at the beach, the ever-earlier dusk surprises us. An ambush by an usually wintry wind presages the equinoctial gales to come. For the children, this has been the longest summer. As soon as the schools were closed last March,…
Courage isn’t one of my strong points, at least not one particular kind of courage. Scripture tells us that as John the Baptist grew up he became strong in spirit. My growing up was somewhat different. Unlike John the Baptist, as I grew up I became accommodating in spirit. This had its reasons. I was…
Parents to be reimbursed for alternative school transport if students unable to social distance Minister for Education Norma Foley has announced that parents whose children cannot social distance on school buses can be reimbursed for organising alternative transport. The Department of Education has scrapped plans to run buses at full capacity for secondary school students…
Men are often forgotten victims of domestic violence writes Ruadhán Jones Lockdown brought issues of domestic violence to the fore, with social distancing measures restricting victim’s access to help, support and refuge. Consequently, Gardaí and abuse helplines reported increases of between 25-33% over the lockdown period. The majority of domestic violence victims are women and…
Mindful Living We have been exploring the John Main prayer which many people recite before their daily meditation. The prayer begins: Heavenly Father, open our hearts to the silent presence of the Spirit of your Son. In this article, I’d like to reflect on the phrase ‘to the silent presence of the Spirit of your…
I have just spent a very interesting afternoon with a very diverse group of people, over 350 of them! Amongst the countries represented in our group are Kenya, Peru, USA, Uganda, India, Australia, Nigeria, Philippines, Burundi, Vietnam, Pakistan, Britain, Nicaragua and Ireland! We are doing online training as Laudato Si’ Animators with the Global Catholic…
Personal Profile Fr John Bracken is the parish priest of Holy Cross Church, Dundrum, but much of his ministry is devoted to helping people look beyond his office, and that of the other clergy. “It’s one of my great annoyances, that people “see” the priest. I mean, obviously there’s a difference, but there’s not a…
Dr Kevin McCarroll
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Ruadhán Jones
Bairbre Cahill