Questions of Faith It’s common today for religious or spiritual people to speak of guardian angels – divine entities which protect and guide somebody in their everyday lives. The Church has no qualms about the existence of angels, which are best described as pure spirits created by God. The word ‘angel’ derives from the Greek…
It’s no secret that today we’re witnessing a massive decline in church attendance and, seemingly, a parallel loss of interest in religion. The former mindset, within which we worried, sometimes obsessively, about sin, church-going, and heaven and hell no longer holds sway for millions of people. As one parent, worried about the religious state of…
Taking good care of your back should be a health priority, writes Colm Fitzpatrick Most of us are taught from a young age to stand up straight and keep our shoulders back, but very often this advice falls on deaf ears. It can be more comfortable to eat dinner at the dining table or watch…
Mindful Living We all need a healthy balance between being and doing in our lives. The pace of modern life draws us into cycles of excessive doing and when that happens, the quality of our doing suffers. Of course, if we allow the pendulum to swing too far in the other direction nothing get’s…
Personal Profile Colm Fitzpatrick speaks with award-winning nun Sr Moira Keane While nuns are usually portrayed in films as hidden away and sheltered from the outside world in convents, an Irish-born Mercy Sister has instead dedicated her life to those locked-up behind prison bars. Earlier this year Galway woman Sr Moira Keane, who has been…
I remember when I was small, I asked my Daddy why I had a belly button. He replied that it happened when God was checking if the babies were ready for delivery to families. “God went along the line of babies” said my Daddy, “poking each one gently in the tummy and saying, ‘You’re done…
Sweet Treats This is an old fashioned family favourite that remains ever popular. It is an essential recipe for every baker’s repertoire. There is nothing better with a cup of tea in the evening with its crunchy crust and delicious buttery inside studded with sweet pops of cherry. Ingredients 200g red glace cherries 190g butter…
Get the food down-low in Wicklow At a time in our history when food is readily available at supermarkets, often pre-made, it can be easy to take this vital source of survival for granted. If you want to develop a deeper connection with the food you consume, why not whisk yourself away to the mindful…
Questions of Faith In the last decade, deacons in Ireland have become more commonplace, especially as priestly numbers continue to decline. But who are these robed men that stand beside the priest at Mass – and what do they do? The name deacon means ‘minister’ or ‘servant’ and the term is explicitly mentioned in 1…
Drum roll for Drumlin county While Monaghan is often overlooked as an Irish holiday destination, the Drumlin county is worth exploring especially with the Taste of Monaghan event approaching on September 28. This year, the festival, which celebrates local food, arts and culture, will be free to visitors and will have the largest collection of…
Colm Fitzpatrick
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Bairbre Cahill