Cliona Byrne explains how to make decorations for Christmas Sewing projects are perfect during Christmas, they can be done while sitting by the fire or watching the television. Since I can remember I have worked on sewing projects over Christmas holidays with my mother, from angels for the top of the tree to little…
Rory Fitzgerald shares ideas for family fun in wintertime Autumn has passed, and winter has begun in earnest. The season’s cold tentacles now wrap themselves ever deeper into our daily lives. The biting winds and early nights leave us housebound, as the shortest day of the year draws ominously closer. Yet during these long dark…
Wexford’s Fr Fritz O’Kelly describes Christmas on the African Missions as part of a collection of letters now published in book form At Christmas time in Chiwoma, the people gathered firewood and prepared for a night of singing. It was a very beautiful moonlight night. They sing with great devotion, rhythm and harmony. Their children…
South Dakota (PG) There are many controversial questions surrounding the subject of abortion. When does life begin, for instance. Or when can a foetus feel pain. Or has a woman who has been raped more of a ‘right’ to seek termination of a pregnancy than someone who has become pregnant by choice, or carelessness. The…
Looking back over the year, our regular reviewers have selected what, for them, was their personal book, or in some generous cases, books of the year Anthony Redmond A book that impressed me quite a lot this year was Unmasking God by Father Daniel O’Leary (Columba Press, €12.99 / £11.08), whose books are always a…
The first in of a four-part Advent series on prayer In our more reflective moments we sense the importance of prayer; yet, we struggle to pray. Sustained, deep prayer doesn’t come easy for us. Why? First of all, we struggle to make time for prayer. Prayer doesn’t accomplish anything practical for us, it’s a waste…
Rome: pagan days to papal centuries The Popes: A History By John Julius Norwich (Chatto & Windus, €33 / £25.00) Rome: A CulturalHistory By Robert Hughes (Weidenfeld & Nicholson, €33.00 / £25.00) Michael Collins The leading art critic, Robert Hughes, familiar to many for his history of his native Australia, has distilled his life-long passion…
Of allegations and revelations As the fallout from the dreadful RTÉ defamation of Fr Kevin Reynolds continues, senior politicians from the Taoiseach down have been lining up to express their shock and dismay at both the libel and the State broadcaster’s haphazard and somewhat grudging reaction. One politician, however, who has been noticeably silent is…
It’s great to be here and to have this opportunity to come together today to mark the end of this very special 400th anniversary year for the King James Bible. I know there are some who will question why I am giving this speech. And if they happen to know that I’m setting out my…
Dublin’s Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has used his World Day of Peace message to appeal for a “mature” debate about the role of faith in society and warned against crude caricatures of religion. He also said that society must acknowledge that despite the scandals, the Church’s overall contribution to Ireland has been positive. Speaking at Mass…