Dear Editor, Pope Francis’ convalidation of the marriage of two flight attendants while he was in Chile has drawn predictable ire online, with paid and amateur commentators alike shouting down the Pope for somehow ‘cheapening’ the Sacrament of Marriage. It’s early days yet, but it seems likely that a similar reaction will meet Bishop Brendan…
Green Fingers As winter slowly releases its grip on the garden, our list of jobs to be done expands. As ground conditions are wet, stay off grass as much as possible. Clear all paths, patios, decking and steps of algae and moss to prevent slips and accidents. Use a deck scrub or powerhose if…
Youth Space ‘Cathy’ describes the transformative powers of a Dublin Catholic Youth Group The ‘Transformer: Life in the Spirit’ seminar was an absolutely incredible experience. From the moment I walked through the door there was a most beautiful sense of welcome, joy and peace. As I entered the large spacious room jam-packed with young…
Last Saturday was Holocaust Memorial Day and also the day An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar declared (on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, curiously) that he would campaign to liberalise Ireland’s abortion laws. To mark the former, Nationwide (RTÉ 1) last Friday evening broadcast a moving programme featuring the Island of Ireland Peace Choir on a visit…
My mother turned 70 last weekend. The coming months are brimful of celebratory events with her vast coterie of friends and family. Yet she was slightly ambivalent about the day itself, perhaps because she has sadly lost some close friends in recent months. In the end, she decided to book a nice hotel in Dublin, and…
Modern existential anxiety is vocation opportunity, reports Chai Brady Apathy among young people, unawareness of the option of religious life and the invisibility of religious orders in the public sphere are some of the challenges highlighted by Irish vocational directors. Negative public perception of Church organisations and the lack of peers in religious life…
Pictured at the launch of the 4 Corners Festival in Belfast are Fr Martin Magill and Rev Steven Stockman. The 4 Corners Festival seeks to inspire people from across the city to transform it for the peace and prostperity of all. It consists of innovative events designed to entice people of of their own ‘corners’…
Charles Collins A Chinese cardinal is warning that an alleged Vatican request to underground bishops to resign in favour of bishops belonging to the state-run Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association would “be giving the blessing on the new strengthened schismatic Church”. Cardinal Joseph Zen, the 86-year-old retired Bishop of Hong Kong, wrote an open letter on…
The Notebook I am ordained almost 34 years and for over 30 years of that time, I have been doing baptisms all wrong. For that first 30 years, nearly every baptism I did was private. Parents would ring me with the news of a birth and I would make arrangements with them alone. When…
Paul Gargan
Colm Fitzpatrick
Brendan O’Regan
Rory Fitzgerald
Chai Brady