Personal Profile Ruadhán Jones Faith has always been an important part of her life, explains Sarah Seoige, a teacher of religion and Irish at Athlone Community School and an active member of political party Aontú. Sarah considers herself very fortunate to have had “two of the most wonderful parents any child could have asked…
Ecuadorian bishops have denounced those who take advantage of the Covid-19 crisis to get rich fraudulently as a “very serious crime”. In a declaration entitled ‘Crisis and hope’, the bishops stress that the “serious health crisis has highlighted the endemic defects of the State that have never been addressed in a clear and decisive way”.…
Despite the changing times in which we are living, some things remain steadfast. This weekend we celebrate Pentecost, the recognition that the Holy Spirit has come and remains in the life of every follower of Jesus Christ. Pentecost is linked closely with Easter and with the mission of Trócaire, particularly this year as we all…
Irish Servicewomen in the Great War: From Western Front to roaring twenties by Barbara Walsh (Pen & Sword Books, €25) Books dealing with service in time of crisis or disaster are always an interesting read, as so often they reveal aspects of the best parts of people’s characters. This is especially true in war, and the…
A bishop in Lebanon has said that Catholic schools in the country could close down due to the Covid-19 pandemic and has called on intervention from the West to save them. Bishop Michel Aoun of Jbeil-Byblos of the Maronites says the economic crisis has overwhelmed the country and 80% of Catholic schools could close because…
Half the time I couldn’t tell you what day of the week it is. I can’t get my head around the notion that we are at the end of May but I know without doubt that this Sunday is Pentecost. Pentecost crowns Easter, bringing the liturgical season of Easter to a close and powerfully reminding…
Mindful Living One of the hidden challenges of modern life has to do with the exercise of free will. So many of our attitudes to life and how we habitually live it remain hidden in plain sight. Many people remain blissfully unaware of the extent to which their worldview and their choices in life…
Pope transfers Vatican Data Processing Centre Pope Francis has transferred the Vatican’s Data Processing Centre (CED) from the Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA) to the Secretariat for the Economy (SPE). The Holy Father made the shuffle in the Roman Curia, which was announced by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro…
I grew up in a close family and one of hardest things I ever did was to leave home and family at the age of 17 to enter the novitiate of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. That novitiate year wasn’t easy. I missed my family intensely and stayed in touch with them insofar as the…
Notebook Today I completed my 13th Facebook Mass (11 Sundays, Holy Thursday and St Patrick’s Day). As has often been said, it’s a whole new world, and it’s not all bad either. Online Masses show how amazingly adaptable we Catholics can be. Facebook supplies an amazing array of statistics. For each Mass celebrated live…
Bairbre Cahill
Fr Ronald Rolheiser