Personal Profile For some young people, and their parents, there can be a fear when the time comes for them to leave home and head to college. However, as Gerard Scullion learned during his time at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), being a person of Faith and a student need not be an antagonistic relationship. Mr…
Jesus cannot be reduced to a Buddha-like figure who came to bring a message of enlightenment, writes Dr John Murray Whilst it is perhaps good to see Dr Noel Keating encouraging “the Christian churches” (sic) to pursue contemplation, it is deeply worrying to see how he describes this contemplation and his background beliefs about Christ…
Laudato Si’ The Season of Creation continues through September up until October 4 (the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology). This year many parishes are engaging in prayer, reflection and action, growing in deeper awareness of what it means to protect our common home. I was delighted to read Archbishop…
We need to pray even when that seems the most lifeless thing to do. That’s a counsel from Michael J. Buckley with which we need to challenge ourselves daily. In the face of real life, prayer can often seem like the most lifeless thing to do. What difference does prayer make? I will pray for…
Can the tooth fairy get Covid? That was the perplexing question I had to ask myself, when my 7-year-old Covid patient lost a tooth. She and I recently spent 10 days isolating in the apartment at the side of our house, to protect the rest of the family. It was strange to spend all day…
Pope to lay associations: Be aware of the apostolic power you have Pope Francis opened his discourse to moderators of associations of the Faithful, ecclesial movements and new communities, gathered for a meeting organised by the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life, by thanking all those present for being there. “And thank you…
The Sunday Gospel The Sunday Gospels these weeks are about Jesus on the way to Calvary and how his followers are to take up their crosses also. Today’s reading (Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48) is a challenge to be Christian not only in name but also in the way we live. Do I belong to Christ…
New Belarusian archbishop welcomed amid ongoing repression Catholic leaders in Belarus welcomed a new head for its archdiocese after a nine-month interregnum, although some activists warned the new archbishop could be constrained in opposing repression in the former Soviet republic. Pope Francis named Auxiliary Bishop Iosif Staneuski, 52, of Grodno as archbishop of Minsk-Mohilev September…
Notebook Synodal pathway… I am not sure whether that should be followed with an exclamation mark, a question mark or a full stop! Synodal pathway! (Exclamation mark) That could work. I am prone to overusing exclamation marks and am not quite sure why. I like them. They suggest life, a bit of fun and wonder…
Dear Editor, In September 1983 the Eighth Amendment was passed by the Irish people with 66.9% support. Despite that clear decision, a large number of pro-abortion campaigners persistently ignored that mandate, not for three years, but for more than three decades. In 2018, following a campaign in which the Irish public were misled by pro-abortion…
Ruadhán Jones
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Rory Fitzgerald