As the summer months continue, it has been a time to reflect, pause and even plan for the year ahead. For any of us linked to the school year – we are in the privileged position of having two new years to consider – both January and September. It always gets me thinking about what…
The top representative of Europe’s Catholic bishops said the Vatican is changing its approach to the war in Ukraine because of the unlikelihood of a mediated settlement. He also praised the resilience of Ukrainians in withstanding Russian aggression. “Certain cultural ambiences can make us less sensitive to how things are seen in Ukraine. I myself…
Irish martyr Fr Tommie Cusack’s letters reveal his bravery and humour, writes Ruadhán Jones “I have a boy,” Fr Tommie Cusack’s mother (Delia) begins a letter to Dalgan park, home of the Missionary Society of St Columban, “who is anxious to go to Dalgan park next September.” The letter is dated February 8, 1928, when…
Birth and the Irish: a miscellany edited by Salvador Ryan (Worldwell,€25.00/£22.00) Salvador Ryan is Professor of Ecclesiastical History at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth. This new book completes a trilogy begun with Death and the Irish, (published in 2016 by Wordwell Books). The sequel, Marriage and the Irish, appeared in summer 2019. And now we are given…
The Belgian theologian Jan Walgrave, who directed my doctoral thesis, was a true intellectual and a rare one. True, in that his thought naturally, instinctually gravitated towards the huge philosophical questions of essence and existence. Why are we here? Who are we really? Moreover, he was also a rare intellectual in that he was an uncommon…
After two years without, the Mass was celebrated in Rath cemetery, Co. Kerry, with Bishop of Kerry Ray Browne in attendance. The cemetery Mass was an annual event, but the Covid-19 pandemic put a halt to proceedings temporarily. The crowds turned up for the procession and social afterwards, enjoying the summer sun.
Liam Fitzpatrick Personal Profile Irish weather gets a bad rap. Rainy and gloomy with some very short days, Irish people take pride in complaining about the climate. Father Donal O’Keeffe begs to differ. Amid the culture shock of assimilation to Korean life after living in Ireland for his younger years, he noticed one aspect of…
Maronite Catholic officials in Lebanon have denounced the detention of one of its bishops on the country’s southern border with Israel. The July 18 incident occurred at the border post of Lebanon’s General Security in the village of Ras Naqoura, at which Maronite Archbishop Moussa El-Hage of Haifa and the Holy Land was detained for…
Pope meets with Monaco royalty at Vatican Pope Francis interrupted his traditional July break to meet with Prince Albert II of Monaco and his wife, Princess Charlene, at the Vatican. According to the Vatican press office, the Pope met with the royal couple July 20 and spoke privately for 25 minutes. After their meeting, the…
Looking at a BBC Proms TV transmission recently I was reminded of this year being the sesquicentennial anniversary of the birth of English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams (VW) on October 12, 1872. The broadcast included one of VW’s best-loved works – Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis – expressively played by the Sinfonia of…
Ruadhán Jones
Peter Costello
Fr Ronald Rolheiser