The Vatican’s liturgy czar has intervened against the implementation of resolutions of the German ‘Synodal Way’ that demand laypeople should be able to regularly baptise and preach the homily at Mass in churches across Germany. In a letter to the German Bishops’ Conference president dated March 29, Cardinal Arthur Roche said neither was possible –…
Some parishes across Ireland are far ahead of the curve in sustainable practices, Chai Brady writes The recommendation by the Irish bishops in their spring statement that parishes should consider giving 30% of land back to nature by 2030 was met with enthusiasm by parishes who have been working hard to increase biodiversity for several…
The Minister for Education has defended a divestment pilot scheme conducted jointly with the Irish bishops, which involves 63 schools. “The pilot covers 63 different schools and there is no doubt that it has reaped benefits in some areas,” Minister Norma Foley said in the Dáil. “The basis of the pilot is that everybody is…
The Earth was dark twice. Once at the original creation before God first created light. But later there was an even deeper darkness, on Good Friday, between the sixth and ninth hour, when we were crucifying God, and as Jesus dying on the cross cried out “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me!”.…
The Death of Jesus: Midrash in the Shadow of the Holocaust by Peter Keenan (Columba Books, €12.99/£10.99) This book is a continuation of the researches that Peter Keenan began to issue through the same publisher in 2021. In a review in these pages back then I felt that despite the deployment of much new information…
Dear Editor, The Taoiseach’s defence of Catholic schools in the Dáil was a surprising and welcome occurrence [The Irish Catholic – March 23, 2023]. What’s rare is wonderful and when the leader of the Fine Gael, a party that has not exactly been kind to Catholic schools, says something like that, that’s something to note.…
Doing Christianity: How religion is about what you do, not what you believe by Paul Higginson (Columba Books, €12.99 / £10.99) As a book for Eastertide, or indeed any time of the year, Paul Higginson’s book is much more interesting. It seems to me to derive more certainly from the precepts and actions of Jesus…
Through our relationship with Jesus, we too can make a difference in our world, our community and our homes, writes Fr Barry Matthews When we think of the Holy Land many of us have a romantic and somewhat nostalgic notion about the stories that we know so well from the Bible. On our recent pilgrimage…
I asked you for your prayers when last I wrote on this page. And you prayed for me. The result was remarkable. Thank you. You may remember the reason for my request — my way of coping with an invitation to preach a Lenten mission in a parish on the southwest side of Chicago. I…
Palm Sunday is a strange kind of day – celebrating the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, but with the cloud of impending events looming over. It’s the emotional rollercoaster of Holy Week, but with the sure knowledge and hope of the Resurrection. On the Mass for Palm Sunday (RTÉ One) I liked the homily of…
Chai Brady
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Peter Costello
Brendan O’Regan