Too many of us have too limited a conception of conversion. We often think of it as something for other people, maybe especially for people who adhere to other faiths than Catholicism. This is certainly an element of conversion, and possibly the form we’ve read the most about. After all, history is full of peoples…
Not that long ago people would have been amazed and puzzled at the way some elements in society today are going ballistic over gender. Gender Wars (Channel 4, Tuesday) tried to get to grips with the issue, but I suspect viewers were still amazed and puzzled. The main focus was on philosophy lecturer Kathleen Stock…
Pope has named two-thirds of cardinals eligible to elect his successor Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe, the retired archbishop of Naples, celebrated his 80th birthday on June 2 and, consequently, became ineligible to enter a conclave to elect a new pope. The cardinal’s aging out left the College of Cardinals with 121 clerics under the age of…
Dear Editor, Mr Ruadhán Jones wrote on the historic (but unminuted) negotiations currently taking place between Mary Immaculate College and the University of Limerick [The Irish Catholic – May 18, 2023]. In that article, concerns were expressed about the Church in Ireland’s ability to prepare teachers for Catholic schools if a Catholic third level presence…
Notebook Another First Communion and Confirmation season has come to an end. I will again beat my lonely drum in the hope that we might begin a serious and honest conversation around what is happening with these sacramental encounters in every parish in Ireland. Earlier this year we had four Confirmation ceremonies in the two…
Diocese faces challenge of aging clergy, bishop warns The diocese of Kildare and Leighlin is “challenged” by the aging demographic of its priests, Bishop Denis Nulty has warned. In his 10 years as bishop, Dr Nulty said he has buried 19 priests and ordained just two for the diocese. “Doing the sums, 20 priests dying…
Last week the National Symphony Orchestra and Royal Irish Academy of Music announced a joint venture entitled ‘The NSO Concerto Project’. While that may be a slight misnomer, the idea behind the enterprise is, and hopefully will continue to be, a fruit bearing amalgamation. Under the baton of Gavin Maloney, the inaugural event had four…
Many adults are still learning about and joining the Church despite cultural changes and challenges, writes Chai Brady. The most recent Central Statistics Office (CSO) stats on religious affiliation in Ireland could be pessimistically received considering the large – but foreseeable – decrease in Ireland’s Catholic population. While the 10% drop is significant, from 79%…
Deacon Frank Browne In my local parish we are preparing for the feast of Corpus Christi, when we plan to involve all the children who made their Holy Communion recently. But what does it mean for us when we receive Holy Communion at Mass or venerate the Blessed Sacrament? Perhaps it can mean many things…
Paramilitary-style groups use the “romantic perspective” of past violence to “radicalise and divide society so people can stay in positions of powers,” a Belfast youth worker has said. However, Mr Stephan Hughes warned that it is not just paramilitaries who are the problem, saying it is also “politicians who cosy up to these people, get…
Chai Brady
Ruadhán Jones