‘Clear signs of hope’ in vocations crisis The 36 men who attended a vocations weekend in Maynooth are a “clear sign of hope” during Ireland’s vocations crisis, Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan has said. Speaking at a panel discussion in Queen’s University Belfast, Bishop Cullinan said that “the level of interest meant that the event was oversubscribed”.…
John L. Allen Jr It’s rare indeed when an American president takes part in a four-way conversation and was, arguably, the least remarkable person in the group, but such was the case in June 1975 when President Gerald Ford made a visit to the Vatican. On that occasion, Ford met Pope Paul VI, today St…
Jenna Marie Cooper Q: Why do Catholics pray for the souls in purgatory to lessen their sufferings? Is it possible that the souls already in purgatory would even go to hell, so our prayers for them would save them from going to hell? A: We don’t pray that souls in purgatory won’t wind up in…
A deadly bomb that exploded during a Mass December 3 killed at least four people and injured dozens at a university in a predominantly Muslim city in southern Philippines. Media reports that the explosion caused panic among dozens of students and teachers in a gymnasium where Mass was taking place, at Mindanao State University in…
Laura Madrigal-Estebas About 220 people gathered in a fabulous setting of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Blanchardstown, Dublin, to attend an inspiring conference called ‘Parishes Caring for Creation’ at the end of November. A collaboration between Trócaire, the Archdiocese of Dublin and the Laudato Si’ Movement, this conference aimed to help parish communities respond to…
It is instructive when looking back in history to ask whose memory endures. Is it that of a distinguished writer, a captain of trade and commerce, a statesman, a warlord, a political leader? When one looks back in Dublin’s history it is clearly not one of these at all, but rather it is that of…
When all is said and done, our lives are not all that serene and peaceful. In a manner of speaking, we are always somewhat pathetic. That shouldn’t scare us. Pathetic is not a pejorative term. The word comes from the Greek, ‘pathos’, which means pain. To be pathetic is to live in pain, and we…
Ngala Killian Chimtom While acknowledging that a recent wave of military takeovers across Africa often have drawn strong popular support as an expression of “deep-seated frustration” over corruption and injustice, the continent’s Catholic bishops nevertheless have reaffirmed their support for democracy and opposition to coups. “There might be queries regarding our stance on coups d’etat. Principally,…
Dana Rosemary Scallon performed her new song Light the Fire, about St Patrick’s work to spread the Faith in Ireland, to a packed Long Tower Church, Derry, on November 26. Ms Scallon was performing as part of the Derry parish’s annual novena, which takes place over nine Sundays before Christmas. The Irish singer shared her…
I think if we’re honest, none of us actually like waiting for things. Think of the tedium of waiting in the doctor’s surgery, or at the dentist. Or, if like me you use public transport, waiting on buses that never seem to arrive – and yet waiting is part of life. As is hope, as…
John L. Allen Jr.
Fr Ronald Rolheiser
Ruadhán Jones
Michael Kelly