Laura Dodson shy Irish farm boy taught to be open to God’s gifts and opportunities in every harvest, egg clutch and milk bucket courageously responded yes to God’s call to priesthood. He ultimately became pastor of a sleepy central Florida parish ripe for awakening to God’s ways that would then transform not only their parish…
Eilís Mulroy Earlier this month, former Attorney General, Tánaiste, and Minister for Justice, Senator Michael McDowell revealed that his request to access 64 pages of notes and minutes by the government’s Interdepartmental Group considering the implications of the proposed family and care amendments to the constitution was refused until after the referendum. Senator McDowell dismissed the…
Wendy Grace In recent years, maybe you, like me, have spotted teens and tweens alongside you in the anti-aging product aisle, and realised they weren’t shopping for their mom. Lately there has been a huge upsurge in young adults obsessing over skin care regimes at an age when they don’t need one at all. When…
John Lavenburg According to a top official with the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, the unity of the Church that would be represented on a papal visit to Argentina could help create a new social dialogue and unity in the country at a critical economic and political juncture. “In the Church we are together. People…
Mark Holan This year’s fraught US presidential campaigns have got many Americans wondering what has become of the once powerful ‘Irish vote’? This problem comes into even sharper focus with this recently published history of the Irish American strain by Prof. Timothy J. Meagher. Meagher was once associate professor of history at Catholic University of…
Jonathan Luxmoore Greece’s minority Catholic Church has deplored a parliamentary vote to allow same-sex marriage and child adoption, the first in a predominantly Orthodox country. “Our reaction is clear – the Church doesn’t accept same-sex marriage, and we’re surprised the government pressed ahead so quicky with this measure,” said Archbishop Josif Printezis of Naxos, Andros,…
I just celebrated my birthday. Twenty days after I entered the world, I was carried by my godparents to Immaculate Conception Parish in Maplewood, Missouri, to be baptised by the pastor, Fr John Ryan. Mom told me she and dad were nervous because they had waited almost three weeks instead of the expected two, and…
At 80 years of age, having left school over 62 years ago, it’s fair to assume that most of my teachers have, by now, passed on. There is one, however, who is still hale and hearty, whom I feel so privileged to have been taught by and whom I still speak with regularly. And the…
At least 15 Catholics were killed in an attack during Mass on Sunday in the Burkina Faso village of Essakane in the country’s Oudalan province in the northeastern region, a jurisdiction of the Diocese of Dori. In a statement, Fr Jean-Pierre Sawadogo, the vicar general of the Dori Diocese, called the February 25 incident a…
D.D. Emmons As the penitential season of Lent begins, we Catholics, like Christians everywhere, prepare to commemorate the passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Just a few short weeks ago, we celebrated his birth, and now the Church begins our preparation to join him on his journey to Calvary. The Church scene becomes sombre, more…