Winter can put many of us into a state of despair, writes Colm Fitzpatrick Many people look forward to the winter season where you can build snowmen, drink hot chocolate by the fire and cosy up with a Christmas movie. However, this idyllic image of these icy months isn’t shared by everyone – most…
Questions of Faith The first image that probably pops into your head when you think of Santa Claus is a jolly, old, bearded man who delivers presents to children once a year. However, the origins of this story date back to a real life person in the 4th Century. St Nicholas of Myra was a…
The story of this inspiring young man has the power to move hearts and minds, writes Colm Fitzpatrick Incredible people can be found in the most ordinary and unsuspecting of places – the small Scottish town of Carfin is one of those places. It lies between Glasgow and Edinburgh, to the north-east of Motherwell, and…
Questions of Faith It’s commonly asserted – namely from those in the Protestant tradition – that Catholics commit the sin of idolatry by worshipping statues. It’s an intriguing claim, namely because the Bible couldn’t be more explicit about the worship of graven images. “You shall not make for yourself a graven image or any likeness…
Arguments tend to arise at Christmas so try avoid them before they ruin the day, writes Colm Fitzpatrick Movies and adverts tend to idealise Christmas day; it’s thought that families come together to exchange hugs, presents and kind words in a charitable environment of love and understanding. The only tiffle there might be is over…
Personal Profile Young people will open up to God if we bring the message to them, Colm Fitzpatrick learns With an increasing number of young people no longer formally and institutionally identifying with the Catholic faith, being in the business of evangelisation can be a tough job. What’s needed are novel and captivating approaches that…
Questions of Faith In the last two decades or so, there has been a powerful worldwide focus on the impact of global warming. It’s widely accepted that if this problem is not tackled, it will detrimentally affect future generations. Climate activists have shaken up the consumerist status quo, challenging all of us to live in…
You should try out an eco-friendly Christmas this year, writes Colm Fitzpatrick The environment has a litany of enemies who are all determined to suffocate and destroy it. The list is almost endless; carbon emissions, deforestation, plastic pollution and oil spills all contribute to ensuring the planet will not be in a fit state…
Personal Profile Students can be a source of hope and encouragement, Colm Fitzpatrick learns It’s tough being a chaplain, especially when it involves providing pastoral support to students in one of Northern Ireland’s most popular universities. Fr Dominic McGrattan has recently been appointed as chaplain in Queen’s University, Belfast, replacing Fr Gerard Magee. He describes…
Children’s Corner If you’re a natural performer or just want to move out of your comfort zone, why not try entertaining your family and friends over Christmas with some magic? This is a time of year when all of your family are together under one roof, making it the perfect opportunity to show off all…