Paul Dunphy describes the effects of life-changing gifts to the developing world Since Oxfam launched the Unwrapped range of Christmas gifts, Irish people have truly embraced the spirit of Christmas and given more than 125,000 life-changing gifts to people in need. These gifts have helped improve the lives of more than 500,000 people in…
Fr Liam Lawton’s journey in song reached a milestone in 2011. Paul Keenan reports Within any chosen path, to be able to describe oneself as ”busy” after 20 years can only be what’s called ‘a good complaint’. But busy is exactly what Fr Liam Lawton has continued to be through 2011, the 20th anniversary year…
I have to confess to being a bit of a fan of Woody Allen. I know a lot of his views would be completely contrary to mine, or the Church’s for that matter. But he is (or can be) an inventive and funny film-maker and his movies often touch on matters of ultimate meaning. Also,…
Cliona Byrne explains how to make decorations for Christmas Sewing projects are perfect during Christmas, they can be done while sitting by the fire or watching the television. Since I can remember I have worked on sewing projects over Christmas holidays with my mother, from angels for the top of the tree to little…
Rory Fitzgerald shares ideas for family fun in wintertime Autumn has passed, and winter has begun in earnest. The season’s cold tentacles now wrap themselves ever deeper into our daily lives. The biting winds and early nights leave us housebound, as the shortest day of the year draws ominously closer. Yet during these long dark…
Wexford’s Fr Fritz O’Kelly describes Christmas on the African Missions as part of a collection of letters now published in book form At Christmas time in Chiwoma, the people gathered firewood and prepared for a night of singing. It was a very beautiful moonlight night. They sing with great devotion, rhythm and harmony. Their children…
South Dakota (PG) There are many controversial questions surrounding the subject of abortion. When does life begin, for instance. Or when can a foetus feel pain. Or has a woman who has been raped more of a ‘right’ to seek termination of a pregnancy than someone who has become pregnant by choice, or carelessness. The…
Looking back over the year, our regular reviewers have selected what, for them, was their personal book, or in some generous cases, books of the year Anthony Redmond A book that impressed me quite a lot this year was Unmasking God by Father Daniel O’Leary (Columba Press, €12.99 / £11.08), whose books are always a…
The first in of a four-part Advent series on prayer In our more reflective moments we sense the importance of prayer; yet, we struggle to pray. Sustained, deep prayer doesn’t come easy for us. Why? First of all, we struggle to make time for prayer. Prayer doesn’t accomplish anything practical for us, it’s a waste…
Rome: pagan days to papal centuries The Popes: A History By John Julius Norwich (Chatto & Windus, €33 / £25.00) Rome: A CulturalHistory By Robert Hughes (Weidenfeld & Nicholson, €33.00 / £25.00) Michael Collins The leading art critic, Robert Hughes, familiar to many for his history of his native Australia, has distilled his life-long passion…