In the midst of war, the Holy Land’s Christians are struggling to remain united, writes Michael Kelly It was not in splendour and worldly power that God came to Earth, but in the humility of a defenceless baby born in the manger of Bethlehem. No wonder the strong and the powerful are so perplexed by…
Ann Marie Foley Portlaoise is growing as a commuter town and in diversity, and the parish is something of a ‘United Nations’ of priests and religious from Brazil, China, Romania, Indonesia and India serving with PP Msgr John Byrne, PPVG and a local Deacon Eugene Keyes. “When I came here (in 2000) I was one…
When a woman decides to become a nun, they leave behind old traditions and practices and open themselves for a new life with their religious order, which becomes their new family. That include Christmas traditions. As every family has their own Christmas customs, with the nuns that is not different. The Irish Catholic talked to…
It was Christmas Eve, 1977, and my brothers and I had finally stopped waking up my parents, in the wee small hours, as we crept a little too noisily along the hall to see if Santa had arrived. My mother, one eye open and one eye closed, would meet us on the stairs, around one…
On the day Josephine Brady was diagnosed with cancer, the world seemed to shake. For this librarian and lover of literature, the initial shock was overwhelming. Yet, during the uncertainty, she found herself reaching for books. Not just any books, but ones that might help her understand the reality of her situation. The result of…
Christmas is a time for traditions. Some families like to gather at the grandparents every year for a big dinner with the whole extended family, while others will watch together the same movie every year. Some families will pray together a certain number of evenings before Christmas, and others will help in charity events every…
Generosity is part of our national identity, hears Renata Milán Morales For 100 years, the Christmas Day dinner has been a sign of hope and generosity for those in need in Dublin. Since its establishment in 1924, this event has grown into a tradition, offering not just meals but also companionship and a sense of…
Br Justin Robinson OSB The Sea of Galilee laps gently against the shoreline at Tabgha Priory, a Benedictine monastery offering an oasis of peace in an otherwise troubled Holy Land. Over the past year, the soundscape of war has enveloped the small community of monks who live, pray and work at the place where…
Named a GAA All-Star this year, Tyrone man Niall Morgan has warned against the dangers of gambling and the challenges of raising children in a world where so many hazards are easily accessible, but that Faith can keep you on the right path. Tyrone’s All-Ireland winning goalkeeper, who has two young children, said that it…
“Christmas is a very expensive time,” John Anderson, the Tallaght Area President of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) said. “For many families, the joy of the season is overshadowed by financial hardship. Parents worry their children will feel left out when everyone else is exchanging gifts and celebrating. Simple things, like visiting…
Michael Kelly
Renata Steffens
Martina Purdy
Chai Brady