I remember exactly where I was on August 15, 2004. Sitting in my grandparents’ house, all I wanted was to watch Match of the Day. Chelsea had played, and I was eager to see the highlights. But there was no football that morning—RTÉ was broadcasting a Mass from Lourdes, celebrated by a very frail Pope…
The misunderstanding of technological advancement and human progress As we entrust Pope Francis to the loving mercy of God after his twelve years of Petrine ministry, it is good to ponder aspects of his legacy. One aspect – perhaps among the less obvious ones, but which we can ponder with great gratitude – is the…
Acts 5:12-16 Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 Rv 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19 Jn 20:19-31 God is so incredibly merciful – we simply cannot fathom Divine mercy. But the main lesson of today is that hopefully as we begin to understand it – that we also begin to forgive as God forgives. For a little while St Thomas…
I remember seeing Pope Francis at World Meeting of Families back in 2018. His reserved reception of the higher echelons of Irish society in Dublin Castle contrasted nicely with his off-script and familiar remarks to us who went to see him in Croke Park. I felt like he was standing up for us who have…
Although suffering is unavoidable, we can see in it an ultimate meaning and value, says Jason Conroy Well, how has your Lent gone? Forgive me if I’m not surprised if your record isn’t exactly pristine. I’ve always noticed that by the time Good Friday comes around I’ve often been practically brought to my knees trying…
Acts 10:34a, 37-43 Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 Col 3:1-4 OR 1 Cor 5:6b-8 Jn 20:1-9 My good friend recently shared a story about a man he met in a Brazilian prison nearly 30 years ago. Sentenced for a crime he indeed committed, he had little hope of an early release and regaining his freedom.…
The need for a more realistic understanding of the Irish Church Our experience, understanding and relationships are important in helping us to lead others to Christ. Since our experience is limited and can be subject to bias, real-life data supplements this to strengthen and clarify our approach. This article focuses on factors that…
The role of the faithful in maintaining the balance For Christians, the challenge is to be careful of patterns of thought or habits of communication that too readily divide the world into ‘us’ and ‘them’, writes Fr Chris Hayden We live in a time of name-calling, pigeon-holing, and labelling. Perhaps, given our flawed human…
The sacred power of the religious habit In a world where everyone’s obsessed with being unique, the habit makes the most countercultural statement of all, ‘My truest self (Identity) is found only in Christ,’ writes Bro. Oman Ashraf OSA The religious habit is like a flame in the fog of modern life, where so…
Q: How could Jesus’ death ‘cleanse us from our sins’ and ‘assure our entrance into Heaven’? If that is the case, why do we need confession? A: First, since it pertains to some of the deepest mysteries of our faith, I think the exact ‘mechanics’ of how Jesus’ passion and death redeemed the fallen human race…
Fr Barry White
Fr Dominik Domagala