A Candle for You

Posted on 16. Apr, 2020 in Christian Values, Community, Music

The song, “A candle for You”, sung by Patricia Bourke D’Souza and composed by Marie Dunne CHF was released to raise awareness for missing persons. However during this time or turmoil, the idea of lighting a candle for someone has taken on a greater significance. Marie says that the idea of the candle was inspired […]

Trócaire’s response to Covid-19

Posted on 09. Apr, 2020 in Christian Values, Faith and Justice

Covid-19 has shaken China, America and most of Europe. It is now moving into Africa, where the numbers infected have been rising. So far though the virus seems to be moving more slowly in Africa than on other continents and there were some hope that countries in Africa might be more resilient, having younger populations. […]

Women of the Cross

Posted on 09. Apr, 2020 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Community, Feminism/Women in the Church, Gospel Values

As we continue through Lent towards Holy Week, Good Friday and Holy Saturday we are asked not to rush, not to start preparations for the resurrection, but to wait, to understand our own powerlessness. Beginning this week and continuing through Eastertide, we will run this series looking a six prominent women who featured in the […]

God in the Wilderness

Posted on 09. Apr, 2020 in Christian Values, Community, Faith and Justice, Vocation

During this time of difficulties where many are asking where is God, Mike Drennan SJ, Director of Manresa, counsellor and spiritual director, takes a look at finding God in Wilderness. Drawing on stories from the Bible where people were often put into challenging circumstances and had to dig deep to reflect on the meaning of […]

Response to Querida Amazonia

Posted on 02. Apr, 2020 in Celibacy/Sexuality, Christian Values, Church Teachings, Community, Feminism/Women in the Church, Vocation

Querida Amazonia, Pope Francis’ official response to the Amazon Synod, demonstrates that the “Roman Catholic hierarchy lacks the courage and vision needed to address the real needs of the world and its people”, says We Are Church International, an advocate for structural change in the largest Christian denomination. In this second part of our two […]

Shelter Me

Posted on 02. Apr, 2020 in Community, Music

In these uncertain times as many wonder when we will be able to freely move around again, Marie Dunne CHF shares her song, Shelter Me from the Album of Chants, which features, reflective chants of gentleness and calm.  Sister Marie Dunne a native of Dublin, is a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of […]

Understanding the Sacrament of the Sick

Posted on 26. Mar, 2020 in Christian Values, Community, Death, Gospel Values, Health

Australian Jesuit Fr Richard Leonard, author of Hatch, Match & Dispatch: A Catholic Guide to Sacraments, talks to Pat Coyle  about the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. Pointing to the miracles, he emphasises that Christ’s mission was clearly one of healing with the sacrament as part of the tradition. He notes that the […]

Living in Lockdown in Rome

Posted on 26. Mar, 2020 in Community, Natural Disasters, Nature, Working Abroad

Gerry Whelan SJ is an Irish Jesuit lecturing in the Gregorian University in Rome. Like the rest of Italy, he and his community have been on lockdown for a number of weeks now. “It’s a challenging time”, he tells Pat Coyle “It’s also weird and wonderful.” In this interview Gerry speaks by phone from an […]

Querida Amazonia’s view on Women

Posted on 26. Mar, 2020 in Church Teachings, Community, Feminism/Women in the Church, Vocation

“Francis’ dream for women in latest papal document is more like nightmarish vision”, so says Soline Humbert from “We are Church”. In an article for the Irish Times, she wrote, “I have heard several people talk of frustration, anger, devastation, dismay and even tears at the description of women and their roles in the church […]

Surviving COVID-19

Posted on 19. Mar, 2020 in Community, Economy, Politics

“When clusters of infection arise because of precarious, shoddy, or non-existent housing, it won’t be any defence to declare that you ‘get up early in the morning’ and that as a member of the ‘squeezed middle’ you should be spared.” So writes Dr Kevin Hargaden, Assistant Director of the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice, […]