Posted on 11. Dec, 2014 in Uncategorized
Last month, Ruth Kilkullen took part in the Youth Symposium on Human Trafficking at the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences in the Vatican. This was a gathering of young people from all over the world to share ideas and experiences of working to end human trafficking. The participants represented various sectors of the anti-trafficking movement, […]
Posted on 11. Dec, 2014 in Uncategorized
Can sacrifice be joyful? In his book Micheal McGuckian SJ explores various understandings of sacrifice, noting that along the way Christianity lost the practice of it. He begins by looking at what our core or basic understanding of sacrifice is. ‘In normal parlance’, he says, it’s usually about giving up something. So we say that […]
Posted on 04. Dec, 2014 in Homelessness
Ciara Smullen – The interior designer on the project. Ireland’s first shipping container home was built over three days in November and displayed on the grounds of the Irish Museum of Modern Arts. It went from this to this. And inside. It has since been donated to Saint Vincent de Paul in Cork where it […]
Posted on 04. Dec, 2014 in Christian Values, Church Teachings
In his interview with Jesuit journals in the Summer of last year Pope Francis famously described “the church as a field hospital after battle.” The image captures some of the urgency that is demanded of the church today: “You have to attend to the wounds,” he continued. “Then we can talk about everything else. Attend […]
Posted on 04. Dec, 2014 in Uncategorized
The Happy Pear in Greystones is run by twin brothers, Stephen and David Flynn. They set up The Happy Pear as part of their inspiration to create a society that’s happy, healthy and ethical. From their shop in Greystones they run a coffee shop as well as a food delivery service and healthy eating courses. […]
Posted on 27. Nov, 2014 in Uncategorized
Social Justice Ireland is an independent think tank and justice advocacy organisation. They work to build a fair society through sustainable options for the future, focusing on human rights and the common good. They recently held their annual Social Policy Conference in Croke Park including Sean O’Riain, professor of Sociology in NUI Maynooth and Eoin Reeves […]
Posted on 27. Nov, 2014 in Uncategorized
There are many conflict zones around the world at any given time and often we can quickly forget them once the news cycle has moved on. Syria is a country that has been locked in conflict since pro-democracy protests erupted in March 2011. Violence escalated and the country descended into civil war. Trócaire recently invited […]
Posted on 20. Nov, 2014 in Saints, Uncategorized
On Friday November 7th, Pope Francis approved the recommendation of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints that Father John Sullivan, S.J.(1861-1933), be declared Venerable. Fr Conor Harper SJ, welcomed the good news saying that “there are still thousand of people who are convinced that he points the way to God and to the healing […]
Posted on 20. Nov, 2014 in Uncategorized
The first Sunday in Advent starts on Nov 30th and is a time to take stock and prepare for Christmas. Fr. Eugene McCaffrey is a Carmelite priest and writer who teaches Christian meditation. He regularly gives retreats, and will be inviting people to join him in contemplation during Advent. Having lost his own brother earlier […]
Posted on 20. Nov, 2014 in Uncategorized
In 2002 Dr Joanna Rose, conceived through sperm donation, won a human rights test case in the English High Court, which forced the British government to acknowledge the significance of the genetic, as well as the legal identity of donor offspring. She was in Dublin last week warning that draft legislation in Ireland regarding Assisted Reproductive […]