A Feminist St Patrick?

Posted on 15. Mar, 2018 in Christian Values, Feminism/Women in the Church, Gospel Values, St Patrick

St Patrick, Ireland’s national patron saint had plenty to offer to women. So says Soline Humbert a prominent member of “We are Church” with a particular interest in justice for women and exploring how they have been excluded from the Church. Like Saint Patrick she was a stranger in this land and like him she […]

Generous Love in Multi–Faith Ireland

Posted on 15. Mar, 2018 in Christian Values, Church of Ireland, Church Teachings, Community, Faith and Justice

Generous Love in Multi–Faith Ireland: is the title of a recent book by Suzanne Cousins. The book aims to identify hindrances to Christian–Muslim engagement in Church of Ireland parishes and dioceses, with a view to bridging divides. The central themes are the theologies of the kindness of God – friendship, and hospitality. The book questions the […]

Studying Spirituality

Posted on 08. Mar, 2018 in Christian Values, Community, Faith and Justice, Spirituality

Dr Michael O’Sullivan of SpIRE, the Spirituality Institute for Research and Education, gave a lecture on 15 February to the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University on the subject of ‘authentic interiority and the study of spirituality’. The aim of his paper was to demonstrate that the field of spirituality is a fit field […]

Finding Peace

Posted on 01. Mar, 2018 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Community, Conflict, Faith and Justice, Prayer, Retreats

Dr Annemarie Paulin-Campbell heads up the spirituality work of the Jesuit Institute South Africa and is a spiritual director and psychotherapist working with victims of trauma. In this interview with Pat Coyle, Annemarie discusses the interface between Christian spirituality and psychology in a place that is still severely affected by the apartheid era. “We’re still […]

Funding the Pope’s Visit

Posted on 01. Mar, 2018 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Community

We are Church recently released as statement saying that while Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland for the World Meeting of Families was welcome, that it should not be paid for by the Irish State.  Outside of covering the basic security needs of any invited dignitary, they say that the Pope’s visit should not be paid […]

The Vegan Saint

Posted on 22. Feb, 2018 in Achievement, Christian Values, Community, Ecological, Ecology, Saints, Spirituality

  A Miracle of Saint Francis of Paola is the name of the above painting hanging in the National Gallery and is attributed to Pietro Novelli, a Sicillan painter. It depicts Saint Francis of Paola, a vegan and animal lover, from the region of Calabria in southwest Italy. The story depicted is of St Francis […]

One of Us

Posted on 22. Feb, 2018 in Christian Values, Community, Feminism/Women in the Church

  The Iona Institute has launched a new national billboard campaign to promote the right to life of the unborn. The billboards show an image of the unborn baby at 11 weeks with the message ‘one of us’. The point, they say is that the “posters show how unmistakably human the unborn child is at […]

Bible Thoughts on Housing Crisis

Posted on 15. Feb, 2018 in Charity, Christian Values, Economy, Faith and Justice

Dr Kevin Hargaden from the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice has written a lenten retreat with a difference to make us consider homeless in the context of Christianity.  ‘Home Thoughts from the Bible in a Time of Housing Crisis” is seven week retreat for Lent exploring the theme of homelessness in the bible from […]

Jars4Journeys

Posted on 08. Feb, 2018 in Christian Values, Community, Ecology, Humanitarian Aid

  Climate change is rapidly becoming the most threatening issue of our time and vulnerable communities are already being affected. Radical change is needed and it is a matter of faith and social justice, so says the Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal who work closely with people all over the world who are already suffering […]

Take Ten Minutes for Lent

Posted on 07. Feb, 2018 in Christian Values, Community, Retreats, Spiritual

Taking ten minutes out for reflection is a new idea for a retreat run by the Jesuit Centre of Spirituality and Culture in Galway. Eddie Cosgrave SJ, the new Director of the centre says that they are looking for people to take part in a six-week Lenten challenge, dedicating ten minutes a day to a […]