Prayer by Thomas Merton

Posted on 24. Dec, 2015 in Christian Values, Community, Faith and Justice, Prayer, Vocation

Thomas Merton was a writer, mystic, monk, poet, social activist and student of comparative religion. He was fascinated by Eastern Spirituality and met with the Dalia Lama who said he considered himself one of [Thomas Merton’s] Buddhist brothers. John Cooney, journalist and broadcaster has had a long time fascination with Thomas Merton and has written about […]

Parish of the Travelling People

Posted on 17. Dec, 2015 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Community, Faith Groups, Grief, Pilgrimage, Pope Francis

Fr. Michael McCullagh recently travelled to Rome with the Parish of the Travelling People to meet Pope Francis. It was to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of the Parish of the Travelling People. Fr. Michael was their first parish priest and their current priest, Fr. Derek Farrell invited him along. The celebration was […]

Trócaire Gifts

Posted on 17. Dec, 2015 in Christian Values, Christmas, Church Teachings, Community, Faith and Justice, Fundraising

Christmas is a time of giving, but sometimes we end up giving presents that people neither need nor want. One way around that is to give someone one of Trócaire Gifts – gifts that are much needed and is in keeping with the true spirit of Christmas. Miriam Gormally met with Éamonn Meehan, Director of […]

Advent and Expectation

Posted on 17. Dec, 2015 in Advent, Christian Values, Christmas, Church Teachings

Advent is a season of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. The word Advent means “coming” or arrival and it symbolises the spiritual journey of waiting. It was also traditionally a time of fasting. Prof Siobhán Garrigan, the Loyola Chair of Catholic Theology and Director of the Loyola Institute, […]

The Mystery of Thomas Merton

Posted on 10. Dec, 2015 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Community, Eastern Spirituality, Education, Faith and Justice, Gospel Values, Vocation

The monk and hermit Thomas Merton (1915-1968) is hard to define. He was a poet, prolific spiritual writer, diarist, jazz buff, pioneer of inter religious dialogue, advocate of radial social reform and precursor of liberation theology. His works were known worldwide. However despite all his productivity, he was a man of inner turmoil, who died […]

LBGT Christmas Carol Service

Posted on 10. Dec, 2015 in Christian Values, Christmas, Faith and Justice, Gospel Values, Mass, Sexuality

The 17th Annual LGBT Christmas Carol service will take place on Saturday the 12th of December. The guest speaker will be Colm O’Gorman, executive director of Amnesty International and money collected with go to the Peter McVerry Trust. Music will be sung by the Dublin Gay Men’s Chorus. Brian Glennon is organising it this year. […]

A Canonised Couple

Posted on 03. Dec, 2015 in Achievement, Christian Values, Married Couples, Saints

St Thérèse of Lisieux is one of the Church’s most popular saints. Recently her parents, Zélie Guerin and Louis Martin, became the first couple to be canonised together. Their life story demonstrates how holiness can be achieved in marriage. They were a couple who knew heartache: four of their nine children died as infants. They also […]

My Indian Journal

Posted on 03. Dec, 2015 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Eastern Spirituality

 Catherine McCann presenting her first book to Mary Robinson. In their eighties many people are thinking of settling down or maybe moving into a retirement home. Not Catherine McCann, founder of the Shekinah Sculpture Gardens in Wicklow. She has recently returned from a trip to India, including time spent in an Ashram and has published a […]

The Great Adventure

Posted on 26. Nov, 2015 in Baptism, Christian Values, Church Teachings, Community, Gospel Values

Jeff Cavins is recognised both nationally and internationally as one of the most effective and engaging speakers In the Church today. He was recently in Ireland giving his presentation on “The Great Adventure: A Journey through the Bible”. His interactive programme helps people read the “big picture” of God’s plan in Sacred Scripture and understand its meaning […]

From Atheist to Alpha

Posted on 26. Nov, 2015 in Christian Values, Church of Ireland, Church Teachings, Community, Eastern Spirituality, Faith Groups, Gospel Values

The Alpha course has been sweeping though the country and attracting the attention of Christians and non Christians alike. Donal Casey, lecturer and artist, was a lapsed Christian who like many professed to be spiritual but not religious. Here he talks with Miriam Gormally about how he joined the Alpha course out of curiosity – […]