Exploring Spirituality

Posted on 22. Nov, 2018 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Community, Faith and Justice, Gospel Values, Liturgy

God Ever Greater: Exploring Ignatian Spirituality is the title of Brian O’Leary SJ’s latest book published by Messenger Publications. The book is the fruit of a life-long immersion in Ignatian spirituality from both an academic and experiential perspective. In this interview with Pat Coyle, Brian explains how he dealt head-on with understanding the oft-used, but little […]

Christian Outreach

Posted on 15. Nov, 2018 in Christian Values, Community, Gospel Values, Young people

Eoin Lynch has been working with UCO, University Christian Outreach in UCD in Dublin. He gave the first in a series of talks called “Joy Robbers!” looking at where we can find true joy. He explains to Conor Deane that UCO is about outreach and getting people to come along to their regular Tue night […]

St Oscar Romero

Posted on 25. Oct, 2018 in Achievement, Charity, Christian Values, Gospel Values, Humanitarian Aid, Saints

Oscar Romero, the murdered archbishop of San Salvador who spoke up for the poor and oppressed was declared a saint on Oct 14th of this year. The ceremony featured seven new saints altogether, including Pope John Paul VI and, as the Vatican put it, “five other lesser-known blessed.” Romero, who stood up to a violent regime, […]

Prayer and Service with Alzheimers

Posted on 20. Sep, 2018 in Chronic illness, Community, Different abilities, Gospel Values

In this second part of our three part series, Des O’Grady SJ, talks about working with Alzheimers and in particular leading prayer, saying mass and doing his job. He currently works as a chaplain in Dundrum central mental hospital and says the disease gives him insight into those he serves in Dundrum who also have […]

Running a Diocese

Posted on 20. Sep, 2018 in Christian Values, Community, Gospel Values

Alan McGuckian SJ was appointed as Bishop of Raphoe by Pope Francis just over a year ago. During the last six years Alan has been working with the Diocese of Down and Conor in the ‘Living Church’ project. This began in 2011 with a listening process, aimed at hearing the hopes and fears of the […]

Forgiveness

Posted on 26. Jul, 2018 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Conflict, Gospel Values

In this piece with Fodhla McGrane from 2015, we look back on the topic of forgiveness. Forgiveness is one of the most challenging, but equally liberating thing that we can do. Our instinct is to harden our hearts, but ‘Forgive’ is a command given regularly by Jesus making it central to any Christian religion. Forgiveness […]

Interrogating Hauerwas Part 2

Posted on 12. Jul, 2018 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Community, Conflict, Faith and Justice, Gospel Values, Humane Vitae, War / Civil Unrest

In this second interview with Stanley Hauerwas, named “America’s Best Theologian” by Time magazine in 2001, he gives his reaction to the recent Irish referendum and questions whether the debates we were having were really getting to the heart of the matter. He also looks at the idea of peace and believing in a peaceful future, setting aside […]

Family Trees

Posted on 28. Jun, 2018 in Christian Values, Community, Ecology, Faith and Justice, Gospel Values, Young people

As we approach the world meeting of Families, Dympna Mallon SMA Laity Coordinator talks about their Family Tree project. Going beyond the tradition interpretation of family, her project aims to connect us all as family, including our environment. She says the Society of African Missions have long been aware of the devastating impacts of climate change […]

Suport for Minister Madigan

Posted on 28. Jun, 2018 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Feminism/Women in the Church, Gospel Values

Minister Josepha Madigan stepped up to assist a church service in Mount Merrion last Saturday, 23rd of June, when a priest failed to show up. Afterwards she said the Church should ordain women and allow priests to marry. Her actions caused a great stir amongst some including Archbishop Diarmuid Martin who said it was “deeply disrespectful” […]

Love Surpasses Fear

Posted on 21. Jun, 2018 in Christian Values, Faith and Justice, Gospel Values, Humanitarian Aid, Places of Conflict, Refugees

Peter Girasek SJ said he felt like he was going to a sure death when he was asked to go to refugee camps in Iraq, a country that was assaulted by the Islamic extremist group ISIS for three years displacing over three million people. He made the decision to go when he asked himself, ‘If […]