Award for Fr Shay Cullen

Posted on 10. Nov, 2016 in Achievement, Christian Values, Community, Faith and Justice, Gospel Values, Humane Vitae, Young people

Fr Shay Cullen, a Dublin-born Columban Missionary in the Philippines, received the Hugh O’Flaherty International Humanitarian Award. The ceremony took place on Saturday evening, November 5 at the Killarney Avenue Hotel. Named in memory of Kerry Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, who spent much of his youth in Killarney, the award aims to raise awareness of his remarkable […]

Friend of the Poor: Mary Aikenhead

Posted on 10. Nov, 2016 in Charity, Christian Values, Community, Faith and Justice, Feminism/Women in the Church, Vocation, Young people

Friend of the Poor: Mary Aikenhead is a book by Rosaleen Crossan RSC looking at the life of this extraordinary Cork woman who founded The Religious Sisters of Charity. It traces her life and inspiration. Born into incredible wealth and privilege, she decided to abandon all of that and dedicate her life to serving the poor. Last year […]

Ireland Shed a Tear?

Posted on 03. Nov, 2016 in Community, Death, Discrimination, Family, Uncategorized

Ireland Shed a Tear is a play by Michael Collins looking at the fallout of the tragedy of Carrickmines. He said that initially the outpouring of grief and support suggested that there would be a real public examination of how travellers are treated in society. But he now observes that things quickly went back to […]

Welcoming new Jesuit Leader

Posted on 27. Oct, 2016 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Community, Faith and Justice

The new leader of the Jesuits worldwide, Fr Arturo Sosa, is “decisive, visionary and has a great sense of humour,” according to Gerry Whelan SJ, an Irish Jesuit who lectures in the Gregorian Univiersty in Rome. Gerry describes Fr Sosa as a very decisive man, familiar and comfortable with leadership roles. He says he’s not afraid […]

Moving from Fossil Fuels

Posted on 27. Oct, 2016 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Climate Change, Community, EcoCongregations

On the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, Catholic institutions and communities from all over the world celebrated the month-long Season of Creation with the largest joint announcement of their decision to divest from fossil fuels. Major Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant, and Anglican organisations came together between September 1st (World Day of Prayer for Creation) and […]

Loving Sister Earth

Posted on 20. Oct, 2016 in Christian Values, Community, Ecological, Ecology, Gospel Values, Retreats, Spiritual

Brian Grogan SJ talks about how time is running out for our planet and how we are called to fall in love with what St Francis called “Sister Earth”. He explains that as Christians, we are called on to defend and protect our common home. He is part of an organization called “Loving Sister Earth” […]

This is Palestine

Posted on 13. Oct, 2016 in Charity, Christian Values, Community, Conflict, Faith and Justice, Humanitarian Aid

“This is Palestine” is a photography exhibition by multi-award-winning producer and director John McColgan, founder of River Dance. He recently travelled to the West Bank and Gaza with Trócaire to document the lives of people trying to live as normally as possible in the midst of military occupation and economic blockade. Miriam Gormally met with […]

A Lutheran look at Mercy

Posted on 13. Oct, 2016 in Charity, Christian Values, Community, Faith and Justice, Gospel Values

Californian Amanda Berg has just completed her training in Spiritual Direction at the Jesuit Manresa Centre of Spirituality in Dublin. As a Lutheran, she warmly welcomes Pope Francis’s declaration of a Year of Mercy. She described Mercy as “underserved forgiveness” and says that it is a real gift; something that we’ve “always needed” in our […]

Understanding Amoris Laetitia

Posted on 06. Oct, 2016 in Celibacy/Sexuality, Church Teachings, Community, Gospel Values

Ever since Pope Francis released a sweeping document on the family this March, there’s been ongoing discussion regarding what the conclusion actually is for divorced and civilly remarried Catholics who, according to previous Church teaching, were barred from receiving Communion. The bishops of the Buenos Aires region have drafted a set of guidelines meant to help […]

New Jesuit Superior General Election

Posted on 06. Oct, 2016 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Community, Vocation

In December 2014, the current Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Father Adolfo Nicolás, SJ, announced his intention to resign. A new superior general will be elected at what is now the  36th General Congregation (GC 36), which is currently underway. Delegates will discuss petitions or requests, known as postulata, received from province congregations around […]