Posted on 21. Jan, 2016 in Christian Values, Church of Ireland, Community, Ecology, Environment, Fundraising, Natural Disasters
Extensive hardship was experienced throughout Ireland as a result of recent floods. People across the country have been left without food, shelter, warmth and clothing as a result of water damage. Many are also left with the insecurity that these floods could come again in the next few years and that their houses may never really […]
Posted on 21. Jan, 2016 in Christian Values, Community, Conflict, Family, Refugees
Bronagh Ćatibušić has just returned home from Croatia where she spent two weeks volunteering in a refugee camp in the eastern town of Slavonski Brod. This camp is a transit centre for people fleeing conflict who are making the arduous trek along the so-called ‘Balkan route’. An average of between 2,000 and 4,000 people passed […]
Posted on 14. Jan, 2016 in Christian Values, Community, Conflict, Saints
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has expressed the hope that official events to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising will not try to airbrush religion from the story. Writing in a special commemorative issue of The Irish Catholic newspaper, which was dedicated to exploring the role of faith in the lives of the rebels as […]
Posted on 14. Jan, 2016 in Community, Family, Working Abroad
More and more Irish people are living abroad creating new homes and communities. Josepha Smith is currently living in Australia and returned over Christmas to visit her family. She talks about the migrant experience, the trials of living between two cultures and how Ireland will always be home. Miriam Gormally began by asking her whether […]
Posted on 14. Jan, 2016 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Community, Faith Groups, Gospel Values
Sr. Bridget Dunne is the joint chair of the national service committee for charismatic renewal. Sr Bridget has been involved in the movement for 46 years. She talks about how we can use all parts of our body to praise Jesus and renew the Holy Spirit in our lives. Here she talks with Conor Deane […]
Posted on 07. Jan, 2016 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Climate Change, Community, Ecology, Economy, Environment, Nature
The recent United Nations climate change conference in Paris in December was declared by Francois Hollande as a “revolution for climate change.” 150 presidents and prime ministers were present, the largest ever single-day gathering of heads of state. Éamonn Meehan, Executive Director of Trócaire, was also present representing the Christian obligation to remember the poorest […]
Posted on 24. Dec, 2015 in Book Reviews, Christian Values, Christmas, Church Teachings, Community, Faith and Justice, Gospel Values, Liturgy, Prayer
“Let everything secular about Christmas remind us of its Holy meaning.” says Donal Neary SJ, i in his most recent book of reflections of Luke’s Gospel. Donal is well known as the parish priest of Gardiner Street in Dublin and prolific author who was recently appointed editor of the Messenger. He talks about why he published […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]