Communication in the Church

Posted on 17. Sep, 2015 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Community

At Soul Waves recent AGM, we were delighted to have Denis Bradley talk on the theme of Communication in the Church: do we need a new language or a new message? A former priest and then later vice-chairman of the police board for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Denis was appointed co-chairman, with […]

Responding to Refuges

Posted on 10. Sep, 2015 in Charity, Church Teachings, Community, Economy, Family, Grief, Immigrants, Young people

The sight of the body of Alyan Kurdi, the drowned boy who was tragically washed up onto a Turkish beach, highlighted the extent of the refuge crisis. His image spawned sympathy and outrage at the lack of help being offered to Syrian refuges by developing nations. His family were fleeing IS, trying to reach relations […]

Welcoming the Stranger

Posted on 10. Sep, 2015 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Community, Faith and Justice, Family, Gospel Values, Humanitarian Aid

Following on from the need to respond to the terrible tragedy that is being faced by refuges fleeing their country, Fr. Alan Hilliard, member of the Irish Episcopal Council for Emigrants talked about the Church’s teachings on emigrants and how there is a need for the church to preach a radical new message of welcoming […]

The Church Fire Story

Posted on 13. Aug, 2015 in Community

Our final piece from 2007, looks at the distraction of a local church by fire and the impact it had on parishioners. On February 12th 2004, St. Joseph’s Church, Ballinagar, Co. Offaly in the parish of Killeigh, in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin was destroyed by fire. Originally built in 1837, it was the […]

Spiritual Direction

Posted on 23. Jul, 2015 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Community, Faith and Justice, Gospel Values

Finding God in all things is the core philosophy of the Jesuits. Brendan McManus SJ works as a spiritual director in Belfast and deals with all the various obstacles that people can encounter. He offers himself as “an ear, where people can come and talk about their lives…and especially their decisions.” He helps them through a process […]

Integrating Ireland

Posted on 16. Jul, 2015 in Christian Values, Community, Discrimination, Economy, Refugees

Ireland has become ones of the most globalised economies in the world. People from all over the world are coming to work and live in this country. Dr. Jean-Pierre Eyanga Ekumeloko is one such person, who arrived in Ireland in 1997. Qualified as a Doctor in Veterinary Medicine, he was unable to work here, even […]

Out of Wonder

Posted on 09. Jul, 2015 in Christian Values, Climate Change, Community, EcoCongregations, Ecology, Economy, Environment, Health, Nature

Nellie McLoughlin rsm has worked all her life in the area of cosmology, ecology and sustainable living. Her love of life and her early interest in geology/geography, was nurtured through learning and reflecting on life’s experience. She taught on the MA in Ecology and Religion Programme at Dalgan Park, Navan, Ireland. Her book ‘Out of […]

Personal Development

Posted on 09. Jul, 2015 in Community

Personal Development is an ongoing life challenge, according to Marie Stuart rsm, a psychotherapist and group facilitator. We have, she says, a desire to present our positive traits to the world while trying to deny or hide traits we perceive as negative. However this leaves us cut off from full selves. Here she talks with Miriam […]

Remembering Oscar Romero

Posted on 18. Jun, 2015 in Christian Values, Community, Death, Faith and Justice, Gospel Values, Humanitarian Aid, Spiritual

On May 23rd, Oscar Romero was beatified. Pope Francis said he “guided, defended and protected his flock, remaining loyal to the Gospel, in communion with the Church,” and in particular gave attention to the poorest and most marginalised in society. Romero was a controversial figure who was called back to the Vatican on three occasions, […]

Climate Change Conference

Posted on 11. Jun, 2015 in Climate Change, Community, Ecology, Economy, Environment, Gospel Values, Nature

2015 is a critical year in addressing the impending climate emergency and charting a path towards a more sustainable future, culminating in the UN Summit (COP21) in Paris in December. Trócaire is holding a major international conference on 22 June – 23 June 2015, co-hosted by Maynooth University and St Patrick’s College Maynooth which will bring […]