Facing into the New Year

Posted on 26. Dec, 2019 in Christmas, Seasons of the Church Year

As we start planning for 2020, the residue of Christmas is still with us as well as all that went on in our lives during the year. We listen to advice that psychologist Marie Murray, a registered clinical psychologist, family therapist, journalist, author and broadcaster gave to Eileen Good about how best we can move forward in […]

A Christmas Truce Carol

Posted on 19. Dec, 2019 in Christmas, Seasons of the Church Year

Happy Christmas to all from Soul Waves. This Christmas we remember this story from James O’Halloran, author of A Christmas Truce Carol. He said that there were two Christmases of major significance to mankind. One was the birth of Christ and the other was the Christmas Truce of World War One in 1914.  James O’Halloran’s new book is a piece […]

Sing with Joy

Posted on 17. Dec, 2019 in Advent, Christian Values, Christmas, Community, Music Therapy

Our final piece of music for Advent/Christmas from Sister Marie Dunne is “Sing with Joy”. In it she celebrates the coming arrival of the Lord to “set us free”. Marie has been a composer of liturgical and religious music for over 30 years. She has composed a number of Mass settings, in addition to music […]

Pressure at Christmas

Posted on 05. Dec, 2019 in Achievement, Christian Values, Christmas, Church Teachings, Community, Economy, Faith and Justice

Christmas is a time for celebration, but for many living on low or fixed incomes, it can be a time of stress and worry. In this piece from our archives, Michelle Murphy from Social Justice Ireland said she sometimes gets calls from people in summer wondering how they will manage over Christmas. She says that […]

Putting Christ back into Christmas

Posted on 22. Dec, 2016 in Christian Values, Christmas, Church Teachings, Community, Gospel Values

Christmas, in the modern age, is usually a time of parties and excess. Fr Brendan McConvery CSsR says we need to take a step back and remember what the season is really about. He talks about putting Christ back into Christmas and remembering the true meaning and simplicity of the season. He begins by telling […]

The Darkest Midnight

Posted on 22. Dec, 2016 in Christmas, Music Therapy, Poetry, Prayer

As carols singers across the country sing out for Christmas, it’s nice to remember some of the traditional Irish songs. Hers is “The Darkest Midnight’ sung by Noirin ni Riain’s celebrating the birth of Jesus.

2nd Sunday of Advent

Posted on 01. Dec, 2016 in Advent, Christmas, Seasons of the Church Year

Sunday December 4th is the second Sunday of Advent  – another candle lit on the Advent wreath, in the countdown to the Feast of Christmas. Still in the season of ‘Waiting’. Dominican priest Fr. Joe Cullen examines how we deal with the past and how we can respond to God’s grace as we face the future. […]

Seeing God in a Secular World

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 […]

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, […]