Families at Christmas

Posted on 12. Dec, 2007 in Christmas, Crime, Family, Relationships, Seasons of the Church Year

The general perception of Christmas is as a time of great joy and happiness. It is a time for celebration and for connecting with friends and family.  However there is a darker side to Christmas.  It is often one of the most stressful times of the year with more family rows than usual.  In fact […]

Oxfam Christmas

Posted on 28. Nov, 2007 in Charity, Christmas, Seasons of the Church Year

This year instead of going through the usual stress of finding the ‘perfect’ Christmas gifts for family and friends, why not try Oxfam instead?  Miriam Gormally met with Margaret Carr –Oxfam’s Ireland’s Fair Trade Manager- to talk about the wide variety of gifts available both in Oxfam Shops and Online.   Margaret also explained how the […]

Sick at Christmas

Posted on 28. Nov, 2007 in Cancer, Christmas, Health, Seasons of the Church Year

The topic of cancer has been in the news frequently, with constant reports on greater need for accurate testing and plans for more facilities.  However we sometimes forget the personal story, the human face that goes with the disease.  Catherine Thronton is one woman who had to deal with breast cancer.  She also had the […]

The Immaculate Conception

Posted on 28. Nov, 2007 in Christmas, Church Teachings, Seasons of the Church Year

December 8th was traditionally the start of the run up to Christmas – not any more, with Christmas in the shops since Hallow’een – and it also marks the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  Carmelite priest Chris O’Donnell, Associate Professor of Spirituality in the Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy in Dublin, explained the significance […]

Reflection: 1st Sunday of Advent

Posted on 14. Nov, 2007 in Advent, Christmas, Seasons of the Church Year

Dominican Fr. Joe Cullen is Head of Adult Education at The Priory Institute in Tallaght in Dublin.  In this reflection for the 1st Sunday of Advent, he describes some fairly common reactions to the approaching Christmas season.

Orthodox Church Epiphany

Posted on 27. Dec, 2006 in Christmas, Church Teachings, Seasons of the Church Year

On the stroke of January 6th the ‘twelve days’ of Christmas officially come to an end. This day takes on a special meaning in the Greek Orthodox Church. There is a special ceremony of blessing the waters and of the vessels that ply them. Miriam Gormally met Fr. Ireneu Cracium from the Greek Orthodox Church […]

Music: O Holy Night

Posted on 13. Dec, 2006 in Christmas, Music, Seasons of the Church Year

One of the most loved carols for Christmas is O Holy Night written by Placide  Cappeau in 1847 with music by Adolphe C Adam. It is sung here for us by that wonderful soprano Niamh Murray with the Dublin County Choir.

Christmas Prayer

Posted on 13. Dec, 2006 in Christmas, Church Teachings, Seasons of the Church Year

Christmas Prayer – Read by Bishop John Moriarty

100 Cribs

Posted on 13. Dec, 2006 in Achievement, Christmas, Schools, Seasons of the Church Year

Designing your own Christmas Crib was a competition that took place for the first time this year in Ireland. Schools all around the country out together their own unique modern day interpretation of a Christmas Crib and four winners were picked out to go to a larger display in Rome. One of the schools to […]

RTE Sydney Mass

Posted on 13. Dec, 2006 in Christmas, Community, Family, Seasons of the Church Year

The Christmas Mass from RTE this year is coming from Sydney, Australia – linking all those over there with their family and friends at home in Ireland. Fr. Dermod McCarthy has been working on the project since last June, organising the logistics of getting all elements together for what is a major television transmission. Eileen […]