Vegan Lenten Fast

Posted on 12. Mar, 2020 in Christian Values, Heart disease, Lent, Medicine

There is a long tradition of fasting and abstinence in the Catholic Church, particularly during Lent. Even to this day, Catholics are called on to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and every Friday during Lent. For many, it is something that has largely fallen by the wayside and most people pick and chose what […]

Carbon Free Lent Part 2

Posted on 05. Mar, 2020 in Christian Values, Community, Ecology, Lent

Lent is a time to draw connections between our spirituality and the ecology around us, so says, Brendan McManus SJ, who has been exploring meaningful ways in which to make a difference this Lent. After some searching, he came across the idea of a carbon fast for Lent. However he says that the most important […]

Observing Lent

Posted on 20. Feb, 2020 in Lent, Seasons of the Church Year

Canon Mark Gardner with Archbishop Michael Jackson    Canon Mark Gardner has been Vicar of the St Patrick’s Cathedral Group of Parishes, now the parish of St Catherine and St James with St Audoen, for almost many years. Here we hear from a piece in the archives where he talks with the Rev Patrick Lawrence about […]

The Origins of Lent

Posted on 28. Mar, 2019 in Baptism, Lent, Liturgy, Seasons of the Church Year

We take a look back at a piece with Sr. Marie Stuart who talks with Fr. Brendan Coffey of Glenstal Abbey about the origins of Lent.  The season of Lent coincides with spring time each year. Historically it has been associated with difficult, maybe even miserable times when the weather – in Ireland at any […]

Fasting for Lent

Posted on 15. Feb, 2018 in Lent, Seasons of the Church Year

Lenten fasting has changed considerably over the years, from the days of the black fast to just two fast days at present.  Redemptorist Fr. George Wadding believes that fasting can be linked to prayer – and that it is in fact the highest form of prayer.  In this piece from 2009, he explained his theory […]

Abstinence in Lent

Posted on 11. Feb, 2016 in Alcohol, Christian Values, Lent

Lent is a time when everyone makes an effort to give up something. For many of us the ideal thing to give up is alcohol, something with impacts on the lives of many Irish people. James Shevelin is president of the Pioneer association of Ireland and he is based in Galway. Miriam Gormally phoned him […]

Retreats in Emmaus

Posted on 11. Feb, 2016 in Christian Values, Community, Education, Lent, Nature, Pilgrimage, Schools, Spiritual, Young people

  The Cloisters Walk in Emmaus Emmaus is a retreat centre in north county Dublin that has been offering residential and non residential retreats to people from all over the country for many years. To celebrate the launch of their 2016 programme, they will be holding a complimentary open day from 2pm to 5pm on […]

Holy Week

Posted on 26. Mar, 2015 in Church Teachings, Easter, Gospel Values, Holy Week, Lent

For Fr. Michael McCullagh, spiritual director in Maynooth University, Holy Week and Lent are a time when we’re walking in the footsteps of the Lord. Here he talks us through the time from Ash Wednesday to Holy week, looking in particular at Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. He explains to Miriam […]

Trócaire Box

Posted on 05. Mar, 2015 in Climate Change, Faith and Justice, Gospel Values, Lent, Natural Disasters

Every Lent, the Trócaire boxes arrive to remind us to share what fortune we have with those who are less well off. This year the focus is on adapting to a changing climate, something which is hitting the developing world more and with graver consequences.  Communities in developing countries are suffering from ongoing extreme water […]

Preparing for Lent

Posted on 12. Feb, 2015 in Church Teachings, Lent, Prayer, Uncategorized

Lent is a time of preparation for the death of Christ on Good Friday and His Resurrection on Easter Sunday. Starting Wednesday, February 18th, it is a time when people make a renewed attempt to be better Christians and to understand their religion better. Thanks to Stephen Fry’s outburst, religion and God have been much […]