Lough Derg: spiritual bootcamp

Posted on 25. Jul, 2013 in Pilgrimage, Spirituality

Lough Derg, the Sanctuary of St Patrick, is a unique island of pilgrimage, in a small lake in County Donegal. Laura Byrne speaks to Fr. Robert McCabe, staff priest on Lough Derg and a chaplain in the Irish Army, about the enduring and increasing appeal of pilgrimage despite the strict routine and austere practices. Fr. […]

Being Present

Posted on 27. Jun, 2013 in Church Teachings, Spirituality

Dr. Michael Sullivan SJ, Director of the MA in Applied Christian Spirituality in All Hallows College and author, spoke with Pat Coyle about Authentic Self Presence and Liberation Theology and the links between them. Pat Coyle put it to him that those involved in Liberation Theology were often critical of things like “Authentic Self Presence” […]

Unitarian Church 150 Years

Posted on 20. Jun, 2013 in Spirituality

The Dublin Unitarian Church has a prominent place on St. Stephen’s Green and recently celebrated 150 years. Rev. Bridget Spain says that despite this, not much is known about Unitarianism. She explains that, “our bond of union is religious sympathy, not the declaration of a creed-bound faith.” She adds that they believe human intelligence is […]

Spirituality in Children

Posted on 13. Jun, 2013 in Spirituality

It was often understood that spirituality was something that had to be taught to children. However Dr. Michael Sullivan SJ, Director of the MA in Applied Christian Spirituality in All Hallows College and co-editor of the book Spiritual Capital – Spirituality in Practice in Christian Perspective says that even very young children have a sense […]

Darwin and Religion

Posted on 16. Sep, 2009 in Faith and Justice, Spirituality

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Darwin. Darwin is traditionally seen as one of the great heroes of science, but what may be less well known is that his original ambition was to become a country clergyman. Miriam Gormally met Canon Patrick Comerford who believes that Darwin shouldn’t be seen as […]

New Spiritual Director

Posted on 02. Sep, 2009 in Church Teachings, Spirituality

Up to recently, Vincentian priest Fr. Michael McCullagh has been Parish Priest at St. Peter’s Church in Phibsboro in Dublin.  He now takes up a new role – traditionally a Vincentian post – as Spiritual Director to the seminarians in Maynooth.  Eileen Good asked him about the Vincentian involvement in this important position.

Music That Matters

Posted on 22. Jul, 2009 in Music, Spirituality

Philip Carty is a musician, who left a glitzy Hollywood career, to return to music that had meaning. The result was a series of reflective and though provoking pieces around religious and spiritual themes. His most recent work was The Stations of the Cross and his next body of work is The Rosary, which he […]

Christian Meditation

Posted on 01. Apr, 2009 in Spirituality

Meditation is not something we commonly associate with Christianity. However it is gaining new interest as more Christian Meditation groups start up all over the country. Miriam Gormally met Orla Cunningham who leads a meditation group in Gardiner Street to ask how she herself became interested.   For more information or to find a meditation […]

The World of Art

Posted on 01. Apr, 2009 in Spirituality

For the past 13 years Sr. Maureen McMahon O.P. has been writing about Art in The Messenger magazine.  She picks a favourite work of art, describes it and then guides the reader to find a deeper meaning in the work.  A selection of her articles has now been complied into a beautiful book called A […]

Spirituality

Posted on 24. Dec, 2008 in Environment, Faith and Justice, Spirituality

Donal Dorr describes Spirituality as ‘our deepest heart’s desire’ and in fact that is the title of his latest book Spirituality Our Deepest Heart’s Desire.  He looks at the internal or inward-looking aspect of one’s spirituality and also at outward-orientated activities such as working for social justice or the environment.  Eileen Good asked him about […]