Cabinteely
This weekend’s feast of Corpus Christi brings a sharper focus on the Real Presence of God in the world, and the offer of Communion with Him in a way that is real, especially so in the light of the International Eucharistic Congress, starting in Dublin today. What a...
Trinity Sunday Do you remember the days of the ‘killer phrase’? that phrase that used to end all discussion on the subject of God – i.e. ‘it’s a mystery’. Well today being Trinity Sunday that’s what comes to mind as I begin this reflection. When we’re asked to...
‘The Bishops of Ireland are deeply grateful for the donations given to the four National Collections which have been taken up since 2009 for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress. Your support means that Ireland is able to extend a warm welcome to...
Happy Birthday Church Despite the disappointing focus on ‘Church’ in Ireland in recent times, Pentecost is the Feast of the birthday of the universal Church. It is the day when we celebrate the beginning of the Church’s mission, the birth of a new community. But...
Welcome to Ascension Sunday!, d’ye remember the days when you could say welcome to Ascension Thursday! - and who says the Irish Hierarchy don't take decisions that affect a real change!! The decision taken by the Irish Bishops a number of years ago to ‘topple’ the...
In the extraordinary circumstances in which we find ourselves in Irish society today, is it any wonder that the message of Scripture as we hear it in this weekend’s readings makes so much sense! Of course the challenge and the ideal that these readings present...
The analogy of vines and branches that is spoken of in today’s Gospel extract, has a strikingly relevant ring to it, even in the Ireland of 2012. Particularly so indeed, in these challenging financial and other circumstances! How often do we hear of people finding...
Albeit that today (Vocation Sunday) has had traditionally a specific focus only on a choice for being either a Priest, a religious Sister/Brother, the notion of ‘vocation’ is seen as more overarching in our own time. Of course the specifics of the Priesthood/...
Now that Easter is over and the last term of the School Year has begun – many assume that it’ll be ‘business as usual’ for the final furlong until June 2012! Not so this year! For the next number of weeks of this term, we’ll have the backdrop of the Eucharistic...
The First Christians Defending the Christians before the Emperor Hadrian, Aristides, a non Christian, said of them: ‘These Christians love one another. They never fail to help widows. They save orphans from those who would hurt them. If a man has something, he gives...
As long as the sun comes over the hills, scatters the darkness, and fills the world with light, as long as the fields get green again, and the primroses and violets return, as long as the trees fill up again with leaves, there is hope for us and for the world. ...
Welcome to Holy Week for yet another year. The Celebration of Easter 2012 and the lead into it, especially on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Saturday, will inevitably be the same (in expression) as any other year. However, for it to be a ‘renewed’ experience for...