Similar Posts
Bishop Paul Dempsey:…The deeper problem arises in the sphere of language, at best it is experienced as cold and distant, at worst hurtful and offensive…
Reflection by Bishop Paul Dempsey to mark Pope Francis’ ‘Amoris Laetitia Family Year’ 26. MAR, 2021 On 19 March 2021, the Feast of Saint Joseph, the Church celebrated five years…
ICRN Steering Group
Today – 19.00-20.30 UTC Wednesday 26th November – we reach the third week of presentations on identifying good practice in a synodal Church Our presentations cover: The agenda and log…
How did you get over the Easter?
The immediate aftermath of an event, while memory is fresh, is usually the best time to review how well, or poorly, the event succeeded in achieving what it set out to do?
Brendan Hoban, in his Western People column, raises some pertinent questions parishes could ask of themselves about their celebration of Easter.Synodal Pathway Update with Julieann Moran
In just a few weeks, delegates from across Ireland will gather in Kilkenny for the Pre-Synodal Assembly taking place on 18th October 2025. This is an important step on our…
Columbans promote Season of Creation with podcasts
Vatican News website is reporting: The podcasts explore biodiversity and related issues of Catholic social teaching as lived in a variety of contexts where Columban missionaries are working. By Robin…
Presider’s Page for 30 April (Fourth Sunday of Easter)
Opening CommentThe fourth Sunday of Easter is often called Good Shepherd Sunday, because the readings are about the care we receive from Christ, our true shepherd. Today is also the…


Christmas Eve
I stood before plastic faces painted cream
With a touch of red and each head bowed to a dry straw floor
And each face frozen in time. I see wise kings,
Benevolent to children , safe men in bright plastic
Positioned before a child wrapped in straw ,
Tiny arms forever reaching out to whoever calls.
There is a Shepard standing with sheep frozen in time.
They followed from the hills safe in his care
And know nothing of the unfolding story.
It is winter aroud the wooden stable
And silent as the empty cardboard box
Which held the crib, cold as the attic from which it came ;
The dry straw , still yellow in old age is strewn
On the stable floor with stray strands sticking to a tufted carpet.
There is a cow and a donkey whose body heat
And warm breath are reported to bring comfort to the newborn child.
I see now those sleeping in city doorways :
lonely doorways where kings never tread,
where few touch their outstretched hands
and bitter winds wrap broken bodies.
I look again at a plastic child with arms outstretched.
Mary Christmas to all !
Greetings and Blessings from Bavaria, south Germany.
Fr. M. S.
Have a Christ-Filled Christmas and a Grace-Filled New Year
Pray for us – we are now public in support of the global lawsuit ‘youth v. gov’ in a region heavily reliant on the fossil fuel industry so this is heavily political subject matter.
Merry Christmas! In 2019, let’s rise to new levels in this elaborate dream.