Hang onto your hats for 2014: it may be a bumpy ride
Brendan Hoban rejoices in the renewal Pope Francis has brought in his first year as bishop of Rome (first published in the Western People).
Year: 2013
Presider’s Page for The Holy Family
The Holy Family is the focus on the first Sunday after Christmas, so we honour Jesus, Mary and Joseph today. We worship God who shared the life of the human family, and thank God for all the gifts we continue to receive in each other.
Presider’s Page for Christmas
Christians celebrate an amazing mystery — God is born in time. The eternal God has taken human flesh, has pitched his tent in the midst of humanity. With joy in our hearts, we contemplate the mystery of the Word made flesh.
Presider’s Page for 4 Advent (22 December)
The Season of Advent ends on Tuesday, so the celebration of the birth of Christ is now very close. We gather in preparation for that great event, worshipping God who was made flesh to bring us to glory.
Fr Joe McGuane was an honest priest
Tim Hazelwood pays tribute to his colleague in the diocese of Cloyne and ACP member, Joe McGuane, RIP
Unity must not be confused with uniformity
Gabriel Daly shares a letter he wrote to the Irish Catholic, in response to the interview with Cardinal Levada published recently in that paper.
The late Fr McGuane’s Furrow article is worth re-reading
Reacting to the news of the unexpected death of Fr Joseph McGuane, Sean O’Conaill commends Fr McGuane’s article in the 2008 Furrow, entitled THE PROFESSIONAL CLERIC (reprinted here).
Presider’s Page for 3 Advent (15 December)
Traditionally, this Sunday is called Gaudete Sunday, which means ‘a day for rejoicing’. Advent is more than half over, and the day of the Lord’s coming is nearer. We worship God who promises us joy without end.
This may help you complete the Synod survey
Padraig McCarthy provides helpful data from the 2011 Republic of Ireland Census, which may help those completing the synod questionnaire — which asks for information about ‘what is happening in your area’.
Why I am not willing to complete the synod survey
Michael Kavanagh, a married man in his sixties, has serious questions about the survey in preparation for the Synod on the Family. He believes the Church needs a true theology of the family.
The Church never treats women as fully independent adults
Joan Chittester reacts to Pope Francis’ committment to develop “a profound theology of the woman”, asking what contributiom women will be allowed to make to this. (Article comprises remarks made at a conference aiming to give a snapshot view of Pope Francis and the challenges he faces: first published in the NCR on 11 December 2013 — see www.ncronline.org.)
Mix of fact and fiction in ‘Philomena’ takes from its impact
Brendan Hoban reviews the movie ‘Philomena’, currently on general release. He believes it didn’t need to add fictional elements to present the facts as unacceptable and inhumane (first published in this week’s Western People).
What Francis said to the Dutch bishops
Joshua J. McElwee reports in NCR on the pope’s ad limina meeting with the Dutch bishops, where pope and bishops sat in a circle together. Read original article and comments here
Bidding Prayers for Immaculate Conception (9 December)
Catholics gather today to celebrate the beginning of the life of Mary the Mother of Jesus, free from sin from the moment she was conceived.
Irish Bishops’ ten-year plan has come to a standstill
Sean M O’Connail assesses the progress in the ten-year plan of implementing the National Directory for Catechesis and finds that, three years in, it has come to a standstill. He calls on the Irish Bishops to acknowledge the state of emergency in the Irish Church, given the crisis facing clerical manpower and morale.
‘Stupidity’ of Veritas has compounded harm done by Tony Flannery episode
Seamus Ahearne osa reflects with sadness and anger on Veritas’ continuing decision not to stock Tony Flannery’s book
Presider’s Page for 2nd Sunday of Advent (8 December)
John the Baptist is the focus of the Gospel reading on the Second Sunday of Advent each year. His words challenge and inspire. We worship God who uses many messengers to call us from darkness to light.
German bishops say pope endorses divorcee Communion plan
The ACP Leadership Team reports that the German Bishops are taking the Pope at his word, and acting accordingly — and they ask: “what are the chances that Irish Church authorities might do the same?”
Survey for the Synod on the Family is available here
Take the Survey Now In preparation for the Extraordinary Synod on the Family to be held 5th – 19th October 2014, the Vatican has asked national bishops’ conferences around the…
Irish bishops comment on papal initiatives
The Irish Bishops‘ statement at the end of their Winter meeting in Maynooth included comments on the two major initiatives from the Vatican in recent days – the questionnaire on the Synod on the Family, and Pope Francis’ document, The Joy of the Gospel. (Published on the bishops’ website: read the full statement here)
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