Joshua J. McElwee, NCR’s Vatican correspondent, reports on the latest request from the Vatican in preparation for Synod 2015.
Will our bishops’ conference be better organised, and willing, this time in getting the views of ‘all levels’ of church in Ireland?
Our preparations for Christmas always include Mary, the Mother of God. Today’s feast celebrates her conception free from sin, a miracle that displays God’s power for believers. We worship God, for whom everything is posssible.
John the Baptist is the focus of the liturgy on the Second Sunday of Advent each year. His challenge to us to ‘prepare a way for the Lord’ is at the heart of the Advent message. We worship the one who will surely come to us.
John the baptizer was of a respectable family. Jonathan Corrie was of a good Kilkenny family.
Pádraig McCarthy
Seán McDonagh reports on the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Sean tells us of the work of 803 scientists. Their findings are very challenging and confirms that human influence on the climate system is clear, and recent anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are the highest in history. Recent climate changes have had widespread impacts on human and natural systems. The warming of the climate system is unequivocal. Massive concerted global action is needed if we are to avoid the worst excesses of climate change.
Brendan Hoban writing in the Western People says that a recent choice of bishop in the U.S might indicate that pope Francis “wants bishops with a bit more imagination and to be a bit more clued in to what’s happening in the world. Those who are good at making out the writing on the wall.”
Brendan then let’s his imagination roam ….
Paddy Ferry forwarded this article from NCR saying it is “so important and I wish our bishops in Britain and Ireland would issue a similar acknowledgement.”
Advent begins today. During the first part of the season, the Church focuses on the end of time, when Christ will come in glory. Then, for the last week of Advent, we will prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Anthony Ruff OSB has posted an interesting article on www.praytellblog.com of the Brazilian bishops beginning to respond to Pope Francis’ challenge about the shortage of priests.
Any takers this side of the Atlantic?
Brendan Hoban in his weekly Western People column states that ‘Secularisation is one of those short-hand boxes that church people tick to spread the blame for the decline of religion, even to explain away situations that are often their own fault. But it’s too heavy a brush to paint in the shades and counter shades of an accurate portrait of the place of religion in Irish life today.’
Here are some sentences taken from a poetic image-filled November-Advent reflection from the Sojourners website, by Catherine Woodiwiss.
Padraig McCarthy
Today we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. At the end of time, this king will come in glory to judge the living and the dead. He will ask how we treated the hungry and thirsty, the stranger, the naked, those sick or in prison, promising a great reward to those who show love.
Mick Forgey reports in the National Catholic Reporter on Tony Flannery’ s involvement in the National Conference of the reform movement ‘Call to Action’ in Memphis, Tenn.
Chris McDonnell reflects on the Rosetta Mission and the landing of Philae on the Comet 67P.
‘We cannot begin to understand the enormity of the God in whom we believe. We can only appreciate those moments of blinding transformation when he illuminates our lives….’
Sean O’Conaill asks ‘who is to address the question of the church’s relevance to the wider spiritual and moral crisis of Irish society?’
Michael Neary, Archbishop of Tuam, in a recent homily commented on ‘Evangelii Gaudium’, the recent apostolic exhortation of Pope Francis. He said that Pope Francis has called for a Church which ‘goes forth’, for a Church which as a spiritual home keeps its doors permanently open.
For this, he said, we need, more than anything else now, trained and committed personnel on the ground. Priests, of course, but also full and part time lay evangelists.
Pope Francis has lifted the ban on the ordination of married men to the priesthood in Eastern Catholic churches outside their traditional territories.
Brendan Hoban in his weekly Western People column sees the refurbishment of the parish church of Moygownagh, Co. Mayo, as an act of faith in the future and a fitting tribute to the past. For the local parish community community it is a sacred place that enshrines the most precious moments of our lives.
The beginning of the Advent season is coming closer, and the Liturgy invites us to look further into the future, towards the end of time, when the Day of the Lord comes. Today’s gathering will help us on our way, teaching us how to live and giving us food for the journey.
The richness of a parable is that it can carry more than one implication. This is true also of the parable of the talents in Matthew 25.
Padraig McCarthy
Select a category in the sidebar for more posts
Select a category in the sidebar for more posts
