Guiding Lights
Brian Fahy, on reading the recent article by Gabriel Daly OSA, speaks of other ‘guiding lights’, people and writers ‘whose words and spirit would stir life in me’.
Month: July 2017
The presumption of guilt
The Irish Independent interviewed Tim Hazelwood, member of ACP leadership team, concerning the false allegation that was made against him and the toll it took on him. Tim also deals with the pressures that priests experience due to the continuing and increasing shortage of priests.
Presider’s Page for 30 July (Ordinary Time 17)
God has given us many gifts, including the promise that we will share in Christ’s glory. We give thanks for these treasures, as we continue on our journey to the fullness of the kingdom of heaven.
Eucharist: Doing the truth with Christian Faith
Gabriel Daly shares with us a lecture he delivered at the Church of Ireland parish church, Clontarf. The occasion was an ecumenical conference, ‘One Lord, One Faith’, marking the 500th anniversary of the year that Martin Luther sparked the Protestant Reformation.
Setting us on our way
Brian Fahy muses on what has changed in church, and what church should be … “A place that gathers you in to bless you and encourage you, and that then points out the road to you, the road of your life that you are encouraged to walk, until you reach God’s holy mountain.
We need a Church like that, to gather us in, to fire our hearts and to set us on our way.”
Presider’s Page for 23 July (Ordinary Time 16)
We have been called together by the Spirit of God to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The Spirit teaches us to pray, and moves us to glorify the Lord’s name.
“Longing for the Sun of Justice”
Women’s Ordination Worldwide (WOW) celebrates the feast of St. Mary Magdalene (July 22) with the launch of Dr. Annette Esser’s beautiful original painting, “Longing for the Sun of Justice.” The painting symbolizes women’s calling to priesthood, not granted by men in the church, but through Christ.
Stories to look at the scandal of sexual abuse of minors by clergy from several different viewpoints
Pádraig McCarthy draws attention to a series of articles in the NCR. “On the National Catholic Reporter website this week, beginning 17 July, is ‘a series of stories that will challenge our readers to look at the scandal of sexual abuse of minors by clergy from several different viewpoints: from the perspective of a victim/survivor, from the perspective of a convicted offender, from the perspective of a family member of a victim, and from the perspective of professional advocates and watchdogs.’ “
Rome, we’ve got a problem
Brendan Hoban, writing in the Western People, says that while it’s good that there is now some recognition of the huge crisis facing the Irish church due to a lack of priests it is past time to take action.
.”Regularly now, in what used to be a listing of priests’ changes in June, we have a listing of parishes who no longer will have a resident priest but will be serviced by a priest in an adjoining parish. Unless something practical is done, that will keep happening until there’s only one priest left with a helicopter trying to cover funerals, weddings and baptisms over several parishes leaving most churches in a diocese without Mass, Sunday or weekday.”
‘Sure, you know, Yourself’
Brian Fahy offers some thoughts based on the parable of the sower and some Irish ‘terms of engagement’.
Presider’s Page for 16 July (Ordinary Time 15)
We gather as pilgrims on a journey, asking God to keep us steadfast until we reach our eternal home. In the Spirit, let us worship God who cares for us according to our needs.
‘There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of, in your philosophy.’
Seamus Ahearne reflects on a recent meeting with some 60 of his fellow Augustinians and on the day to day happenings in his parish and community. “there is still a ladder going up to the heavens. Angels still ascend and descend. God is in this place. And sometimes we don’t sing and dance and laugh and enjoy it as if we knew. The dour Church is not an ambassador for Christ. The clown is a better image for most of us. Life presently needs fun and laughter. God has to be about that something which is more and different. Someone has to stir the music in our souls. I think that is our job.”
Another side of Pope Francis
Brendan Hoban writes in his column in the Western People about the decisive actions of Pope Francis in facing down disobedience amongst some Cardinals.
Also included are links to;
La Croix International Cardinal Müller’s self-delusion and sense of entitlement
and
www.tonyflannery.com Muller complains of lack of due process in his sacking!!!!!!
Presider’s Page for 9 July (Ordinary Time 14)
There is much good news in today’s Gospel. We’re told we can bring all our troubles to Jesus and find rest. God will make our burden light. We praise God for the care promised us.
A Letter to Dominic Meehan & others
Brendan Hoban responds to recent articles in The Furrow. He says he takes the opportunity “of setting out … the policy of the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) in choosing particular issues and in robustly arguing our positions.”
Charlie Gard: Doing the right thing for the right reasons
Pádraig McCarthy comments on the very sad case of Charlie Gard in the U.K. and draws our attention to the statement by the Anscombe Bioethics Centre concerning the court cases about his medical treatment.
Presider’s Page for 2 July (Ordinary Time 13)
We’re told in today’s readings that hospitality is a gift that brings a great reward. As we gather to thank God for the many gifts we’ve received, we ask for the grace to be hospitable to the visitors who will come our way this summer.
Extending a Summer Welcome
Padraic McCarthy, on seeing that the Presider’s Page has greetings in various languages for visitors to our churches or celebrations, submitted a selection of greeting notices he has come across on his travels.
With some adaptations they might be useful to you.
The search continues
Tony Flannery, writing in the Irish Independent, sees hope of finding “new wine skins for the new wine” as people are exploring new ways, and new language, for addressing spiritual realities.
New Prefect at CDF
America Magazine reports that Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop Luis Ladaria Ferrer, a Spanish Jesuit, as the new prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and successor to Cardinal Gerhard Müller
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