Year: 2018

Brian Fahy’s memory of an encounter with a lonely lost young Irish woman many years ago makes him reflect that ” ‘Priest’ has connotations of someone who presides in liturgy, in religious ceremonies, …… Whereas, ‘pastor’ … is someone who cares about people.”
“Let us help one another to tell our stories and to live.”

Aoife Kelly in the Irish Independent reports that a “new Irish documentary reveals how Irish missionaries risked their lives to save millions from starvation during the Nigerian Civil War.”
Biafra: Misean Dearmadta (Forgotten Mission) airs on TG4 on Wednesday at 9.30pm.

Seán McDonagh reminds us of the true cost of our taste for chocolate!

Seamus Ahearne osa  casts his eye over recent happenings and eruptions in the world. In his own inimitable style he concludes “that in the world of certainties, only the music of faith can hint at, whisper or suggest the  something ‘more’ of life.”

Chris McDonnell writing in the Catholic Times reminds us that ‘We do not appreciate trees until they are lost, to be replaced by brick and concrete and the harshness of urban development.”
“There is a simplicity in wood in contrast to the gaudiness of so many other materials. The smell of wood being worked, the dust and shavings littering the workshop floor is indeed a precious memory. We are told it was the trade of Joseph.”

America magazine carries a story that the archbishop who heads the U.S. bishops’ liturgy committee says the ‘new missal’ may need to be revisited to fix “problematic” sections that fail to “bring the entire church together.”

Brian Fahy reflecting on the life of Alphonsus Liguori comments that ‘Life is not perfect, but our lives can be brilliant all the same. 
I often wondered what happened to all the priests and brothers and sisters who left years ago. Their going would look like desertion when in fact it was a search for life. ‘

Seamus Ahearne casts a cold eye on ‘The present day chaos of bureaucracy (that) almost drowns our souls.’; ‘the great competition going on between the ‘essential’ aspects of life and the nonsense of paperwork or meetings to protect our backs.’ 
Seamus asks of our celebration of Eucharist ‘Do we find it prayerful ourselves (as priests)?
Of the political he says “The Government gets strangled by stray issues. …  So much of it is an avoidance of the real problems.”
But then the sight of a “little cowslip. It stops me. And I gasp.  What stops other people? … I think our job … is to open eyes, hearts, imaginations and then to help each other, see. Then real worship will follow. Then the Scriptures will come alive. Then Communion will happen. Then our faith will be confirmed.”

The recently published ‘Whistle Blower’ by Pádraig McCarthy will be launched on Tuesday, 01 May, 3.30 – 4.30pm. in the Glass Room Suites at the Mansion House, Dawson Street, Dublin 2 (entry via Fire Restaurant).

John J Shea again writes to Pope Francis and the Council of Cardinals on the issue of the ordination of women.
John says to Pope Francis “You kept insisting: “dialogue, dialogue, dialogue.” In fact, you said: “dialogue fearlessly.”
Yet, there is not nor has there been any dialogue—fearless, gender inclusive, or otherwise—on the ordination of women, arguably the most important issue in the church. As Supreme Pontiff can you call now for synodal dialogue and end the appalling silence of our church?”

Chris McDonnell writes, in the Catholic Times 13 April, on the significance of ‘breaking the bread’ together.
“It is important that we recognise that we not only receive the Risen Christ but share that experience with each other.”