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Irish Church accepts its teaching jars with the faithful

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6 Comments

Gerry O’ Hanlon S.J. writes in an article about the recent referendum on marriage and its aftermath
It was first published on
http://www.eurekastreet.com.au/.

“The atmosphere among the crowd in Dublin and elsewhere in Ireland was carnival like – rainbow flags flying, people smiling and embracing, a sense of delight. This, on the Vigil of the Feast of the Holy Spirit, was a kind of secular Pentecost, a communal experience of movement from fear to peace and joy.”
He quotes Archbishop Diarmud Martin in saying that the church ‘has to find a new language to get its message across, particularly to young people, and that if teaching isn’t expressed in terms of love then the Church has got it wrong.’
Gerry concludes that ‘Archbishop Martin and his colleagues here in Ireland – and further afield – need to take up with energy and enthusiasm the challenge of Pope Francis for a more collegial and dialogical church, in which the voice of all is heard. Then perhaps we can hope for an ecclesial Pentecost to correspond to the secular celebration last Saturday in Dublin, a joyful re-birth of our badly damaged church.’

4 Comments

  1. Michael B says:

    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.

    Reply

  2. Mary Christmas to all !

    Greetings and Blessings from Bavaria, south Germany.

    Fr. M. S.

    Reply
  3. Fr. Johnny Rohit IMS says:

    Have a Christ-Filled Christmas and a Grace-Filled New Year

    Reply
  4. Lloyd Allan MacPherson says:

    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.

    Reply

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