There will be Another Day: Brendan Hoban
Nobody died. Apart from a few dreams. But Mayo people are good at resurrecting our dreams, almost at will. We’re used to it. Tread softly, Yeats wrote, for you tread…
Author: Tony Flannery
The Church is a People: not an aristocracy or an audience
The Church is a People – not an aristocracy or an audience Historical and theological literature shows us that socio-economic dynamics have had a huge impact on the evolution of…
Pallia, Pectoral Crosses and the Colour Purple.
A Poem by Michael Maginn I have rarely felt the need of one in more than thirty years of pastoral ministry, but if our Shepherds want to wear a soutane…
Lets end Clericalism in the Church : Donald Cozzens
Clergy caught up in clericalism are incapable of seeing that it freezes their humanity—their ability to simply connect on a human level with the various sorts of God’s holy people….
The Current Method of Selecting Bishops runs counter to Church tradition
This article is taken from the National Catholic Reporter. It is very relevant to what is happening in the recent appointment of bishops here in Ireland Robert Mickens’ column calling…
Brendan Hoban on Changing Times in the Church
We are glad to welcome Brendan back to the airwaves, being now well on his way to full recovery from a recent illness. Less than two years ago, in September…
Priesthood and Vocations: Seamus Ahearne
Ollie Brogan (ESB International ) said: The Irish are welcome everywhere – because of the great work done by the Missionaries. ‘ Should we employ him as our PR person?…
Presider’s Page for 26 April (Easter 4)
The Fourth Sunday of Easter is often called Good Shepherd Sunday, because the readings are about the care we receive from Christ, our true shepherd — a care Christians are invited to copy. Today is also the Day of Prayer for Vocations.
Presider’s Page for 19 April (Easter 3)
Throughout the Easter season, the Church continues to announce and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
New Era – Last chance: Catholic Priests Associations and Reform Groups unite in International Conference in Limerick, Ireland
Press statement following international conference in Limerick, hosted by ACP, that brought together over 30 Catholic priests and church citizens from Ireland, Austria, Australia, Germany, India, Italy, Slovakia, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S.
A response to an assertion that ACP consistently proposes altering Catholic moral teaching.
P. John Mannion responds to an assertion that the ACP consistently proposes altering Catholic moral teaching.
Marriage Referendum: Some material for reflection
A shortened version of an article in the April issue of The Furrow.
Pádraig McCarthy
Sledge hammered or airbrushed – getting rid of ‘beautiful things’
Brendan Hoban in his weekly Western People column wonders what we are losing by the ‘ gradual, insistent airbrushing of religion out of Irish life.’
He says that as a result ‘to refer to the challenge and comfort of a lived faith in a God of love and compassion is almost to speak a language that so many now either refuse to speak or don’t really understand.’
Submissions for the Synod
Attached are two submissions to the Synod.
One from ACI and the second from AUSCP.
The Association of Catholics in Ireland have provided a lengthy document and the AUSCP have provide a summary of what they say “U.S. priests with decades of family ministry have presented to the Vatican office for the Synod of Bishops on the family. The survey results, with responses from almost 600 U.S. priests, were presented today (April 10) to Msgr. John Abbruzzese of the Synod office”.
At Easter, Austria’s bishops remembered the “forgotten” women
Maria Teresa Pontara Pedervia reports in the vaticaninsider.lastampa.it website that Austrian bishops reminded us all that despite the crucial role women play in the life of the church it can often be overlooked!
Cardinal Christoph Schönborn commented that ‘the Gospel stories are full of female figures that have played important roles, but “none of these women has ever been canonized,” he regretted.’
The celebration of the Eucharist: Could it become a museum piece?
Brian Eyre wonders if the celebration of the Eucharist could become so rare it could be seen as a museum piece?
He hopes not but suggests the only way “This can be avoided is if the priesthood is opened up to others and not limit it to male celibate candidates only.”
Fr. Tony Flannery hosts International Network of Church Reform Movements participative conference in Co. Limerick
An International Network of Church Reform Movements conference will take place next week, from Monday 13th April to Thursday 16th April, in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Limerick.
This four day event is not open to the public but there will be an open session at 8.00pm on Thursday, 16th April in the Radisson Blu in Limerick. Some of the international participants will speak of their experience of Church Reform in their parts of the world, and how we can move forward. Members of the public are welcome to this event.
Presider’s Page for 29 March (Palm Sunday)
Opening Comment (for Mass without Procession or Solemn Entrance) Today’s liturgy gives a preview of the events we will celebrate between Holy Thursday and Easter Sunday: the passion, death and…
Holiday Weekend or Holy Week?
Brendan Hoban offers a reflection on Holy Week.
“Calvary sets in consoling relief the experience of all who suffer – whether the nightmare of physical pain or the emotional trauma of significant loss or the prospect of imminent death. The human Jesus, struggling to come to terms with the reality of his predicament, echoes every human experience of suffering and of loss and reflects the complexity and confusion of emotions that attend all those caught in the slipstream of pain and loss and death.”
The failure of the Missal
Sean McDonagh reporting on the recent ACP leadership meeting tells us that the issue of the “New Missal” is still very much alive. “
Hopefully, the Irish Bishops will address this issue and, as a temporary solution, they will allow priests to use the 1998 translation of the Missal as suggested by the Bishop Donald Trautman.”
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