Fr. Peter Daly, writing in the National Catholic Reporter, has some stern remarks about ambition being “one of the worst and most destructive features of clericalism. If we are going to reform the priesthood, we need to tame the demon of ambition and substitute the idea of servant leadership”
Our preparations for Christmas always include Mary, the Mother of God. Her Advent feast is displaced from 8th December this year because of a clash with the Second Sunday of Advent, which we celebrated yesterday. Today, we honour 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 Gospel reading on the Second Sunday of Advent each year. His words challenge and inspire. We worship God who uses many messengers to call us from darkness to light.
The Association of Catholic Priests is now on Twitter.
@ACPinIreland
Seamus Ahearne is thinking about recent happenings and the season that’s in it. “Beware. Be aware. We cannot set up an elitist version of faith where some belong and the rest don’t. Faith is messy. Advent is a search and an awareness of the presence of God in everyone and everywhere.”
Tim Hazelwood reviews Ministry Among God’s Queer Folk, LGBTQ Pastoral Care by Bernard Schlage and David Kunitz.
Tim writes “I see it as a valuable textbook which should appeal to all sympathetic and interested caregivers in parishes, schools, hospitals, and other environments. I feel it would be of particularly helpful to Pastoral Supervisors. The named resources and explanations are of great value and the two sexual rating scales are enlightening and useful.”
We are grateful to The Furrow for permission to re-publish this article.
Global Sisters Report, a project of the National Catholic Reporter, carries an article by Sarah Mac Donald about Sr. Carmel McEnroy who died recently in Galway.
Sr Carmel McEnroy was author of a groundbreaking work on the role of women in the Second Vatican Council,Guests in Their Own House: The Women of Vatican II.
Dublin Diocese issued a Press Release on Tuesday 03 December about the beginning of a process of significant change in Sacramental Preparation.
The season of Advent begins today. During the next 24 days we will look forward in hope. We will watch for the end times, when Christ will come in glory, Christ whose birthday we will celebrate very soon.
Chris McDonnell, writing in the Catholic Times, offers a few thoughts about the season of Advent. “The story of that journey to Bethlehem is mirrored so often in our present day society. Stories of refugee families in transit, struggling to care for young children or newly born infants abound in News programmes. Those living on the streets of this country are a constant reminder of the poverty that exists in our own affluent society.”
The “Podcast” category is a collection of audio-recordings germane to the aims of our Association.
ACI pilot study highlights serious concern about active lay involvement in parishes and calls on the Irish bishops to commission a countrywide survey to identify the key issues prior to holding a national synod to discern the way forward for the church.
Thinking about some outstanding characters passed a while for Seamus Ahearne on his birthday.
(Happy Birthday, Seamus 🎂)
“Number of children who went through institutions investigated by Ryan Commission is about a quarter of 170,000 previously cited.”
In a statement on the commission website on Monday, Mr Justice Seán Ryan said “the commission’s report published in May 2009 contains a seriously erroneous statistic according to the general agreement of relevant experts and bodies.
We celebrate the feast of Christ the King this Sunday, remembering that our king’s life ended on a cross. Today we worship this wounded and resurrected God, who promises us a place in Paradise.
Fr. Michael Toomey of Clonmel has spoken out about the dire need for state resources to be properly deployed to help people with mental health problems. He spoke with Sean O’Rourke and Minister Jim Daly on RTE Radio 1.
Sarah McDonald has also reported on this issue in the Irish Independent.
This year the WAC Ireland Advent Liturgy will be in the Chapel, Mercy International Centre, 64A Baggot Street, Dublin 2.
Please join us on Sunday 01 December 2019 at 3.00pm for our Advent liturgy followed by a cup of tea and time to talk about Pope Francis and reform of our church. Our collection this year will be for CONCERN.
In his Western People column Brendan Hoban reminisces about his ‘Late Late’ moment on the famous programme that saw Brian D’Arcy challenge Cardinal Cathal Daly.
“D’Arcy, of course, was right in what he said on that 1995 Late Late Show. I salute his courage in saying it, when so many said nothing, even though they knew he was right and knew too that it needed to be said. And we all know now that what has happened in the last 25 years validates what D’Arcy said on that night.”
Further to the Sunday Independent story today, 17 November, the ACP issued a statement regarding Oliver O’Reilly PP and the position he has adopted in relation to the recent attack on Mr Kevin Lunney.
The readings this Sunday focus on the end of the world, though we are also reassured that people of faith have nothing to fear.
Today is World Day of the Poor, an annual day of significance established by Pope Francis in 2016.
Select a category in the sidebar for more posts
Select a category in the sidebar for more posts
