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Chris McDonnell in the Catholic Times writes about Eating together, becoming one, a recently published book by Professor Tom O’Loughlin. Tom currently holds the chair of Historical Theology in the University of Nottingham and has recently retired as president of the Catholic Theological Association. In this book he addresses the complex issue of intercommunion amongst Christian churches.
“It is ironic that the very centre of nourishment within the Christian family has become the point of division between us, a matter of confusion rather than an occasion of joy and close companionship.”
“Yet too often we look for differences, we set up restrictive practices and discord takes the place of harmony. The advice from the priest over who may receive at weddings and funerals is but one telling example.”

We are Church Ireland present a talk by Brian Grogan SJ on “Pope Francis’ Gospel Centred Church” on 09 March at 7.30 p.m. in Mercy Centre International, 64a Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2.

Seamus Ahearne shares some reflections on on-going situations in the world about us.
“Despite all the storms (of life); hope emerges. We keep going.”
“We have to catch hope and light and beauty and wonder and laughter anywhere and everywhere.  That too is Spring.  It is truly Lent.”

Remarks Pope Francis intended to speak to priests in Rome were read to them in his absence due to a “slight indisposition”.

Chris McDonnell, in the Catholic Times, reflects on how we might beneficially use Lent this year.
“It is a time to ask questions, a pause time on a journey, a time when we might re-examine the baggage we carry from month to month, maybe a time to lighten the load.”
“So maybe there is a good question that we could all address this Lent, how might the Church meet the needs of the community without resorting to worn platitudes? …. We should encourage each other to face reality and trust that we might follow God’s Spirit as it moves in our hearts.”

Brendan Hoban, in his Western People column, reacts to the letter, Beloved Amazon, issued by Pope Francis last week.
“It is important for us to name the disappointment, the frustration, the sadness, the upset, the anger that are part of the fall-out from last week’s letter.”
“The answer is that for some people, and progressively more, the waiting is over. Parents with children – teenage and adult – understand why time is important. Our leaders seem to be in denial about the impact such catastrophic delays are having on the confidence and the membership of our Church.”

Pádraig McCarthy reminds us of, and comments on, the 2020 Day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Abuse.

Asked why a Latin rite Roman Catholic should know more about the Eastern rite traditions, Bishop Botean responded: “If a Catholic wants to know the Catholic Church, they need to know us. Because we’re a part of it. And Christianity has many forms outside of Western Christianity.”

In a country that seems to focus on negative news it is good to come across the story of three young sisters who despite huge personal tragedy and challenge are acting positively to help others.

Padraig McCarthy posits the idea that the preparation for first Holy Communion, and its celebration, is now totally undermined.
Is there anything to be done about it?

Seamus Ahearne challenges us to think what the message of Christ is for us in current circumstances. “What might it be?  Now. Here. For us.  Might we be politically sensitive like Francis in regard to the Amazon? In regard to our own land. Might he demand of us, to be politically challenging in our local Church?  Might he drag our leaders away from the mind-set of praying for vocations towards being radical in what vocation, actually means today? How about a sensible deconstruction of how Liturgy has been imposed on the Church?  Much of the language in the Books should be censored.  Should we ruthlessly check,  if it is an obstacle to worship? “

Pope Francis has issued his much awaited response following the Synod on the Amazon. In his document ‘Beloved Amazon’ Francis calls for greater lay participation in the church and says the training of priests in the Amazon must be changed so they are better able to minister to indigenous peoples. “Every effort should be made” to give the faithful access to the Eucharist.
He also writes “This urgent need leads me to urge all bishops, especially those in Latin America, not only to promote prayer for priestly vocations, but also to be more generous in encouraging those who display a missionary vocation to opt for the Amazon region”
He does not deal specifically with the issues of the ordination of women as deacons or married men as priests.

Our thanks to We Are Church and Colm Holmes for the link to Roy Donovan’s talk “What does it mean to be Catholic today?”

Stan Mellett, a Redemptorist with over 60 years priestly experience, gives his thoughts on the future of ministry.
“… the point of departure is the sacrament of baptism. Everyone is priest, prophet and king; each one with different roles and gifts serves the whole People of God. Like Jesus who came not to be served but to serve and give His life for many.
The ordained minister for today and tomorrow will need to have a mind set and attitudes whereby he/she is like the rest of men and women – not a person apart! Deeply prayerful with ‘the bible in one hand and the daily paper in the other’ at the service of all life and all creation!”

Concerns expressed in a recent article by Brendan Hoban, ‘the world has changed and so must the Church’, were the subject of a fairly lengthy interview with Bishop Fintan Monahan of Killaloe Diocese on the Faith Alive programme on Mid West Radio.

Eir will be introducing a charge of €5.99 per month to avail of the email service eircom.net

Many priests and parishes who still use eircom.net as an email address will need to move to another provider or face high charges for an email service that is available free elsewhere.

We Are Church Ireland Event with Roy Donovan
10 February
Mercy Centre International, 64a Lower Baggot Street, Dublin 2.

Seamus Ahearne is reflecting on life as it goes on all about us. “To look around is essential. To see. The birds. The buds. The wind. The hills. The air.  The underground. The people. Gratitude. Appreciation. God-moments and Good-moments. Our attention has to be on what we have and what we have been given.”

Writing in America Magazine James Martin, S.J. gives a rationale for his pro-life outlook. “And I would invite you to consider this more as a profession of faith than as a political argument.
The best way of explaining my belief is this: The longer I live, the more I grow in awe of God’s creative activity and in reverence for God’s creation.”

75 years ago, on 27 January 1945, the Soviet Red Army arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau. The world was soon to learn the full extent of the true horror of Nazi Fascism.
Chris McDonnell, writing in the Catholic Times, remembers: “All too easily we play with words to justify events, tell stories where truth is the casualty leading only to a greater misfortune. Maybe we should pause awhile as the month-end days arrive to ask a question and seek forgiveness.”