The Irish Times reports:
The death has taken place of Msgr Tom Stack, former parish priest at Milltown in Dublin, regular contributor to The Irish Times and frequent guest on radio and television programmes. He died peacefully at Our Lady’s Hospice in Harold’s Cross on Sunday.
Seamus Ahearne continues to be inspired by his early morning walks.
“We walk humbly into the future. We are indeed ‘tiptoeing’ with reverence into that new world, where there are hints of mystery everywhere. ….. Ministry has to change. Parish life has to change. Church has to change. Our understanding of Sacrament has to change. Our concept of Liturgy and worship has to change. We have to change”.
Western People. 3.1.2024 For the first column of another new year, let’s take a subject of some importance: has religion a future? The doubters used to say that when science…
The issuing of his 11 page letter by former nuncio Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano raises many questions; as many about his own motives as about what he alleges.
Two articles, one in the National Catholic Reporter and the other in The Washington Post attempt to fill in the background to the issuing of the letter and the influence that conservative catholic media organisations played.
The Washington Post article says “news this week that Catholic journalists were involved in editing and distributing a Vatican diplomat’s explosive and largely unverified letter calling for the pope’s resignation reveals an influential and tightly knit conservative Catholic digital media network that’s been particularly active during the tenure of its nemesis, Pope Francis.”
The article offers two ways to view these journalists;
quoting a ‘conservative lay leader’ who says ““This whole episode seems like total Fake News … The allegations of sexual abuse coverup “have to be investigated, wherever they lead. But the way this came out, it really struck me: ‘They’re really out to get Francis.’ ”
and from ‘one commentator in the conservative Catholic media sphere’;
“They’re not trying to be objective,” the person said. “They are trying to evangelize; they’re trying to spread the good news, spread the message as they understand it. They are activists.”
Cui bono? Who benefits?
Updated / Monday, 25 May 2026 07:36 By Ailbhe Conneely Social Affairs & Religion Correspondent Pope Leo XIV’s much anticipated first encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, or Magnificent Humanity, focusing on artificial intelligence…
Link to Newsletter No 3: https://mailchi.mp/synod/synodassemblynewsletter-issue-03-en
Glad to report that the calendar issue has been rectified and Readings and Liturgical Supports are accessible again via the calendar on the Homepage. Thank you for your patience and…
I have early memories of Tom giving us retreats while in St. Flannan’s College, Ennis. I remember telling him this when years later I met him and he was taken aback but such was the communicator he was.
I have great memories from the early 1980s of Tom Stack visiting Dan Breen (RIP) (Senior Curate/ six of us stationed in the one house) at the Presbytery in Mourne Road, Drimnagh and being invited into their rapturous company where there was lots of in-depth discussion, sharing of insights and so much fun and laughter. I felt there was a great providence meeting men like them.
I have a further round/ wave of memories from the 1990s of Tom Stack visiting John Ryan PP. RIP, Knocklong, Co. Limerick. John kept an open kitchen where people gathered around the table and so Tom had a full audience and he always rose to the occasion. I particularly remembering him doing jigs and singing a few Limerick songs. Glad he got to see Limerick win another All Ireland. Tom loved to party and celebrate life. Both John & Tom had a great repertoire of stories. I feel blessed and uplifted to have known such broad minded free spirited priests. They are stars that burn brightly for me.