ACP members are warmly invited to the launch of “Snow Falling on Chestnut Hill: New and Selected Poems” by John F. Deane in The Unitarian Church, 112 St Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, on Tuesday 27 November 2012 at 6.30 p.m.
The book will be launched by Jack Harte, fiction writer, founder and recent Chairman of the Irish Writers’ Centre. Music from Kevin Rowsome, Piper
A forum to be held in Dennehy’s Cross Church in Cork will address the next steps to be taken towards reform in the Irish Church
Invitation to all priests in the Dublin region to a meeting in the Regency Hotel, Swords Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 on Tuesday 25th April, 2.00 to 500pm.
This is one of the planned regional meetings of priests to explore in practical detail the worries and the fears that surfaced about the wellbeing of Irish priests at our recent AGM.
Maynooth seminary is still grabbing headlines.
Tony Flannery, on his own website, gives a frank opinion of the most recent proposals put forward by the trustees. “Are these men serious? Do they expect this effort at very traditional regimentation, and equally traditional spirituality, to solve the problems they believe existed?”
Brian Eyre, commenting from the remove of Brazil, sees merit in a proposal that “a subcommittee of lay people, families and “especially the presence of women” will be introduced as part of priestly formation”.
Meanwhile Cindy Wooden, writing in America Magazine, reports on Pope Francis speaking in Krakow about the training of seminarians. Pope Francis is reported as saying “too many seminaries teach students a rigid list of rules that make it difficult or impossible for them as priests to respond to the real-life situation of those who come to them seeking guidance.” and “”We need to truly understand this: in life not all is black on white or white on black,” he said. “The shades of grey prevail in life. We must them teach to discern in this gray area.”
Perhaps Maynooth’s trustees should consult Pope Francis?
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.’
A small number of us priests who are out of ministry because of boundary issues realise that we can get through the sense of isolation and exclusion by being companions…
Regency Hotel: Monday, May 7th; 10.30am to 4.30pm
(Under the auspices of the Association of Catholic Priests)
First Session: Naming the Reality.
Tea/Coffee Break
Second Session: The Vision
Break for Lunch (available in the hotel)
Third Session: Where to from here.
A presentation of a statement, coming out of the morning sessions. This might contain something like the following:
This gathering is open to all, lay and clergy. At some suitable time during the day there will be an opportunity for lay groups and individuals to gather, with a view to looking at the possibility of forming some type of lay ‘umbrella group’ comprising of existing groups and interested individuals.
If you are planning to attend we ask you to register on this website, so that we will know how many are coming.
There is no charge for attendance, but lunch will be at you own expense.
