The Messenger: March edition
In the month in which we celebrate International Women’s Day, The Messenger carries several articles about the strength and resilience of women. Marking the Feast of St Patrick, we find parallels between the desolate years Patrick spent on remote hillsides and contemporary versions of those times, when we feel lost, alone or abandoned. And we join Pope Leo XIV to pray for disarmament and peace in the world.
PRESS RELEASE FROM MESSENGER PUBLICATIONS
20 February 2026
- In the month in which we celebrate International Women’s Day, The Messenger carries several articles about the strength and resilience of women – beginning, of course, with Mary, Mother of God. Gerard Condon writes that her acceptance and trust in the words of the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation brings us to the heart of her humanity, her faith and her inner strength. Editor Donal Neary SJ says that women are among the ‘giants’ of the Irish Church and supports the various ways in which the role of women in the Church may be enhanced. In our age of ‘influencers’, John Scally describes how many ‘ordinary’ people can influence the lives of others for the better in quiet ways, using the example of Patricia Seery, a religion teacher from Dublin.
- Marking the Feast of St Patrick, Trish Dennis finds parallels between the desolate years Patrick spent on remote hillsides and contemporary versions of those times, when we feel lost, alone or abandoned. St Patrick, she writes, is a reminder that God can transform even the most painful parts of our lives into channels of grace.
- We have an extract from a new book on a topic very close to us at Messenger Publications: in The Living Image, author Anna Burke calls us to contemplate the Sacred Heart and reconnect with our own humanity and with the divine. She writes, ‘the heart is the soil where the tree of life takes root, bringing forth fruit.’ The Living Image will be published in March 2026.
- Margaret Naughton reflects on ‘the bare and empty wooden cross’ of Good Friday, describing it as a symbol of accompaniment, courage, compassion, mercy, justice, hope and healing.
- Tony O’Riordan SJ laments the increased use in recent times of the national flag being waved by a minority as a banner of exclusion and hostility towards migrants.
- Peter McVerry SJ uses a parable to urge us not to judge people by a single event or action in their lives and reminds us that we are all complex human beings whose behaviour is largely shaped by our circumstances and experiences.
The March Messenger includes our popular regular features – the Pope’s Intention for the month, Scripture, reflections, our RE:LINK resources for RE studies in schools, as well as cookery, children’s pages and crosswords: plenty to absorb and entertain for the month!
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