The lifting of the restrictions on intercounty travel was very uplifting for all those who live locally and have family and friends in other parts of the country. We have all been living for many months in our local area,…
The lifting of the restrictions on intercounty travel was very uplifting for all those who live locally and have family and friends in other parts of the country. We have all been living for many months in our local area,…
During the week, we all listen to and watch the news. People often lament the amount of ‘bad’ news that is broadcast and wish that there could be other stories shared of all the efforts, achievements and generosity which abound…
To those of you who are able and willing to attend Mass in person this week, welcome back. To those still remaining apart for the moment thank you for your perseverance and strength. To everyone else let’s rejoice that the…
All across the country this weekend people are dreaming, making plans, thinking about what they can do, when they can travel and visit family and friends, at the heart of this dream is our desire to be with those we…
When you grow up at the foot of the mountains in Ireland you get to see a lot of sheep. They are dotted all over the landscape, bouncing around in the heather and gorse, bleating all the while. At this…
What’s the best expression to use when speaking respectfully of a feisty senior member of the parish? I’m really not sure, so I will simply say, a lady came into the office to ask for a Mass card during the…
Many years ago, I was blessed to be able to attend one of the 4 golf majors. The parish I was helping out in during the summer was next door to the Belrive Country Club and the US PGA was…
I don’t know how much I have in common with the President of the United States, Joe Biden. Obviously, we share a first name, which is a start, then he loves participating at Mass, never missing a chance to start…
Thank God for Zoom and the webcam! This week, as during the entire pandemic the live streaming of liturgies and prayer from the church has been a lifesaver. For me the absolute highlight of the week, 57 families with their…
There has been a lot of commentary in recent days to suggest that our response to the pandemic restrictions are fraying at the edges. People have endured a whole year of isolation, separation, staying at home, measuring the number of…
A few words from Audrey O’Sullivan, Chairperson of Mount Merrion PPC. POPE FRANCIS’S RECENT VISIT TO IRAQ It is wonderful and indeed inspirational, that Pope Francis went to Iraq last week. Clearly it was dangerous. His personal security at risk.…
We don’t hear much from the Council of Bishops’ Conferences of Europe, perhaps most of us were unaware that such a body even exists! But this week they organised a prayer chain of Masses across Europe from North to South,…
Just outside my kitchen window, a bare tree stands. I see it there each morning at my first prayers of each Lenten day. While it is in the deep slumber of winter, with not a single leaf showing, it welcomes…
Depending on how much radio you listen too, you may or may not have heard various commentators talking about Lent over the airways this year. Some suggested that there is no need to give up anything, this has been a…
“Remember thou are but dust and onto dust you will return.” With these words, and the marking of our foreheads with black dust, from old palms, we embark on a journey of 40 days in preparation for Easter, our annual…
Sometimes a handful of pencils are held together with a couple of rubber bands, making a neat and tidy bundle. I thought someone had left me a gift of nice shiny green pencils, sitting on the letterbox, when I arrived…
Coming back from Glasnevin cemetery during the week I drove down East Wall Road towards Dublin Port. There were a number of Garda cars parked on the road, flashing blue lights, and part of the road was coned off. I…
On Wednesday afternoon, around the time that President Joe Biden was addressing the nation from the steps of the Capitol building on the topic of national unity, we were gathered in the Carmelite Convent praying for Christian Unity. The programme…
In my extended family, we are 63 cousins, children of 8 families. Of these 9 were adopted as children and we all grew up together as cousins and shared the same grandparents. During this week, I have been very mindful…
How many pine needles are there on a Christmas Tree? I wondered about this when I took down my tree just after the Epiphany. Having removed all the lights and decorations, the tree looked fine to me, but the floor…
