Blogging With Purpose

Reading the recent insights shared by Pope Francis at his Wednesday Audience on August 19th, where he reminds us that we must always keep in mind the “preferential option for the poor.” He said: “This is not a political, ideological, or partisan option” … rather, “the preferential option for the poor is at the centre of the Gospel.”  He goes ...

It is past mid-summer.  Our lives seem in these days to be juxta-positioned as part of a profound and challenging landscape of suffering humanity. Perhaps we have never been so inter-connected and so interwoven into the lives of others by the very separation we endure in this COVID-19 environment, that it challenges us to love and care for the other ...

It is in excess of 300 years – three whole centuries – since the birth of Nano Nagle (April, 1718) founder of the Presentation Sisters, and yet it seems more true to say she lives in current times.  Nano initially, did not set out to found anything at all.  Her access to education and her life experience were inextricably woven ...

In Ireland story-telling is embedded in the culture of who we are.  As far back as we can remember there must have been story-telling and the sharing of ‘a good yarn’ in the dusk of an evening at the fire or in the coming together at the crossroads after a hard day’s work in the fields.  This seems even now ...

I am reflecting on ‘doorways’ today.  Seemingly ordinary things. In Roman mythology, Janus represents not only the god of doors and doorways but also the god of new beginnings and of endings. Janus is a two-faced god.  One face looks to the past, the other, to the future. Doors open, close, and revolve.  An open door points to a new ...

We step into another lenten journey (from cross to resurrection) in appreciation of the opportunity it offers to simply and hopefully reconnect to that deepest knowing of what resurrection actually means and how it is, and can continue to express itself in every encounter of our lives. Christian joy flows from listening to, and accepting, the Good News of the ...

We are at a ‘crossroads’ halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox on February 1st.  A crossroads can be a good place to stop and refuel for the journey onward and outwards, and we can do this in no better company than that of Brigid whose feast day is on this day (Lá Fhéile Bríde). Brigid never ceases to ...

A new year and a new opportunity to be grateful and feel blessed.  The seasonal rhythm from Autumn and Winter into Spring (from, darkness to light) and old year into new, is an opportunity to stop, recognise, gather and appreciate the fruits and treasure of the year past – the outcomes of a life journey.  A journey that the feast ...

Sr. Bernadette Purcell, University Chaplain at TU Dublin Tallaght, talks to us about the recent Social Justice Week, organised by the Students Union and University Chaplain,  focusing on current issues in society.     What was the theme of Social Justice Week? Bernadette: The theme for this year was “Our lives begin to end the day we stay silent about the ...

Advent meditation by James Finley: What does the story of Jesus’ birth teach us about how God is present in our lives?  “God is inexplicably born in our hearts moment by moment, breath by breath. In order to discover that, we must leave the noise and business of the inn, finding our way in the dark back to the stable. ...