Faith Journey

Pope Francis signed his new encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, on Saturday 3 October 2020 during a visit to Assisi. The phrase ‘Fratelli Tutti’ is taken from the writings of St. Francis, one of the major inspirations for Pope Francis’ third encyclical, on fraternity and social friendship. The full text of the encyclical, the third of Pope Francis’ pontificate was released on Sunday ...

Poetry Day Ireland takes place on Thursday 30 April 2020 and the theme this year is ‘There will be time’.  Whether you share a poem, read a poem, or programme your own online event, everyone is invited to join in and celebrate this day.  The fact that the theme for this day is on time could not be more apt ...

I love the concept of a litany as a poetic form of ‘call and response’.  Also the fact that it is both prayer, petition and pleading but with a comforting rhythm and trust that it will be heard and heeded.  The Greek origin of the word means “entreaty” or “supplication”. In prayer and religious ritual it has such positive cogitations, ...

Having read many pieces written in the past weeks about what is needed to maintain one’s sanity and balance in these perilous and challenging times that we are living now, it seems to me that what is needed is something more than maintaining our balance and well-being.  It is also about sustaining and nurturing our relationship with each other and ...

  At 12 noon today, Wednesday 25th March, 2020  on the Feast of the Annunciation of Mary, families, individuals and religious communities joined with bishops and priests from all over the island of Ireland in consecrating the people of Ireland to the Immaculate Heart of Mary for strength and protection from the Coronavirus, Covid-19. This Consecration also coincided with an ...

Tuesday, February 11 2020 is World Day of the Sick an observation started by Pope John Paul II as a way for believers to offer prayers for those suffering from illnesses. The day coincides with the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.  On this day people around the world take the time to pray for the health of the sick and for ...

Word of God Sunday is on Sunday 26th January 2020, falling close to the Day of Dialogue between Jews and Catholics and the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. It is  a new annual observance announced by Pope Francis last year on 30 September 2019 on the Feast of St Jerome, the fifth-century saint who translated the Bible from Greek ...

It is less than one week until the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2020 begins (WPCU).  This is a week during which Christians come together to pray for their unity. Congregations and parishes all over the world exchange preachers or arrange special ecumenical celebrations and prayer services. Traditionally the week of prayer is celebrated between 18–25 January, between the ...

Presentation Day is happily approaching (the 21st November each year).  An important date for Presentation people everywhere. Not just a day to celebrate, but so much more. In the course of Presentation Life jubilee celebrations are truly a moment to share great happiness (jubilate deo) and to celebrate a very particular journey both individually and as community.  These are both ...

As the National  Ploughing Championships begin in Ballintrane, Fenagh, Co. Carlow in these days we are reminded of the vitality of  our daily relationship with nature and of the inter-relatedness of all life; whether ‘walking lightly on the Earth’ or working in and for this ‘Our Common Home’.  Through this  experience we have the opportunity to ‘keep pace’ with the ...