Tag Archives: Faith Development

The focus of the World Day of Prayer (in England, Wales and Northern Ireland) on 6th March 2020 (#WDP2020) is praying with the Christians of Zimbabwe. “This Friday, [when] millions of us – men, women and children – worldwide will be praying with and for them”. When reading the information about this day it struck me that prayer truly has ...

The dialogue that God wishes to establish with each of us through the paschal mystery of his Son has nothing to do with empty chatter, like that attributed to the ancient inhabitants of Athens, who “spent their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new” (Acts 17:21). Such chatter, determined by an empty and superficial curiosity, characterises worldliness in ...

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 ...

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 ...

Tradition maintains that the cross, kept at Presentation convent George’s Hill, was a gift to St. Francis Xavier from an Indian Prince whose son he had miraculously cured. Saint Francis Xavier was born in the kingdom of Navarre, now in northern Spain, in 1506, the youngest son of a councillor to the king. As was common for prosperous families at ...

There is something about the silent rhythmic background that all of a sudden arrives unannounced at this time of year, as we begin to  slow down and rest a bit in the light of summer days. This particular light and stillness amidst the ongoing bustle of life, can often bring us to notice and experience the ordinary ‘happenings’ of days ...

Happy Feast of Mary Magdalene! In the rhythm of the Christian year, this is the day when we especially remember and celebrate this friend,  and disciple of Jesus who, along with other women, provided support for his ministry. For proclaiming the news of Christ’s resurrection, the Magdalene became known as the “Apostle to the Apostles.” Mary Magdalene was a follower ...

[…] contemplation is a very dangerous activity. It not only brings us face to face with God, it brings us, as well, face to face with the world, and then it brings us face to face with the self; and then, of course, something must be done. Something must be filled up, added to, freed from, begun again, ended at ...

Yesterday I read a beautiful piece from Global Sisters Report (GSR).  The theme of this feature piece is: ‘The Life: In prayer, sisters find the unconditional love of God’. In it the panellists share a variety of approaches that help bring them into union with God.  […] But all approaches ultimately involve a personal encounter of love, a contemplative experience with ...

A contemporary Irish Art Exhibition opens in London from 23rd January to 1st February 2019 entitled  ‘St. Brigid’s Day’.  It is part of the Irish Embassy in London’s St Brigid’s Day Celebration of Women and creativity. Organised by Hamilton Gallery, Sligo, Ireland, with the support of the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Irish Embassy to Great Britain. ...