Valentine was a priest who died during a persecution of Christians under the Emperor Claudius the Goth. Legend has it that the Emperor was worried by a reluctance of young Roman men to join the army to fight his campaigns, a reluctance he put down to their attachment to their wives and families, or fianceés, so he came up with ...
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“Pope Francis has again surprised the world with his long-awaited document (“Apostolic Exhortation”) in response to the deliberations of the Pan-Amazonian synod, issued today, 12th February 2020. In the text known as “Querida Amazonia” (“Beloved Amazonia”) he pitches hard for justice for the region’s 33 million people, of whom 2.5 are indigenous peoples, and for the protection of their lives, their ...
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The Leadership Team of the Presentation Sisters (North East Province) Ireland are pictured with Gabrielle (2nd left) at her Reception Ceremony on 2nd February 2020. On this day Gabrielle took the next step on her journey to being a Presentation Sister by commencing her Novitiate in Portlaoise. Her gifts to the Warrenmount community (where she has lived over the past ...
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Presentation Sisters have a “culture of vocations” within the congregation. This means that everyone has a sense of responsibility for nurturing and supporting the seeds of vocation in all who approach the community as enquirers, searchers and discerners. In our community settings there is an opportunity to hear the stories of those who have lived Presentation life through the ups ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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I read an article this morning by John Vidal in the Guardian Newspaper and recognised immediately with some relief that it is actually naming ‘the proverbial elephant in the room’ stating what we deep down all know to be true. In general, in the midst of long-term crises, we can often find it easier to keep doing the same thing ...
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When we listen to the News broadcasts shared from across the world oft times we can remain with a sense of helplessness, overwhelmed by the suffering of humanity on so many levels, especially if the news is of personal, community or national tragedy, climate disasters, world migration and poverty? What is there to do? How can we respond (without delaying) ...
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