“LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore” – “Praise be to you, my Lord.” These are the words that open Pope Francis’ encyclical on ecology and care for God’s creation. These words, quoting St. Francis of Assisi’s beautiful canticle, remind us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms ...
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Sunday 3rd May, 2020 is the 57th World Day of Prayer for Vocations. On the 8th March this year, Pope Francis shared a message for this day. See Full text HERE In his message he used four key words – pain, gratitude, encouragement and praise. He said: “I believe that today, on this 57th World Day of Prayer for Vocations, ...
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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 ...
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We celebrate the 5th anniversary of the publication of the Encyclical Letter: Laudato Si – On Care of Our Common Home this year, on 24th May 2020. This unique, accessible and very powerful landmark document continues to speak to our lives and the needs of our world today when we are experiencing daily, just how intimately human and planetary health are ...
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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, ...
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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 ...
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Earth Hour takes place on Saturday 28th March at 8.30 pm your local time! The theme for Earth Day 2020 is climate action. ‘Earth Hour’ initiated the first symbolic ‘lights out’ event which took place in Sydney in 2007. This gesture of ‘switching off’ back then was initiated as a trigger to remind humanity to stop, conserve, ponder and act in solidarity ...
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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 ...
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Today, 24th March is the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Oscar A. Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, El Salvador. He was assassinated on March 24, 1980, while celebrating Mass in a small chapel in a cancer hospital where he lived. This prayer was composed by Bishop Ken Untener (1937-2004), drafted for a homily by Cardinal John Dearden in 1979 for a celebration of departed ...
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“Catholic sisters who have worked for more than two years in getting the United Nations to address the issue of homelessness and affordable housing are hailing 10 days of meetings that resulted in an outcome document they say affirmed many of their concerns about a growing global problem”. ~ Chris Herlinger, Global Sisters Report 24 Feb 2020 see HERE The ...
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