Last February, I had the privilege of visiting Bethlehem with a group of pilgrims. It was my first time to visit the Holy Land. Those seven days helped to put some new shape on the Bible for me, and I have found that very helpful during what has turned out to be a very difficult...

The contemporary celebration of Christmas is a mix of religious and cultural traditions and customs. While modern times have seen the feast take on commercial and secular tones, at its heart, it still remains for many the celebration of the Birth of Jesus Christ. Retelling the story of the first Christmas has the innate power...

Fourth Sunday of Advent 20 December: Bishop Paul Dempsey Third Sunday of Advent 13 December: Ms Aileen Cawley “Our journey towards Hope” – the true meaning of Christmas and beyond   Second Sunday of Advent 6 December: Monsignor Ciarán O’Carroll “If we lose our memory, we destroy our future” (Pope Francis): How the Irish Church...

As the commercial world about us readies itself for the Christmas season we are invited to take a step back and view the bigger picture: the key Christian belief that life is a sacred journey towards eternity and that someday “at an hour we do not expect”, Jesus will return again to bring finality to...

My father used often say, “the longest way round is the shortest way home”. John Mahony set out on his vocational journey in 1976. He completed his formation with the Kiltegan Missionaries and was ordained a deacon in 1982, after which he spent two years as a missionary in Malawi. From then on he took...

The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference welcomes the encouraging news that a number of vaccines for COVID-19 are at an advanced stage of preparation and are likely to be available for use in the near future.  The Catholic Church recognises that safe and effective vaccination is an essential aspect of the prevention of disease.  We are...

With the beginning of Advent last Sunday, preparations have begun in earnest in parishes across the country for the celebration of Christmas – albeit in a very different context this year.  Priests working with Parish Pastoral Councils are making decisions at a local level on how best to celebrate Christmas in a safe manner. We...

The first day of Advent heralds the beginning of the Catholic Church’s new year.  Advent (from ‘ad-venire’ in Latin or “to come to”) is the Church season encompassing the four Sundays and weekdays leading up to the celebration of Christmas.  Advent is a time of spiritual preparation for the Lord’s coming at Christmas.  Advent also...

Fr Raymond Browne, known to his friends as Ray or Remy, was born on 1st September 1928 in Sligo, but served most of his sixty six years as a priest, “south of the Curlews” in Co. Roscommon. Having completed his secondary education at Summerhill College, Ray went to St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth in 1947 and,...

Last January, we had never heard of COVID-19 and, as usual, we wished one another a Happy New Year. Back then we were “innocent” and we had no idea what was coming down the tracks. It has been, without doubt a very difficult and stressful year. Many people have lost loved ones and a great...