When I was in Clonliffe College, studying for the priesthood, my dad asked me to call into a fishmongers, in Chatham Street, and bring home a side of smoked salmon for Christmas. I did that year after year and always…

One evening after Mass a parishioner slipped me an envelope, with the brief comment, ‘something nice for yourself.’ I was delighted to open it when I got home and find inside a single ticket for “Jack B Yeats: Painting and…

Turn on the lights! Well, as we are now into December, and it is so dark and cold, I for one love to see the seasonal lights appearing. The big bright lights which transform the city centre, ripple through the…

Energy! Every parish needs plenty of energy. The energy that comes from the sun certainly gives us a lift and makes the church building and environment more pleasant, the energy that comes from the Spirit leads our hearts and minds…

I can’t remember the last time a week passed by and I didn’t say at least one funeral Mass. Free from that obligation I’ve been busy this week with some of the practical things that need to be attended to…

I don’t often catch the bus early in the morning when students are on their way to school. Yet there I was the other day, just after 8, waiting and watching as bus after bus disgorged boys and girls, all…

I have a grandniece called Cleo, a beautiful girl, with long curly hair, a magic smile and a happy disposition. When I heard that a little girl with the same name had disappeared from a camping site in Australia, during…

I walked up to the front door of a house during the week, I was about to knock when, out of the corner of my eye I noticed, half hidden by the hedge, a skeleton on the grass and gasped.…

During the week, I was preparing a homily for the opening of the year Mass in a boy’s secondary school. Moments like this are a great opportunity to speak to young people who little by little are coming to identify…

“Warp speed”, “Beam me up Scottie”, “`To go bravely where no man has gone before”, these lines from Star Trek were a part of mine, my sisters and many others childhood. The Star Fleet mission was to explore new frontiers…

I’ve only been to Lisieux once, it was a slightly strange mission. I went with an American friend who had brought a little portion of a beloved partners ashes to be scattered there. It was a little surreal making a…

Carrying the coffin of my uncle John from the hearse to his grave on Tuesday felt like the end of an era. He was 87, a wonderful man, bursting with energy and full of love and goodness. He was the…

Each year when the appeal is made for Crosscare we are reminded of the many ways the Church in Dublin is at the service of the poor and people in need here at home. The range of services Crosscare offers…

The last trip I made before Covid was a two-night visit to Munich to visit my niece, her husband and two children. I always enjoy seeing them when they visit Ireland but with so many people to see and so…

Good news is always welcome and it has been great during the week to hear about the plan for reopening society as we learn to live with the residual of Covid. The expression ‘new normal’ is being used to describe…

This weekend we remember Fr Tony at his second anniversary. His fruitful ministry, courage and strength, pastoral vision and compassion for others will always be in our minds and hearts. This time last year we planted a tree, placed a…

Last Sunday we celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, one of the many times during the year when Our Blessed Mother takes a central role in the liturgy. Special days help us to celebrate the importance of the…

I drove down Portland Row, past Kellie Harrington’s house, late on Tuesday evening. Even in the near darkness you could see there were all the signs of a warm welcome home, for a local hero and a national treasure. There…

I tend to listen carefully to the coverage of church and religious issues on TV and radio, and more recently on Twitter and social media too. Many different opinions are expressed, with emotion, showing strong attitudes and responses to these…

Last Sunday Pope Francis gave us the first ‘Day of Prayer for Grandparents and Elderly people’. As I had been away for the previous week I didn’t have time to read up on it before preparing the newsletter. So, my…