Patrick Kavanagh’s poem Advent speaks to and from the religious culture of his own time, an era when penance was practiced and heartfelt hope in the power of Bethlehem offered redemption. The Advent darkened room he recalls was a place…

This week I’ve been 3 years in my current position as Moderator of the parishes of Clonskeagh, Mount Merrion and Kilmacud. When I was asked to undertake this role I really did wonder if it would be possible to manage…

Walking through the church grounds the other day I stopped to watch the gardeners at work. One man was blowing the leaves into piles, while another shovelled them into blue bags. His friend was bent over digging small holes under…

You might have seen the traffic chaos on Tottenham Court Road in London during the week. Some newly installed Christmas decorations, blew down and went bouncing up the street, causing cars to swerve, slam on breaks and stop, in a…

Near Half Moon Bay, just a short drive from San Francisco about 15 years ago I visited Lemos Farm, the best pumpkin patch on the West Coast. I was amazed to see a huge variety of pumpkins, large and small,…

A priest from my local parish worked on the Missions. He came home every few years and was always a welcome visitor to our school and sometimes he said Mass in the parish. He was different from our regular priests,…

When I was about 14 my dad and I went to Cresslough to see their new Church, St Michael’s. It had been designed by the Irish architect Liam Mc Cormick, who dad admired, and was one of 7 modern churches…

Here are some words I wrote almost 10 years ago. It was at this time that we felt the need to start talking in Dublin about the direction we were beginning to move in.  “An old teacher in the seminary…

One of the joys of coming to daily Mass is the celebration of the feast days of the saints. This coming week is very special indeed, Saturday October 1st is the Feast of Saint Thérèse so much loved in Mount…

Opening of the academic year Masses and Services are a wonderful gathering of the whole school community. For many reasons, an energy pulsates through the environment when so many students gather with their teachers in the church. The daily and…

When someone we know and love dies a wave of feelings, emotions and reactions that are both seen in our tears and felt in our hearts can overwhelm us. It helps when visitors call, quiet chats and cups of tea…

I was at Mass one day during the week at Holy Cross Monastery near Rostrevor, Co. Down. The Abbot was the presider and preacher. About 10 people made up the congregation and there were another 6 monks present. All in…

30 years ago I hugged Barbara and said goodbye. It was the last day of our 3 years as post grad students in Rome and the whole group went for a mass, a meal and with back slaps and hugs…

I saw four teenage girls in full school uniform on the street the other day, I checked my watch for the date, August 24th, where did the summer go! So, a week earlier than I’d planned, let’s give a big…

There was a short item on ‘This week’ at lunchtime last Sunday which was entitled “Is Sunday Mass becoming a thing of the past?” Two Bishops were interviewed, Fintan Gavin, Cork and Francis Duffy, Tuam and they both had interesting…

I headed over to Westport to cycle the Greenway with a friend. We had a terrific day, cycling out to Newport, past Burrishoole Abbey to our destination, Achill Island, a breeze at our backs, the stunning scenery all around us,…

Last week when I was writing these few words I hadn’t realised that it was a weekend of special prayers for Grandparents and the elderly. Pope Francis, who is getting on in years himself, has many kind and thoughtful things…

When I was a little child we had plastic sandals to wear at the beach. We needed them most on the days that the sand was so hot that the soles of your feet would be roasted if you tried…

I have a Pope Francis mug on my shelf. It is a souvenir of his visit here in 2018, and very predictably his smiling face is looking out. I don’t use it for tea or coffee, but from time to…