Why does a loving God allow suffering? Explore the Catholic answer to one of life’s hardest questions, looking at free will, the Cross, and the hope Christians find in Jesus Christ.
Category: General
Catholic Feast Days in August: Saints, Marian Feasts and Holy Days
Discover the key Catholic feast days in August, including the Transfiguration of the Lord, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the feast days of beloved saints. Explore the meaning behind these celebrations and how they are marked in the Catholic tradition in Ireland.
Scottie Scheffler and The Search For Meaning
Scottie Scheffler’s Open win made headlines—but his candid reflections on success, meaning, and faith made an even bigger impact.
Remembering Pope Francis 1936 -2025
Remembering Pope Francis, who passed away after a life of humble service and faith. Discover his journey from Buenos Aires to the papacy and his lasting legacy in the Church.
The Nightmare Next Door: Rudolf Hoss
Image: spiegel Last Monday, 27 January marked 80 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland by Soviet Red Army soldiers during the Vistula Order Offensive. The annual event remembers the six million Jewish people murdered during the Holocaust, as well as the millions killed under Nazi persecution and those who died… Read More
Getting ready For Christmas: Advent
Image: istockphoto.com (Advent) Recently I received an email from my the waste company I subscribe to offering me the perfect solution for my planning and pre-Christmas clear-out…should I have any. This points to the concern so many of us have about getting ready for Christmas and the real panic experienced by some. I was talking… Read More
Rock Star Danny: A Champion for The Faith
Image: www.irishmirror.ie Last weekend I had the radio on in the background, tuned in to The Brendan O’Connor Show. He was interviewing the lead singer of The Script, Danny O’Donoghue. The Script are an Irish rock band formed in 2001 in Dublin by O’Donoghue, the late Mark Sheehan, and Glen Power. They have won 3… Read More
In Sickness & in Health: Marriage
Image: www.rsvplive.ie It was front-page news two weeks ago, the announcement of the breakdown of Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes’ marriage. The pair had been together for more than two decades and married for 14 years. The former presenters of ITV’s This Morning are very popular in the UK and were seen as a golden… Read More
When Dog Really is Man’s Best friend
Image: www.corkbeo.ie Sometimes when I am on my way to work in the morning there is a young woman on the bus with her guide dog. He or she is a lovely golden colour and has the most beautiful soulful eyes. People, especially children are naturally tempted to engage with guide dogs, but this is… Read More
An Endless Conflict in the Middle East
Image: www.skynews.com As Christmas approaches and we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, the situation in the Middle East is a reminder of how much the world needs the Message the Son of God brought. Since the terrible events visited on Israel by Hamas on 7 October, we have been… Read More
The Miracle Club
Film reviews can make funny reading! By this, I mean the way in which they often offer totally contrasting viewpoints about the same thing. I am thinking about the performance of actor Laura Linney in the film The Miracle Club’, now showing in cinemas, which drew great acclaim from one reviewer and the damnation of… Read More
Man’s Best Friend?- The Future of Artificial Intelligence
Image: www.octalsoftware.com.sg There has been a lot of talk in the media lately about the increase in the use of Artificial Intelligence. Uncertainty about its capacity is part of the concerns being expressed by the actors and writers who are on strike in Hollywood. One of the more interesting ways in how it has been… Read More
France: Religion in a Secular State
Image: www.jusoorpost.com Earlier this week France’s Education Minister Gabriel Affal announced a ban on abayas – the long, flowing dresses worn by some Muslim women – in public schools. Secularism is a key concept in France’s Constitution, and religious markers considered conspicuous or “ostentatious”, including Islamic headscarves, large Christian crosses, and Jewish yarmulkes (skullcaps) have… Read More
Trial by Media: Ryan Tubridy and Huw Edwards
Images: www.www.irishexaminer.com & www.theguardian.com For the past three weeks, RTE has been plunged into crisis by the front-page news scandal of the pay revelations concerning the hugely popular presenter, Ryan Tubridy. Now across the water, the BBC finds itself in hot water as the highly respected television presenter, Huw Edwards is named as the person… Read More
Visit to a Troubled Land – Pope Francis’ visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo
Visit to a Troubled Land On the afternoon of Tuesday 31 January, Pope Francis arrived in Kinshasa for the start of a 4-day visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DCR) and South Sudan. Catholics make up around half the population of each country. The Church also owns and runs an extensive network of hospitals,… Read More
At What Cost?: Russia vs Ukraine
Image: www.abc.net.au In recent days the major international news story has been the decision by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that his government will provide Ukraine with Leopard 2 battle tanks and approve requests by other countries to do the same. Naturally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his satisfaction at this development calling them, “important… Read More