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
Category: General
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
In Town Before Christmas
Image: www.ireland.com When visiting the center of Dublin at this time of the year we all know we can expect crowds, and we have been told that after two years of Covid restrictions there will be a great swell of people converging on the city. This was in my mind when I went in… Read More
The Greatest Teacher
The Greatest Teacher There is a well-known saying which goes as follows , ‘If you want to feed me today, give me rice. If you want to feed me for the rest of my life, teach me how to grow rice.’ The long-term goal is education, and it is the teacher who is at the… Read More
A Glance Behind Peter’s Pence
A Glance Behind Peter’s Pence Last Sunday at Mass the second collection which is usually for Share was replaced by one for ‘Peter’s Pence’. This is an annual suggested offering which is taken up throughout the Catholic world either on 29 June, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, or on the Sunday closest to… Read More
Giving Prisoners Hope
Image:www.thejakartapost.com As I write this the Annual Conference of the Association of Prison Officers are meeting in Sligo and some of the issues that have arisen were a subject of a news report headline. While I listened, I was further reinforced in my view that there are few things in life worse than the prospect… Read More
Paying the Price of War: Russia vs Ukraine
Image:www.forbes.com One morning two weeks ago I was travelling into work when I noticed a lovely blackbird on the wall of a garden in which bloomed two bright pink cherry blossom trees. Just around the corner was a green bank full of daffodils. All sights to gladden the heart and herald the onset of Spring…. Read More
World Day of the Sick
Image:www.cardinalsblog.adw.org Friday 11 February is World Day of the Sick and was instituted by Pope John Paul II in 1993 to be celebrated annually on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. People around the world are asked to take time on this day to pray for the sick and for those who work very… Read More
The Princess Nun – St Margaret of Hungary, O.P.
Today the Dominican Order Celebrates the Feast Day of the Princess Nun, St. Margaret of Hungary, O.P. St. Margaret, was the first daughter of King Bela IV, champion of Christendom, and Queen Mary Lascaris of Hungary, and was offered to God before her birth, in petition that the country would be delivered from… Read More
A Message From Our Prior Provincial – Fr John Harris OP
We know from the life of St. Martin that he was a great supporter of the younger brothers in formation. Those preparing for the priesthood always found him encouraging and a source of comfort when they found life difficult. We also know that he was well able to converse with them on theological matters. One… Read More
A Christmas to Remember
I am writing this in Christmas week, three days out from the big day on the 25th, and sadly we are in the midst of new restrictions and facing the possibility of more. The dreaded word ‘Lockdown’ is even being mentioned across the water in the UK. This time last year we probably believed,… Read More
Looking Forward: Advent & Christmas
For many years, and I can remember it well, there was a great tradition in Ireland of the pre-Christmas shopping season beginning on the Holy Day, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. People from all over the country would descend on Dublin and there was a real sense that the Festive Celebrations… Read More