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Defender of the Faith: Then and Now

Image:neemopani.com Last weekend was a very special one for the citizens of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland as they observed  4 days of celebration to mark the Platinum Jubilee of  Queen Elizabeth II. She is the longest-reigning monarch in British History with the previous record-holder being her great-great-grandmother, Victoria who was on the throne… Read More

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The Good Shepherd

Image:shcct.com Last weekend on 8 May the Church celebrated the Fourth Sunday of Easter which is also called Good Shepherd Sunday.  Even in these industrial and technological times, the image of the Shepherd is an instantly recognisable one.  The Shepherd is the person who looks after the sheep and traditionally protects them from predators, animals,… Read More

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The Value of Retreat

  When I was in Secondary School, back in the ‘70s, we had a retreat with the Chaplain and a team once a year and I always looked forward to those few days.  Of course, it made a change from the daily routine and afforded me a break from the dreaded Maths classes! It provided… Read More

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A Day to Remember: Yom HaShoah

  The Christian religion began with the life and work of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus was a Jew as were his earliest followers.  In one sense it is possible to say that Christianity began as a movement within Judaism.  After the death and resurrection of Jesus, these early followers believed him to be the Messiah… Read More

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Living with Hope

Living With Hope For the first time this week, the news in relation to Covid-19 was positive as it seems the possibility of a vaccine is now looking likely and there was a cautious optimism expressed by interviewees on the radio.  This, allied with the victory of Joe Biden in America proved the truth of… Read More

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Mental Health in a Pandemic

I remember a long time ago seeing, perhaps on a poster, the words “Happiness is having something to do, someone to love and something to hope for.”  This would also suggest a formula for good mental health. According to the World Health Organization, Mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realises… Read More

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The Guardian Angels

One of the most appealing images remembered from religious instruction in childhood was that of the guardian angels protecting us all from danger, both physical and moral.  Just as parents sometimes entrust the younger members of the family to the care of their elder brothers and sisters, so our Father in Heaven commits us to… Read More

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Religion and Spirituality

When the Taoiseach, Micheāl Martin spoke to the nation on Tuesday evening, at one point he commented that the government did not want to interfere with the spiritual life of people.  This was in response to a reporter’s question with regard to people going to Mass. His response was interesting because going to Mass is… Read More

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What is the meaning of Religion?

The Coronavirus and resulting Lockdown have taken their toll on many areas of life, including religious practice. Religion and its meaning in peoples’ lives have been the subject of much comment as places of worship across the country were closed for weeks on end. Such a state of affairs was unprecedented in modern times. What… Read More