Homily of Pope Francis, St Peter's Square, Sunday, 14 October 2018.
"Let us ask for the grace always to leave things behind for love of the Lord: to leave behind wealth, leave behind the yearning for status and power, leave behind structures that are no longer adequate for proclaiming the Gospel, those weights that slow down our mission, the strings that tie us to the world."

A presentation on the topic of the retirement of priests was given by Mattie Long at the recent AGM of the Association of Catholic Priests.

An interesting article in America Magazine.
We may not have too many students for the priesthood but what would be an equivalent experience in Ireland?

John Feehan spoke at our AGM about "The New View of Creation in Laudato si"
"I am not sure how many of us appreciate how radical it is: how radical for our thinking, for our behaviour; how radical for our understanding of the meaning of creation and of our role in the making of the world.
Twice in Laudato si’ Pope Francis refers to the created world as the ‘other’ book of revelation. Creation itself, the ‘other book’, the ‘magnificent book in which God speaks to us and grants us a glimpse of his infinite beauty and goodness; ... God has written a precious book, ‘whose letters are the multitude of created things present in the universe."

An audio recording of the presentations made at the AGM on 10 October 2018 is now available from Eist.
It is available on a 2 CD set or by email.
The total cost for either is €15 .

To Order, …

Seamus Ahearne recalls some memories of the late Larry Forristal, retired bishop of Ossory.

Sean McDonagh draws our attention to a statement from the European Christian Environmental Network calling for 'A future with hope'.

An old work song sets Chris McDonnell, writing in the Catholic Times, reflecting on the beauty and awesome power of water. His musings lead him to think "It is a time of aridity in the Church, so much has happened that has left us parched and thirsty, casting about, looking for a drink to satisfy our thirst."

Paddy Ferry alerts us to the fact that the funeral Mass of Fr. Kevin Kelly, the English theologian, is taking place in Formby tomorrow, Oct. 9th, at noon. He died on Sept. 25th aged 81.

Paddy says 'During the controversy leading up to the imposition of the then new liturgy, he wrote to the English bishops expressing his disquiet. I now share the piece once again below, "The Vatican's Tahrir Square?". I am now not quite sure where I first came across this --perhaps even on this site. But, when I did, I immediately shared it with Cardinal O'Brien whom I had been pestering about the awfulness of the new liturgy. He immediately sent it to all the Scottish bishops but all to no avail.'

Clontarf Ecumenical Conference

Ecumenism: Reimagining the Future of the Irish Church.

Date:                         Saturday 13^th October 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Venue:       Church of St. John the Baptist, Seafield Road West, Clontarf, Dublin 3

10.00 a.m.                                    Registration, Tea/Coffee (in the …