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Various things have recently inspired me to think about the communal nature of our faith. The truth is we are called as community. Well, having said that it is true we are called by name, and of course we are called through our baptism to be engaged in a personal relationship with Christ. This can only happen when we engage in serious soul work, by which I mean prayerful reflection, appropriate reading of Sacred Scripture and other spiritual works, Read more…

As you read this, it is 24 th July. This is a very special day for me. On this day thirty-five years ago I left home. Thus began an adventure that has taken many twists and turns. I have been a Brother, a teacher, a retreat giver, and now a priest. It has been very exciting and I have really enjoyed it. Of course there have been sad times and even a few dark days. Read more…

A few months ago I heard that a major chocolate producer had decided not to call their famous Easter eggs, ‘ Easter eggs’ anymore as it may cause offence. When I heard this first I smiled as I thought it was, as they say, a bit of a wind-up. I thought that the idea of taking Easter out of the Easter eggs belonged in the same school of thought as did a burning question that I grew up Read more…

Did you ever encounter the worst of religion? Did you ever wonder is it all just religious gobbledygook? Did anyone ever say to you that your religion is nothing more than an emotional crutch? Have you heard of the notion of ‘pie in the sky when you die’? Indeed these are amongst the milder accusations. This is before we get to the notion that religion promotes bigotry. Indeed there are those who would contend that religion is responsible Read more…

I don’t know if it is the same for you, but I am surprised how quickly the time for the NCT, (National Car Test), comes around. This of course is equally true with regard to time for a service. I suppose life is so fast, that before we know it, oil needs changing, tyres are worn, bulbs are going, and the poor old motor needs some tender loving care. Of course, this is not just true of our Read more…

I was in a house recently, and the granny, who lived with the family, had asked me to bless a very old picture of the Sacred Heart, which she had brought with her, as one of a few prized possessions. She had come to live with her daughter, and her family. It was obvious to me that most of them in the house were not too keen on this old picture. Clearly the daughter and son-in-law were going Read more…

A while back, whilst celebrating a funeral Mass down the country, I had the experience of quite a number of people presenting to receive Holy Communion, who clearly were unsure, or simply did not know, how to respond, to being presented with the Body of Christ. Some nodded, some gave a little grunt, whilst a substantial number of others responded inappropriately, with responses ranging from, ‘cheers’ to ‘sound job’ to ‘nice one’. Now the funny Read more…

I want to be up front with you from the beginning. I think you prefer that. I am asking you to consider this invitation. Please do not just discard it as another invitation. At least think about it. If you don’t mind me saying so, maybe even give it a little prayer time. There is a lot at stake here. I am asking you to accompany me for a few days, well actually five days to be precise. Read more…

Amidst the bombs and bullets, that unfortunately were an almost daily feature of life in West Belfast in the 1970s, came the arrival of the beautiful statue of Our Lady of Fatima. I am unclear on the actual date, but I remember the great excitement that accompanied the procession through the streets. I remember the comfort of the Marian hymns that we sang: O Mary of Graces, I’ll sing a Hymn to Mary, The Bells of the Angelus, Read more…

As promised a few weeks ago, more on Revolution!! EASTER PROCLAMATION 2016 POBAIL DE NA H-EIREANN THE FAITH COMMUNITY OF ST. MATTHEW TO GOD’S PEOPLE IN IRELAND Sisters and Brothers, those of you who have no faith, who assert you do not believe, and will not believe, those of you whose faith is flickering like a candle in the wind, and of course, those of you whose faith is blazing, like a bonfire at Halloween, in the Read more…