I met Sinead about three months ago now, and even though I feel a bit strange telling ‘rumbling’ readers this, the truth is I haven’t really got over it. I suppose to say she was gorgeous is a real cliche, but I am trying to find words and, unusually for me, I am not having much success. As it happened we were both waiting in Ciampino airport in Rome on the same plane, that ended up delayed Read more…
Where do you look for Jesus? Or do you? I have recently been on pilgrimage and met a lot of people who are looking for Jesus. Actually I often meet people who are looking for Jesus…..now, having said that I am wondering is that correct? It is an interesting question, do we actively look for Jesus? Do we seek? Do we knock? It seems that if we do not seek, we will not find. If we do Read more…
Even the sound of the word has a ring to it. It sounds a serious business, which of course it is. ‘Get out of here you blasphemers!!’ What is a blasphemer? Somebody who blasphemes? Well yes, but what is that? What does it mean to blaspheme? Blasphemy is to insult or denigrate God or to show contempt of that which is sacred. It was for a long time seen as a serious crime. It still is in certain parts Read more…
I guess in my head I knew that the business of reform was not going to be popular. However it is only in recent days that it has begun to dawn on me just how dirty a business it might be. As the launch of my reform initiative, The Roncalli Community, draws closer, efforts to discourage me from this work have intensified. Attempts to throw me of my path, range from: ‘you’re wasting your time’, Read more…
There is a lot of talk these days about Church. Where’s it all going? What happened the Church of our childhood? Will there be a Church for our grandchildren? What will remain, if anything? There has been so much change. Surely the Church could not die? It might be better to get this last one out of the way first. The Church has lasted two thousand years. It is God’s Church, it is the Church founded by Jesus, therefore Read more…
It must have been near midnight when I left her, but her last line kept ringing in my ears…. ‘you know Fr Joe I would love to get back to my boring old life’. In one way this was a strange thing to say but in another way it made a lot of sense. That said, Maggie’s comment really got me thinking, especially about the whole thing around boredom and routine. In a way it might be Read more…
I recently went to see the latest Tom Cruise movie which is in the tradition of the well known Mission Impossible stories. It is, as you might imagine, full of action, nail biting scenes full of danger and intrigue. Granted, whilst a lot of the more dangerous stunts are quite improbable, this does not take away from the experience of the thrill and escapism that the movie provides. Of course it is good to remember this is entertainment. However Read more…
One government minister has his head in his hands listening to a Bishop speaking about Church teaching at a conference, whilst another minister has asked for more money from religious orders as part of the redress for the mother and babies homes. All this against dark days for the Church, not just in this country but worldwide. There’s no doubt we need a new day, not just in the country but in the Church. It seems that the good Read more…
I intend after prayerful reflection to come back to these special days when the Successor of Peter was here amongst us on Irish soil. RDS I was delighted to ramble round the RDS at the World Meeting of Families Conference. There were so many signs of hope and new life. Great warmth, great faith. Perhaps one of the best parts of it was meeting so many people from all over the world, many of them young, and to Read more…
I grew up in a part of the country where one of the slogans was ‘No Pope here!’ I guess I never thought I would see a day when people in this part of the country would not welcome a Pope onto Irish soil. I think for many of us that’s a tough pill to swallow. I think it is especially difficult if we were brought up to love the Pope. I think it is also difficult not Read more…