Fr. Joe’s writings and rumblings.
Recently I was a little alarmed to hear someone, whom I thought would know better, display a huge ignorance with what happens at Mass. Of course there are many things that happen at this beautiful and most extraordinary of experiences that we call The Mass or The Eucharist, including sorrow for sin, the Read more…
It was certainly one of the first religious stories that I heard. It was probably around the same time that I first saw The Sound of Music. I was going around humming My Favourite Things. When I wasn’t humming the big songs from the film I was taking pop shots at the Read more…
Last Sunday’s Gospel told us that after a period of confusion or uncertainty the disciples reached a point of clarity. It is at the moment when he breaks the bread that they know for sure it is Jesus. They recognise the Lord in the profound and sacred moment in which they have Read more…
Growing up in Callan in Kilkenny in the 1760s and 70s I guess you were both rich and poor. Politically and socially it was not an easy time. Neither was it a time of plenty. There was poverty. Yet for you, you had the joy and richness of both family and faith. Read more…
One of the beautiful gospel passages we hear at this time of year is an encounter between Mary of Magdala and the Risen Jesus. Like so many Gospel passages it is both moving and challenging. It is at one and the same time comforting and disturbing. The text I am referring to Read more…
my dear Ruth it is so hard to find words for this the two greatest extremes in my life the cruellest and most crushing of disappointments and within a few days a boundless joy that really defies words these few years have been exciting, frightening and beautiful and so much Read more…
‘When I get an encore I go home feeling like a king..!’ Christy Moore We all love to be loved! It’s natural, it’s part of the way we are made. It’s good when this happens in a wholesome way. It’s always better when praise or applause comes our way without us Read more…
‘Tear down this wall, Mr. Gorbachev!!‘ So goes the famous line from President Reagan. It was an exciting time. It was a time of hope. Shortly after this I went with a friend to this very spot and witnessed the now partly demolished wall. Today there is much talk of building a Read more…
Do you have a friend that you can really talk to? Is there someone you would sit up chatting with real late at night? Is there someone with whom you could sit in the coffee shop, but you could not drink another coffee and actually Starbucks are thinking of charging you rent, Read more…
Lord, FOR OUR ABUSE OF POWER Forgive Us and Show Us Your Mercy ST. ITA Pray For Us Lord, FOR THE HARSH WORD Forgive Us and Show Us Your Mercy ST. MEL Pray For Us Lord, FOR THE CRUEL ACT Forgive Us and Show Us Your Mercy ST. MONINNE Pray Read more…