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| The next few years promise a cluster of important centenary celebrations, which will test our ability to savour all the traditions of our pluriform culture. It may take some effort to mark the memory of the Ulster Covenant, the General Strike and Lockout, the 1916 Rising, the Battle of the Somme, our civil war, the Treaty. They all touched our island in a massive way, and our greatest achievement as Irish people would be to own and celebrate them as communal memories. Alan McGuckian is leading the way — see the feature story below. |
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1912, A Hundred Years On
For two weeks in March a play with a difference did the rounds of a number of venues in Belfast and counties Antrim and Down. 1912, A Hundred Years On is a deliberate and ambitious attempt by Philip Orr, a local historian, and Alan McGuckian, a Jesuit priest, to present the contentious history of 1912 in a fair and balanced way.
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Catholic gathering inspires hope
Michael McGuckian, one of ten Jesuits who attended a gathering entitled ‘Towards an Assembly of the Catholic Church in Ireland’, reports on this event which took place in the Regency Hotel in Drumcondra on Monday May 7th. The meeting was facilitated by the Association of Catholic Priests, supported by a number of lay groups working for changes in the Church.
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Magis Ireland - 'go deeper'
Visiting Jean Vanier's L'Arche Community or working with the travelling community are just some of the events in Dublin, designed by Magis Ireland, the Jesuit Outreach to Young Adults, for young people taking part in the Eucharistic Congress this June. Noelle Fitzpatrick of Magis speaks with Pat Coyle about these plans (link inside).
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Schoolmastering at 90
While Indians debate the raising of the age of retirement from 58 to 60, the Jesuits are laying to rest 91-year old Fr Joe Brereton, who up to a few weeks ago was working at the coal face. Even in his last days Joe moved at a tempo that suited him, still cheerful and peaceful in himself.
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When silence speaks
Micheál Slattery is final year student in Belvedere College who by his own admission 'would rather spend his time watching movies in religion class than spend time in silence and reflection'. But all that changed on his final class retreat up the Wicklow Mountains. Here's his account of what happened.
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'Become What You Receive'
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin launched Donal Neary SJ's latest publication, Become What You Receive, on Friday 4 May. His booklet of prayers and scripture reflections, published by Veritas, celebrates and marks the 50th International Eucharistic Congress, 2012. The booklet is beautifully illustrated, and the quotations and prayers mirror the themes of the Congress.
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Terminating tertians!
Brendan McManus SJ and Piaras Jackson SJ have just this week completed their year as Tertians. This third and final formal formation time for Jesuits ended as it began for them, with a silent directed retreat. In between retreats, they studied in depth the Constitutions of St Ignatius, had special training days, and went on 'experiment'.
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Scientists of the shaking earth
This week brought happy news about the after-life of the Fr William O’Leary’s seismograph (pictured here), which was housed in a little building half-way up the drive of Rathfarnham Castle. All its records have been in the care of Dr Tom Blake, a seismologist in the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies.
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The purity of a general's blood
To taste the full venom of anti-Semitism, you might look back beyond Himmler and the Nazis to the case of Diego Laynez, born 500 years ago. His great-great-grandfather was a Spanish Jew who converted to become what was called a New Christian – but his family were not allowed to forget the blot on their purity of blood, Limpieza de sangre.
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Around the Province
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 A good crowd gathered to hear Jim Corkery SJ give a talk at All Hallows – his first at this venue - on “Theology in the Public Square: What does Cardinal Ratzinger/ Pope Benedict XVI have to say?” Jim made the point that while the Pope is very keen for the Church to engage in theological dialogue with society and culture, the same cannot be said when it comes to dialogue with theologians and between Church authorities and Christian believers about matters regarding the Church’s culture, structures, teaching and practice.- Irish sailor and former Belvedere College pupil 2011, Scott Flanigan, has qualified along with Ger Owens, for London 2012. The pair are currently sailing at the 470 World Championships in Barcelona where an additional 7 nation places are up for grabs in addition to the 20 that were allocated in 2011. They currently lie 24th overall on Day 3 following a 10th and a 13th in their two races today. The 95 boats have now split into gold, silver and bronze fleets. Flanigan and Owens are in the gold fleet and with the guarantee that they cannot fall lower than the 7th required nation thus securing their place in the Games.
- Noel Barber, acting secretary of the Association of European Jesuit Institutions of Higher Education (JHE), joined the annual meeting of the International Committee for JHE in Rome. After hearing reports from across the world about JHE projects, the committee fingered higher education in ecology as a major focus. The annual meeting helps members towards a global vision of trends, and towards collaborative efforts.
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Forthcoming events
- Friday 18 to Sunday 20 May: Retreat directed by Fr. Brian Lennon S.J. entitled ‘So you can’t forgive? – Moving towards freedom. Manresa, Jesuit Centre of Spirituality, 426 Clontarf Road, Dollymount, Dublin 3. Tel: 01 8331352, email manresa@jesuit.ie or visit www.manresa.ie
- Tuesday 22 to Thursday 31 May: 8 Day Retreat. Manresa, Jesuit Centre of Spirituality Tel: 01 8331352
- Friday 25 to Sunday 27 May: Directed Silent Retreat. Manresa, Jesuit Centre of Spirituality Tel: 01 8331352
- Thursday 31 May: Preparation Day for the International Eucharistic Conference 2012. St Francis Xavier’s Church, Gardiner Street, Dublin 1, for further information Tel: 01 8363411, email sfx@jesuit.ie
- Tuesday 5 June: Training Day for Parish IEC volunteers. St Francis Xavier’s Church, Gardiner Street at 3pm.
- Thursday 7 to Friday 15 June: Sacred Heart Novena Gardiner Street Church.
We remember in our prayer
- Fr John Moylan who is in hospital
- Fr Brian Grogan, in hospital recovering from an operation
- Fr Conall O Cuinn's mother, in hospital recovering from an operation
- All the sick in Cherryfield
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