Heavenly talk

“Eschatology  (Christian thinking on the afterlife), had been closed for repairs for quite some time!” So says Brian Grogan SJ on his latest book, Where To From Here ? The Christian Vision of Life After Death, published by Veritas. And as the title might suggest, his book opens up the closed doors, examing topics like heaven, hell, judgement and purgatory with fresh vision and refreshing insights. The author is former President of the Milltown Institute of Philosophy and Theology, and his scholarship informs the content of his book, be it reflections on the future of the material world or the limits of space and time. But as international author and editor of America magazine, James Martin SJ, points out in his review of the book,”Fr Grogan’s approach is wise without being preachy, scholarly without being overly academic and hopeful without being naieve”. Concluding his review he notes that the book  “covers almost any question that a Christian might have about the ‘Last Things’, and does so by taking those concerns seriously, answering them carefully and grounding them in Scripture and tradition”. Brian will give a talk on his book in Gardiner st Church on Tuesday 30 January at 7.30pm. And in the Veritas bookshop on Thursday 9 February,7.30pm

Priest from a cul-de-sac!

Bill Toner SJ blessed a memorial flower box in honour of the deceased friends and neighbours of the residents of Croftwood Park, in Cherry Orchard, Dublin, Monday 12 December,4pm. He did so at the invitation of the local residents association and there was a substantial turn out from the area on the cold winter afternoon. As part of the ceremony Bill also presented four local boys and four girls with the ‘Young Persons Achievement Award’ -gifts to thank them for their involvement in local projects during the year. Bill and Gerry O Hanlon SJ have lived in Croftwood for over twenty years and have worked with the people on community development issues and projects for the local children. Very much a part of the community, the invitation  from the resident’s associatoin simply described Bill as ‘the priest from the cul-de-sac’!

JRS marks the year

JRS Ireland launched their 2012 Intercultural and Interfaith Calendar on Thursday 15 December with photos in the calendar celebrating the services they provide in Dublin and Limerick. Christine and Christopha, two asylum seekers, provided food for over 30 people at the event, which provided a seasonal opportunity to acknowledge the huge contribution of volunteers, without whom JRS Ireland would not be able to deliver it services. As part of the annual Christmas toy appeal, more than 200 toys were collected on the night, to be given to children in Dublin hostels. Eugene Quinn, JRS Director, thanked Aisling and Myles Garland, Brian Kelly and Donal Neary SJ, as well as the second Year students from Crescent College who collected over 80 shoe boxes for children in Knockalisheen. For further information on the JRS Calendar or to order a copy you can contact Nicola Morris at 01 8148644 or email: info@jrs.ie.

Forthcoming events

• Thursday 26 January: Making Space for Faith and Prayer at 7.30pm – 9.30pm Manresa, Jesuit Centre of Spirituality, 426 Clontarf  Road, Dollymount Dublin 3. For further information Tel: 01 8331352  email: manresa@jesuit.ie or visit www.manresa.ie
• Friday 27 to Sunday 29 January: Weekend retreat for Lay people in Manresa, Jesuit Centre of Spirituality, 426 Clontarf  Road, Dollymount Dublin 3. For further information Tel: 01 8331352  email: manresa@jesuit.ie or visit www.manresa.ie
• Saturday 28 Jan: ‘Meetings that Matter’- a workshop on spirituality and skills for meetings given by Phyllis Brady and Brian Grogan SJ in the Jesuit Centre for Sprirtuality and Culture, 6 Ely Place, Sea Rd., Galway. 10am-4pm. Further information: 091 523707 or email: galway@jesuit.ie.
• Monday 30 January: Public lecture-Where to from Here? A new look at older questions on the afterlife by Brian Grogan SJ. St Francis Xavier Church, Gardiner St., Dublin 1. 7.30pm
• Thursday February 9: ‘Author’s Evening with Veritas’ Brian Grogan SJ will speak about his book ‘Where to from Here?’ in the Veritas Store, Abbey St., 7.30pm-9.30pm
• Friday 10 February-Sunday 12 February: Silent, directed retreat oranised by Magis Ireland. Contact debbie.moore@magisireland.com

Jesuit following many stars

Christmas traditionally seems to have been a busy time for astronomers, from the Three Wise Men to the scientists of today who’ve just discovered a new planet, possibly very much like our earth, with its own sun and named after the telescope which spotted it – Kepler 22b. Guy Consolmango SJ is the Vatican astronomer who hails from the US and is based in Rome. On a recent visit to Dublin he met with Pat Coyle of the Jesuit Communication Centre. In a wide-ranging interview he talked to her about his job, the relationship between religion and science, the beauty of laws of science, angels, the nature of truth, evil, orginal sin, the immensity of God, the wonder of the cosmos, aliens (our ‘cousins’) and why Richard Dawkins is right (in a very limited way!). Listen here.

JESUITICA: United by a prayer

Do you remember the sectarian troubles in Portadown, in the bad old days? In July 1998 angry Orangemen were milling around the church in Drumcree, preparing to march down the Garvahy Road to humiliate the papists, especially the hated Jesuits. They were still anxious to make it a religious occasion, and an ecumenical observer heard them reciting the beautiful prayer for generosity: Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to love you as you deserve…. What struck the observer above all was the irony that the prayer they thundered out was written by St Ignatius Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. He and the Presbyterians of Drumcree were united in their love for Jesus. Prayer can do more than give vent to frustration and anger. It can open us to our enemies in ways we do not expect.

How is the money spent?

Murt Curry SJ and Winnie Ryan, the Project Officer and Finance Officer of Jesuit Missions, give a lot of time and care to seeking funding for projects in Jesuit missions, mostly in Africa. Two years ago they prepared applications for Kenya and South Sudan. All that careful paperwork and negotiations have since been translated into life-enhancing projects. It is still essential to assess how the money has been spent. So Murt and Winnie travelled to East Africa this autumn to see for themselves. In two packed weeks they inspected over a dozen projects, and came back satisfied that the generosity of Irish people has made a real difference to the lives and educational prospects of Kenyans and South Sudanese. The photo shows students in Wau singing the new national anthem of South Sudan 1st Nov 2011. Read more. Read more »

Faith in business

The Dublin Chapter of the Woodstock Business Conference (WBC) has just completed a successful year assisting men and women who want to explore how they can integrate their faith with their business career. The WBC  is coordinated by the internationally renowned Woodstock Theological Center in Washington DC. The Dublin branch was founded in 2010, with Paddy Carberry SJ as chaplain and businessman Steve Falci as the chapter’s moderator. The group meets monthly and discusses in confidence critical issues and how they can be practically addressed by people who are committed Christian business leaders. “Through prayer and reflection, the group seeks to better understand their vocation as business leaders addressing challenges in work and society,” says Steve. They meet on the second Wednesday of every month (12.30pm to 2.00pm) at the Jesuit offices, 37 Lower Leeson Street. New members welcome.

No place I would rather be

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” – there is perhaps no better way to describe the pastoral challenge facing people and community in Moyross where Tony O’Riordan SJ was last month appointed parish priest. “There is no place, he says, where I would rather be. I feel privileged to be with people who believe in the struggle for justice when the odds are so stacked against them. One example: Munster and Ireland rugby hero Keith Earls was told by a teacher in his secondary school to ‘Give up rugby. You’re from Moyross and won’t amount to much.’ Keith now proudly has Moyross written in his football boots whenever he plays. You put down people of Moyross at your peril. I suspect people of Nazareth often felt the same.”

Leonard’s Irish Times diary

A taoiseach in hiding and the country in chaos were uppermost in the mind of Clongowes Headmaster, Leonard Moloney SJ (pictured here in photo by student James Green, Poetry) as he watched the pupils perform Brian Friel’s uncannily apposite The Mundy Scheme in the college. This was just the start of a busy week for him as detailed in Keeper of the Woods in the Irish Times, Tuesday 13 Dec, which gave a flavour of his life in the school. His schedule also included a meeting as province consultor, a gathering of first year parents, meetings with the student council and senior management as well as with a group of refugees from Portlaoise, the annual past pupils v present debate, the launch of The Clongownian, interviews with sixth years seeking references for British Universities and – finally – an evening of Chinese food and chat with second year pupils. Read diary here

Another ‘first’ for Irish Jesuit

Michael O’Sullivan SJ has been appointed to the Editorial Board of Spiritus, a leading international journal for Christian Spirituality, published by Johns Hopkins University Press. The  appointment is for a 5 year term and he is the first Irish academic to be appointed to this board. Michael, who recently celebrated his sixtieth birthday, is Director of the MA in Applied Spirituality in All Hallows College Dublin. In a message to staff there, Ronan Tobin,Vice-President for Academics, said the appointment not only reflected the  high regard Michael O’Sullivan was held in by his peers but it also reflected on the scholarship of the academic staff in the college. Michael has been to the fore in building international  links between third level institutions in order to promote resarch and disseminate knowledge regarding the study of Spirirtuality as an academic discipline.

After the housing bubble

Over 98,000 households in need of housing, a rise in the number of people becoming homeless and a shortage in emergency homeless accommodation are just some of the concerns addressed in the December issue of Working Notes, ‘After the Housing Bubble’, Journal of the JCFJ. Highlighted also is the growing numbers of what Michael Punch refers to as ‘the housing vulnerable’- families and individuals in mortgage debt, on the social housing waiting list, on low incomes in poor quality private rented accommodation and the homeless. What of the solutions? Punch argues that there needs to be an ideological shift and greater social provision. Peter McVerry SJ calls for improved conditions in emergency accommodation and  both authors call for adequate housing to uphold the right of people to live their lives with dignity and hope.

Short notices

• Congratulations to the Belvedere Under-19 Basketball team on winning the East Regional Final in a thrilling final against St Paul’s. Belvedere trailed until the very last minute, when captain Hugh Murray scored the winning point.
• Women at the Well, 6 evenings exploring Women’s Spirituality using scripture, prayer, reflection and sharing will take place in the Jesuit Centre for Spirituality and Culture, 6 Ely Place, Sea Rd Galway, every Wednesday beginning 18 January, 7.30-9.30 pm. Maximum participation 15, so early booking advisable, and by Monday 9th January 2012. Cost: €60 (including refreshments). For further information, email galway@jesuit.ie or phone 091 523707.
• The draw for the Leinster Schools senior rugby cup was done with the help of two Leinster players, Fergus McFadden a Clongownian, and Eoin O’Malley a Belvederian. Coincidentally Fergus drew Clongowes out of the hat, and Eoin drew Belvedere, so the two sister schools will meet each other in the first round, the winner possibly meeting Gonzaga. St Ignatius’ College, Riverview, among the best rugby schools in Sydney, travelled to Clongowes for the first match of their European tour. From a hard-fought struggle between what are arguably the best Jesuit rugby schools from the northern and southern hemispheres, Clongowes emerged winners by 39 points to 22.