Why Mass should be called Mass, not Eucharist or Liturgy

Some Catholics tend to play down the term ‘Mass’ in favour of ‘Liturgy’ or ‘Eucharist’. Paul Andrews regrets this tendency. ‘Mass’, he argues, is more consonant with the culture of Catholics at large — and ultimately is more ecumenical.

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This is a dangerous operation. The last piece I wrote for AMDG led to a bombardment of the editor and the writer, and controversy in the national press. Our critics wanted to call Catholics Roman, despite the inherent contradiction in the title, and the discourtesy of refusing to call us by the name we choose for ourselves. Read more »

A difficult experience of priesthood

Shortly before he passed away, Des O’Brien SJ wrote for Spirituality, a Dominican publication, this affecting meditation on living as a priest while knowing that he had an inoperable condition.

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Having spent just under forty years working in Zambia as a missionary priest, I came home to Ireland in September 2005 on three months scheduled leave to discover I had inoperable lung cancer. This in itself was quite a shock. But when I began to lose my voice in the hospital just a few days after the diagnosis because of damage already done to the nerves attached to the vocal chords by damage done by the tumour I became quite alarmed. Read more »

Great vision, great people

The National College of Ireland (NCI) celebrated its Jesuit heritage on September 20th with the launch of a book on the college’s history and a permanent exhibition. Irish Provincial, John Dardis SJ, spoke at the event.

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The National College of Ireland (NCI) celebrated its Jesuit heritage on September 20th with the launch of a book on the college’s history and a permanent exhibition. Irish Provincial, John Dardis SJ, underlined the values of social justice and personal empowerment which have marked the College’s history. Read more »

Renewing a friendship between art and spirituality

At the recent Arts and Spirituality seminar in Manresa, Michael Paul Gallagher drew attention to our need to re-negotiate our self-understanding constantly, and to the role of narrative, of story-telling, in this endeavour.

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‘Renewing a Friendship Between Art and Spirituality’ is an urgent theme in recent years, and has a particular relevance to our contemporary culture. I will attempt to revisit what art and spirituality have to offer, and to identify what they have in common. Read more »

A visionary leader and a gentle man

by Gerard Bourke SJ

Several years ago, Fr Kevin Burke SJ, in his introduction to a small collection of Fr Pedro Arrupe’s writings, wrote:

“He was the Superior General of the Society of Jesus when I entered the order in 1976 and in many ways – ways too numerous to count – he inspired, taught, encouraged, and formed me as a Jesuit. He was a hero to those entrusted with my early formation in the Jesuits and he quickly became my hero. Read more »

Addressing moments of transcendence

At Manresa’s Arts and Spirituality seminar in August, writer and director Peter Sheridan spoke about how his understanding of both art and the spirit were greatly influenced by the tragic death of his brother, Frankie.

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The death of my brother Frankie in 1967 was always going to be the defining chapter in the book. He died on the 17th of April at the age of ten. This was the event in the family that you couldn’t escape from. All roads led to Frankie’s death. I remember my feeling that God had abandoned us. As a kid of 15, I thought if I prayed really, really hard to stop this event from happening, there would be a miracle and it would all be grand. Read more »

Serving Dublin’s Polish community

The launch of the Polish Ministry based in Gardiner Street Church was held on 30 August. The two Jesuits, Krzysztof Homa and Jacek Poznański (pictured above), will offer masses and confessions in Polish as well as providing pastoral support to the Polish community. They hope to run various courses and retreats, and help with Polish integration into Irish Society. Fr. Lorcan O’Brien, Moderator of Dublin Diocese Curia, and the Irish Provincial, Fr. John Dardis (pictured below) attended, as well as various directors of Jesuit works. Contact: Fr. Krzysztof on (01) 7072 230, or (086) 222 5628; and Fr. Jacek on (01) 7072 208. Email: PolishMinistry[at]jesuit.ie. Website: Polish Ministry.