Kierkegaard and celibacy

Irish Jesuit Tom Casey, professor of philosophy in the Gregorian University in Rome, writes in this month’s Pastoral Review about ‘Learning about celibacy from a Lutheran’. The Lutheran in question is Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), the Danish philosopher who prepared the path for theistic existentialism. Fr Casey’s article provides a fascinating account of Kierkegaard’s asceticism and understanding of faith. And this week’s Tablet (subscription only) has another article by Fr Casey, ‘The Jewish way to listen’, in which he explains how much he has learnt from the Jewish faith.

Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of St. Ignatius Loyola

Irish pilgrimages to the parts of Spain associated with St. Ignatius Loyola are comparatively rare, so there was a pioneering spirit when eighteen pilgrims from the Irish Province’s Education Sector departed from Dublin for Bilbao on 13th March. Four teachers were from Colaiste Iognaid, Galway, with an equal number from Crescent College Comprehensive, Limerick. There were five representatives of Clongowes Wood College and three from Gonzaga College. Brian Flannery, the Province’s Education Delegate, and Frank Clarke, Jesuit Ethos Director at Clongowes, were the organisers. Fergus O’Donoghue, S.J. was a guide and translator. Read more »

Prayer courses at Manresa

Manresa is holding a series of evenings of ‘Praying with scripture’ in April and May. They will take place between 7.30 and 9.00pm on every Tuesday from 1 April to 6 May and will be directed by Fr Ciary Quirke SJ. And, between autumn 2008 and spring 2009, Manresa will host a residential course on ‘Deepening Faith and Prayer’ over six weekends. It is designed for those who wish to make time and space to meet God, to develop new ways of praying the Scriptures, to deepen their Christian faith, and to learn to recognise where God is present in their lives. The weekends are as follows: September 19-21; October 17-19; November 14-16; January 9-11; February 13-15; and March 13-15. For further details on these events, contact Manresa at 01-8331352 or email manresa@jesuit.ie.

Carl’s Rhythm of the Dance Anniversary

Colaiste Iognaid’s music teacher, Carl Hession, was the composer for the ‘Rhythm of the Dance‘, the Irish music and dance show, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary in Dollywood, Tennessee. Carl, who has been in the school since 1980, is currently regarded as one of traditional Irish music’s “finest accompanist, composers and arrangers“. Along with renowned fiddler, Frankie Gavin, Carl played in the Dubai Irish Festival in January and their repertoire included a song called Planxty Paddy Lydon dedicated to the former principal of the college.

Clongowes immersed in Lesotho

Thirteen fifth year Clongowes students and four staff flew out on 23 March for the Second African Immersion Experience in Lesotho. Their main focus will be working for the Malealea Development Trust, a community based organisation that empowers people through participatory development and education projects. The Clongowes group will also work closely with the Irish Embassy there, involving them in discussions about macro development issues with Lesotho’s Health Minister, the Irish Embassy Development staff and Church agencies. The group will also work in orphanages under the patronage of Dee Fay, wife of the Irish Ambassador.

Pictured are the Irish Ambassador to Lesotho, Paddy Fay, with the Lesotho Ambassador to Ireland, Mannete Ramaili, on a visit to Clongowes last year.

Timire an Earraigh

In the current edition of the Irish language magazine An Timire Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Director of Ovation Global DMC, refers to the inspiration of Chiara Lubich, the recently deceased founder of Focolare in his discussion of the challenges facing the Christian in the business world. Fr Petrus Hans describes his long period in prison in China and Tekadiomona Nima SJ outlines the need to make Christianity relevant to the culture of the Church community. Other articles include a tribute to Seán Ó Duibhir SJ, poems and book reviews. An Timire is published quarterly and can be ordered by writing to An Timire, 36 Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 2. Yearly subscription is €10.