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Prayer promoter spreads message

barriga_01.jpgClaudio Barriga SJ, director of the Apostleship of Prayer, is spending some days in Ireland this week. Based in Rome, he is here to help promote a long-standing method of prayer through a form of the Spiritual Exercises. He was hosted by John Looby SJ, editor of the Irish Messenger, which promotes the mission of the Apostleship of Prayer through its various publications. As well as meeting a number of Irish Jesuits, Claudio met the Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, and they spoke about evangelisation possibilities. See Apostleship of Prayer website.

Added Tuesday 22 April 2008 :: Category: General ::

50 years of pioneering education

school_front_01.jpgSt. Declan’s School, which caters for children with mild levels of emotional and behavioural difficulties, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Founded in 1958 by Irish Jesuits, it is a pioneering venture in the area of specialised education. Many children have spent time at the school, on Northumberland Road in Dublin 4, when mainstream schooling has not suited their needs. St Declan’s policy, however, is to help them overcome their particular difficulties and make a speedy return to mainstream schools. The school’s new website, built at the Jesuit Communication Centre, went live on Tuesday 22 April. See it at www.stdeclans.ie.

Added Tuesday 22 April 2008 :: Category: Education ::

Broadening student horizons

jcfj_ucd3.jpgSix University College Dublin (UCD) students have just finished a two month work experience in several projects within the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice (JCFJ). The projects included developing a marketing plan for the Centre’s publication and online resource: ‘Towards a Directory of Irish Criminological Research’, and a study of factors that help ex-prisoners stay out of prison. The students worked in the Centre once a week and also went on a number of field trips to Mountjoy Men’s Prison, the Dóchas Centre for female prisoners, and the Lantern Detox Project, run by the Peter McVerry Trust.

Added Tuesday 22 April 2008 :: Category: General ::

Michael Paul to retire as dean

michael-paul_copy.jpgFr. Michael Paul Gallagher SJ will retire as dean of the theology faculty in the Gregorian University in Rome this summer. Last Friday it was announced that Fr. Donath Hercsik of the German Province will succeed Michael Paul as dean from September 2008. See below for Michael Paul’s reflection on his time as dean. [Photo shows Michael Paul Gallagher in the dean’s office in the Gregorian reading an Irish doctoral thesis].
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Added Tuesday 22 April 2008 :: Category: International :: ••

Peter McVerry book launch

petermcverry.jpgBishop Willie Walsh and journalist Vincent Browne will launch Peter McVerry SJ’s latest book Jesus: Social Revolutionary? The launch will take place next Tuesday April 29, hosted by the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice. According to the author, in the context of an Ireland that has become unbelievably rich but where many feel uncomfortable at the levels of homelessness and poverty that continue to exist, Jesus: Social Revolutionary? is an attempt to open a debate about the meaning of our faith and the obligations which belonging to the Christian community imposes on us. Reviewing the book, Jesuit author Gerard Hughes says, “This book may seriously damage what is not infrequently considered to be Christian faith”.

Added Tuesday 22 April 2008 :: Category: General ::

Spanish video on the New Jesuit General

video_general2.pngA documentary on the new Jesuit General, Fr. Adolfo Nicolás, which was shown at the recent Irish Province Assembly is now available on the Jesuit website: www.jesuit.ie. Originally made in Spanish by Informe Semanal, it was translated by Fernando Galligo SJ and the Jesuit Communication Centre (JCC) and subtitled in English for its début at the Assembly. It features a number of interviews with family members and Jesuit friends, that gives a very personal and insightful perspective on the personality and approach of the new head of the Jesuits worldwide. See it on Jesuit.ie.

Added Tuesday 22 April 2008 :: Category: General ::