50 years of pioneering education

St. 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.

Broadening student horizons

Six 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.

Michael Paul to retire as dean

Fr. 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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Peter McVerry book launch

Bishop 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”.

Spanish video on the New Jesuit General

A 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.

Peace building in Kenya

The Jesuit Mission Office in Dublin has successfully secured funds from the Irish Missionary Resource Service (IMRS) to sponsor a project promoting peace and reconciliation among the people of Kenya. The project, run by the Jesuit Hakimani Centre in Nairobi, aims to rebuild trust and cooperation among the different tribal groups affected by the violence resulting from the elections of last winter. Initially, leaders will be trained in promoting peace and reconciliation, and then these will animate groups in the outlying towns and villages, particularly in the Rift Valley region of Western Kenya.

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Vocations in focus

Conall O’Cuinn SJ has just returned from a three day Jesuit European Vocation Directors Meeting in Frankfurt, Germany. They addressed key questions such as: Is eighteen too young to join the Jesuits? When is too old?; Why are Jesuits reticent to invite people to join? Twenty Jesuit Provinces were represented at the meeting, including Lebanon, Romania, and Malta. Fr. Orlando Torres SJ, assistant to the General for formation, attended all of the sessions. [Conall is pictured here with Paul Nicholson, presenting on the situation in their provinces. For photos of the meeting, click here.]

Pope meets Avery Dulles SJ

EWTN commentators say the Pope met with Cardinal Avery Dulles SJ on his visit to St Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, New York, for the ‘Blessing of Youth with Disabilities’. Avery Dulles is an eminent theologian and almost ninety years old. Commentator Richard Arroyo said that Cardinal Dulles is currently in poor health and asked viewers to keep him in their prayers. Today, Saturday April 19 is the third day of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to America and the third anniversary of his election as Pope.

Young adult spirituality

Rory Halpin, the outgoing director of Slí Eile, has welcomed the Young Adult edition of Review of Ignatian Spirituality (no. 117). Entitled At the Service of Young Adults, the issue highlights the young adult world and the challenges inherent in today’s culture. Rory noted that the four ‘pillars’ mentioned by Edward Mercieca SJ in the introduction were what Slí Eile’s programs are trying to achieve: contact with the poor, contact with Christ, Church as community (faith sharing), and the experience of spiritual direction. Other articles are on accompanying young adults, the affective dimension of discernment, Life Choices and vocation.

Video on the New Jesuit General

This twelve-minute video from Spanish televison Informe Semanal introducing the new Jesuit leader, Adolfo Nicolás, was shown at the Province Assembly on April 12, 2008. Among those interviewed are his brothers, José and Félix, a former neighbour, the priest of his native parish and Spanish Jesuits, including Ignacio Iglesias. Originally in Spanish, it was subtitled by the Jesuit Communication Centre (JCC) for the Assembly. For photos from the Assembly see: PicasaWeb.

President and Archbishop commend Jesuits and colleagues

President Mary McAleese gave a challenging and encouraging address to almost three hundred Jesuits and their colleagues at the Irish Jesuit Province Assembly on Saturday April 12, 2008 where she said, “We have reached a type of zero-hour, a moment when our next steps can radically alter the trajectory of our history”. Speaking to the conference theme “Called to the Frontiers” she continued, “It is a time for people who are not afraid of frontiers, for people who have courage to face even the most unmapped of roads, for people who have a clear set of values for the journey and an unshakeable belief in the vision that is our destination. That pretty much sums up the Jesuits.” Read more »

Francis Xavier’s head

Work is currently underway to renovate the statues on the roof of Gardiner St Church, particularly to solve the problem of the headless St Francis Xavier! Donal Neary SJ, the Parish Priest, commented that only two people during the last four years have noticed this rather strange looking statue. The shaky hand of the Sacred Heart will also be repaired, as well as strengthening the figure of St Ignatius for another century. This renovation, costing about €6500 will ensure the safety of the statues on their lofty site.

Training Galway’s new spiritual directors

Eileen Houlihan from Milltown Institute visited the Diploma in Spiritual Direction course running in Galway last weekend 12-13 April. In her capacity as external examiner, she met the Manresa organising team of Angela Higgins IBVM, John Humphreys SJ and Brendan Comerford SJ. She also met the 13 canditates, taking time to examine their verbatims, reflections and book reviews. The two-year Spiritual Direction Diploma has another intake in September 2008. Also called spiritual mentoring or spiritual accompaniment, it is understood as the ministry of guiding others in their faith lives.