Belvedere Social Services (BSS), set up by Belvedere Union with the assistance of Peter McVerry SJ, is now in its twelfth year. It provides sheltered accommodation and individual care to homeless men, aged between 17 and 21, helping them make the transition to independent living through the provision of after-care support. [Photo: Ivan Hammond, director; Tanya Blyth, manager; Brendan O'Leary, treasurer/director]
A limited number of places are left on Manresa’s on Deepening Faith and Prayer course; it is residential and held over six weekends from September 2008. 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 weekend dates are: September 19-21; October 17-19; November 14-16; January 9-11; February 13-15; and March 13-15. For more information: www.manresa.ie, (00353)1-8331352 , manresa@jesuit.ie.
The Secretariat of Ignatian Spirituality (CIS) will hold a workshop on Communal Apostolic Discernment in the light of GC35, in Rome from January 19 to February 3, 2009. The course objectives are to develop the skills necessary to implement the Congregation’s recommendations concerning communal apostolic discernment and to apply this form of discernment to apostolic needs. The course is aimed at those involved in Ignatian group work, including Jesuits, lay collaborators, religious, and priests. For further information: Secretariat for Ignatian Spirituality, Borgo S. Spirito 4, C.P. 6139, 00195 Roma-Prati (Italia). Email: cisdir@sjcuria.org. Website: ciscourse.
Dermot Cowhey is stepping down after five years as headmaster of the Crescent Comprehensive, Limerick. Nicholas Cuddihy, current principal of St. Dominic’s College in Dublin, has been appointed to take over at the beginning of the new academic year. Mr. Cuddihy from Dublin, has a degree in Theology and a masters in Educational Management and Leadership. Mr. Cowhey welcomed the new apointee speaking to the Limerick Leader: “We welcome the appointment, we are very pleased with it and the Board of Management are very confident in their decision.” [Photo: Dermot Cowhey]
This year’s Gardiner Street Sacred Heart Novena will be given by the Capuchin priest, Séan Donohoe OFM. The Novena runs from May 22-30. Weekday times are 11am and 7.30pm; Saturday at 12 noon and 7.00pm; Sunday at 11am and 3.30pm. The Novena Prayer will be read, and a period of quiet meditation will follow the Mass. Prayer is offered especially for students doing exams at this time. People interested in following an online Novena to the Sacred Heart can do so at Sacred Space.
The European Tertianship in Dublin was the venue for the visit of the new Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, on Monday evening, May 12. The Irish Provincial, John Dardis SJ joined the international group of Tertians for the reception in Manresa house. During the evening, five of the Tertians shared aspects of their respective provinces with the Nuncio. Hailing from Germany, Indonesia, Poland, Puerto Rico, and Slovakia, they represented the broad variety of experiences the Society in different cultural contexts. The Tertianship programme is drawing to a close for this year and they are currently on their final retreat. [Photo: Tertian instructor J.Dargan SJ, Archbishop Leanza, Provincial J.Dardis SJ]
The Department of Spirituality at Milltown Institute is launching two books on May 30 at 5pm in the Institute Theatre. The first book is entitled With Wisdom Seeking God: The Academic Study of Spirituality. It is edited by Una Agnew, Bernadette Flanagan and Greg Heylin, and will be launched by Dr. Caroline Renehan, of Mater Dei and DCU. Jesuit contributors to this volume are Michael O’Sullivan, Seamus Murphy, David Coghlan, and Dominique Salin (Centre Sevres, Paris). The second book is entitled Audacity of Spirit: The Meaning and Shaping of Spirituality Today, by Jack Finnegan. It will be launched by Rev. Professor John Swinton, Professor in Practical Theology and Pastoral Care, School of Divinity, History and Philosophy, King’s College, University of Aberdeen.
A photographic exhibition of Rathfarnham village and castle is being held in the castle itself, from 19-24 May, and it will include many shots relating to the time when it was a Jesuit house of formation. The Jesuit Archives in Leeson Street collaborated with Rathfarnham Castle (now managed by the Office of Public Works) and the South Dublin County Libraries in putting the exhibition together. The event was organised by Age & Opportunity. For a flavour of the exhibition see: PicasaWeb.
Noreen Mackey, author and former comtemplative nun was guest speaker at the 8th Slí Eile debate, held yesterday Tuesday, 13 May at 7:30pm at the Belvedere Hotel in Great Denmark Street. The topic of her talk was ‘Life as a Journey of Faith’. Her books include The Secret Ladder and The Crystal Fountain. Noreen is a lawyer working in Dublin.
Speakers at Slí Eile’s previous debates include social scientist Catherine Devitt, Richard Leonard SJ lecturer in cinema and theology, Pauline Conroy, a social policy analyst and others.
Slí Eile is the Jesuit organisation with an outreach to young people.
Edmond Grace SJ, author of Democracy and Public Happiness, wants to see the Lisbon treaty succeed. But he pulls no punches in this broadside against the ‘ineffective leadership’ of politicians who are promoting it.
Lisbon – with a little bit of uncertainty
If the people of Ireland adopt the Lisbon Treaty it will be in spite of the ineffective leadership of our politicians. I’m not saying that Irish politicians are unique in this. At European level a more polite way of referring to this ineffectiveness is to speak of ‘the democratic deficit.’ Leadership is ineffective when it fails to address public disquiet and disillusionment. Leadership is ineffective when it fails to appeal to people’s sense of right. Above leadership is ineffective when it presents a proposal which contains a truly historic reform and fails to alert the general public to the significance of that reform. Read more »
“Gerald O’Collins is one of those rare Christian theologians who can combine deep scholarship with accessible language and personal experience.’ So says Lord Carey of Clifton, former Archbishop of Canterbury, in reference to Gerald O’Collins’s 50th book, Jesus: A Portrait, published by Darton, Longman & Todd. Fr O’Collins is Professor Emeritus at the Gregorian University, Rome. At 5.00pm on 16 May, he will present his most recent book at a public lecture, ‘Portraying Jesus’, in the Conference Room, Milltown Institute. All are welcome.
A group of fifth year students from Gonzaga College SJ travelled to Zambia with Habitat For Humanity over Easter 2008, the third year that the college students have being involved in building houses together with families in need. This year sixteen students travelled along with four teachers for a three week period during their holidays. One of the students, Karl Aherne, has written a reflection on the experience. Read more »
The Gardiner Street Gospel Choir will be performing at Africa Day in Dubh Linn gardens, Dublin Castle on Sunday the 25th of May. This is the culmination of, “Africa Week,” run by Irish Aid, a celebration and exploration of African music, dance, history, film, and art. It’s an appreciation of the diversity of culture in contemporary Ireland. Also appearing on the day will be Mundy, Republic of Loose, Sinéad O’Connor, the Discovery Gospel Choir, Kila, Motema, Congomania and more. Free entry.
