Clongowes celebrates Jesuits

Between 25-27 November, Clongowes ran a series of events for all classes under the title ‘Celebrating our Jesuits’. There were posters throughout the concourse featuring Jesuit works in Ireland; there were slide presentations on Jesuit saints and on opportunities to work with Jesuits; and some Jesuits shared their life experiences with interested students. Particularly well received was Conall Ó Cuinn’s ‘This is Your Life’-style of interview with Peter Sexton SJ (seen here as a younger man at Taizé) before a large number of senior students. The series of events was organized by Frank Clarke, Director of Ethos in the college, and was timed to coincide with the annual visitation of the Irish Provincial, John Dardis SJ, who celebrated the school mass which brought these very successful proceedings to an end.

Examining underbelly of Celtic Tiger

At a time when it seems that the grand edifice of Western capitalism is in conflagration, it is apt that the Winter 2008 volume of the Jesuit journal Studies should be devoted to ‘Burning issues’. Indeed, in his editorial Fergus O’Donoghue SJ makes explicit the correlation between economic prosperity and social problems. “When the Celtic Tiger was roaring,” he writes, “we became distracted. The homeless and drug addicts do not vote, so we forgot about them. The response to crime was to lock criminals up, rather than try to rehabilitate them. We needed immigrants to keep the economy moving, but we ignored the presence of people who were ‘trafficked’ here.” This volume takes a useful look at such issues as our fifteen-year “celebration of selfishness” wanes. For full details, go to the Studies website.

Enriching the JCFJ

Patrick J Hume SJ has joined the team of the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice. Patrick, who is a qualified solicitor, will lead a new and exciting project at the Centre. He will undertake research and reflection focused on exclusion from law and legal services. Why devote skilled energies to this? In the following paragraphs provided by the JCFJ, the rationale behind this project is elaborated. Read more »

Jesuits in the news

Two Irish Jesuits made their voices heard in the Irish media this week. Peter McVerry SJ, in a trenchant Sunday evening interview on RTE Radio One, stressed that while the abuse of other drugs rightly raises concerns, the drug that is abused in Ireland at an incomparably more destructive level than any other, is alcohol. And Michael J. Kelly SJ raised the HIV/AIDS issue at two contrasting levels: in a lecture to a large and lively crowd at the Royal Irish Academy, and addressing an equally lively and impressive group of girls and boys in the Transition Year of Gort Community School. The Irish Independent featured him in a full-page article: A lifetime of dedication in Africa. Michael is returning to Zambia on 3 December.

Mayo honours MacGreil

On 29 November 500 people gathered in Westport Castle Court Hotel to see Micheál Mac Greil SJ honoured by entry to the Mayo Hall of Fame, where he joins Michael Loftus and the late Monsignor Horan of Knock.  The tribute from his own county meant more to Micheál than any other honour could. Eamonn Ó Cuiv, Minister for Culture, Gaeltacht & Rural Affairs, presented the award to him. Read more »

CLC to the rescue

The Jesuit Spirituality Centre in Galway witnessed a small happening full of nice coincidences. A team from Manresa had travelled to Galway regularly over a two-year period  to train a dozen people as spiritual directors in the Ignatian tradition. At the end of their training they were sad to lose the strong support and bonding they had experienced from one another over the two years. They contacted the chaplain to the Christian Life Communities (CLC), Michael Gallagher SJ, who drove to meet them with two CLC associates. What they were seeking was what CLC offered, a strong community bound together by a tried and tested Ignatian spirituality.

Short notices

• Father Provincial John Dardis SJ and Father Assistant Antoine Kerhuel SJ will bless the new Cherryfield Chapel and Building at 11am on Monday 8 December 2008, Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
• Sli Eile (Debbie Moore: 01 8943165) invites you to a “Saturday with Soul”, a reflective day in preparation for Christmas: on 6 December. A week later, on Saturday 13 December Slí Eile will be singing carols on O’Connell Bridge from noon to 3 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
• On Sunday, 7 December, Fr Barney McGuckian SJ will mark the 100th birthday of the Pioneer Club, and the 120th of the Sacred Heart Messenger, in a broadcast Mass from Clongowes involving both organisations plus the choir and pupils of the school.
• Sli Eile (contact noelle.fitzpatrick@sli-eile.com) will host interactive talks, by Brendan Comerford SJ and Brian Grogan SJ, on spirituality and prayer from 7 to 9.30 p.m. on Thursday 4, 11 and 18 December: at 20 Upper Gardiner Street.

JRS launches 2009 intercultural calendar

The JRS Ireland Intercultural and Interfaith Calendar 2009 is available now. The calendar is aimed at raising awareness of diversity in Ireland, and each month it highlights religious feast days from different faiths, national days, international UN celebrations and bank holidays in the Republic of Ireland. On each page there is a monthly reflection by migrants on their experience of integration in Ireland. This calendar could provide an ideal Christmas present and the proceeds will be used to support the projects and service of the JRS Ireland in Dublin and Limerick. To order your copy you can contact Nicola Morris at 01 8148644 or send an email to info@jrs.ie. Read more »