Taking to the road

Inspired by the example of the early Jesuits, two of the staff of Slí Eile, Padraig Swan, director, and Noelle Fitzpatrick, took off recently on a ‘pilgrimage experiment’. What this entails – as Jesuit novices well know – is spending some time on the road, without bags or baggage, completely reliant on the kindness of strangers. It is a valuable way to get a small bit of first-hand experience of radical poverty, and it disposes one to seek God in an ambience free of clutter. Padraig writes an account of his experience below. Read more »

Short Notices

• Robert Faricy SJ (pictured right) will give an elective course at the Milltown Institute on ‘The Practice and Theory of Contemplation’ from 2 to 4pm, on eight successive Wednesday afternoons, starting 14 January.
• The annual Belvedere sleep-out commences on Monday 22nd Dec. It finishes with Mass on Christmas Eve at 9pm.
• Slí Eile is hosting a discussion night on the theme, ‘The financial crisis – a Gospel insight’, with Dr Pat Nolan, businessman turned social entrepreneur, as the guest speaker. It will take place in Boston College, 42 St Stephens Green, Dublin 2, on Tuesday 16 December 2008, from 7.30 to 9.00pm.

Jesuit College to track GAA history

To mark the 125th anniversary of the GAA next year Boston College in Ireland will undertake one of the biggest ever oral history surveys relating to a sporting organisation. The GAA Oral History Project will record face-to-face interviews with thousands of people in Ireland and abroad, including GAA members and supporters, current and former players, managers, officials and administrators, and anyone who has had contact or involvement with the GAA. When completed, it will be the largest public history project ever undertaken in the state. Boston College has developed a questionnaire which anyone may fill out. It is available on their project website. For more information, view the website, email info@gaahistory.com, or call +353 (0)1 662 5055.

JRS leads the way with migrants

Both JRS Ireland and Belvedere College received visits on 5 December from representatives of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. The OECD is currently conducting a thematic review of migrant education provision in Europe. Eugene Quinn, director of JRS Ireland, and Elizabeth O’Rourke were able to present the services and activities which they carry out in the area of intercultural education. The OECD team was very interested in the collaboration with Jesuit schools, Belvedere and Clongowes, in the provision of language classes for migrants (see photo). And they were particularly impressed with the JRS’s Intercultural and Interfaith Calendar and School Resource Folder  – even asking for extra copies to show to other countries as models of best practice.

RTE celebrates two birthdays

Barney McGuckian SJ had the rare pleasure of looking up to his altar boys as he celebrated a televised Mass for the 120th birthday of the Sacred Heart Messenger, and the 100th of the Pioneer Club. The venue was the Boys’ Chapel in Clongowes, where the status of altar server is reserved to senior boys. RTE cameras caught the beauty of the place, both in- and outdoors, and the unusual visual of over 400 devout boys in uniform, singing like angels.

Raising awareness of missions

Jesuit Missions Ireland, under its current Director John Guiney SJ, is undergoing a process of strategic planning for the coming five years. High on its priority list is creating ways to generate awareness of the good works of Irish Jesuits abroad over the decades. It is also seeking to ensure continuity in mission activities now that so few new missionaries are available to take the baton. Last week, the new website of Jesuit Missions, built by the Jesuit Communication Centre, went live, and it is expected to play an important role in promoting the idea of mission in the Irish Church at large and among Jesuits in Ireland.

Update on Bill Johnston’s condition

Irish Jesuit Bill Johnston, who has been living and working in Japan since the 1950s and who is known worldwide for his books on Buddhism and Christianity and on mystical theology, suffered a brain haemorrhage last July while making his retreat in the theologate in Tokyo. His condition has been critical since then, though he has begun in recent months to show a little more awareness of the world around him. Donal Doyle, a friend and fellow-Jesuit, sent word this week of Bill’s hoped-for return from hospital to Loyola House. See his letter below. Read more »

Visit of Antoine Kerhuel SJ

Father Antoine Kerhuel, Assistant to Fr General for the Provinces of Western Europe, arrived in Dublin on 7 December. He is a neat little Breton (pictured here at the Blessing of Cherryfield), with a sporty tie and the build of a scrum-half. He was quickly immersed in Irish affairs, blessing Cherryfield (see story below) on Monday morning, and visiting the JUST Project and Ballymun personnel after lunch. See below for his programme from 9-17 December. Read more »