Slí Eile Kairos for young adults

Thirty young adults – from age 18 years to the mid-30s – gathered at Slí Eile Jesuit Centre for Young Adults to begin the journey to Dromantine Retreat and Conference Centre, Newry where they made a Kairos Retreat together. They assembled from TCD, UCD, DIT, NUI Maynooth, Mater Dei Institute of Education (DCU) and the business world. They were attracted to make the retreat by their own friends who also happen to be alumni/ae of the Jesuit schools in Ireland and who have already had the experience of leading Kairos at 2nd level. Read more »

George Tyrrell revisited

Fr George Tyrrell SJ, born in Dublin but a member of the English Province, died in England 100 years ago, expelled from the Society and excommunicated from the Church for his Modernist theology. A conference to mark the centenary of his death will take place on 19-20 June in Heythrop College (pictured here). Tyrrell was a man of penetrating intellect and deep concern for the state of theology in the Church, and his pioneering work has made a positive contribution to theology since Vatican II. Sadly he was refused Catholic burial, though he did receive last rites. For more about Tyrrell and the conference, read below. Read more »

Book launch for families

Tom Morrissey’s book, “Jesuits in Hong Kong, South China and Beyond”, has featured in a launch in Milltown and a spread in the Irish Catholic. Milltown community was the gracious host (with the organising skills of JCC’s Pat Coyle and Geraldine) to about 100 guests, an interesting, nostalgic mix of relatives. They were touched by Fr Provincial’s grateful acknowledgement of their part in supporting our mission both financially and, more crucially, by giving a son or brother to the Jesuits. See photographs of the launch here.

Induction course for new teachers

A two-day induction for new teachers in Jesuit schools was held in the Westgrove Hotel, Clane, from 29-30 January 2009. Coordinated by the Education Delegate, Brian Flannery, it featured input by Brendan McManus SJ (Jes-Galway), Frank Clarke (Clongowes), Danny McNelis (Gonzaga) and Claire Broderick (Belvedere). They presented various aspects of Ignatian Spirituality, the Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm (IPP), and the Jesuit vision. Lively discussions were held on the extent to which various schools were implementing the Characteristics of Jesuit Education.

Mass in York Minster

Brian O’Leary spent two nights on the Other Island, to concelebrate Mass in York Minster, and join in commemorating the 400th anniversary of the foundation by the Yorkshirewoman Mary Ward of the Congregation of Jesus, and the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The painting here shows Mary Ward on the right with her first companions. The account in the ‘Church Times’ by Sister Gemma Simmonds CJ gives a good flavour of the event. Read more: Read more »

Talking about democracy

Irish Provincial John Dardis launched a new Jesuit initiative on Tuesday 3 February – the Conversation on Democracy in Ireland. It is a follow-on to Edmond Grace’s recent work on democracy with politicians, public servants, and community and voluntary leaders, and its aim is to get people talking and thinking with a view to developing and promoting fresh ideas on democratic government. Edmond is the Director of the Conversation. The inaugural meeting of the Council which will oversee the development of the Conversation was held today in the Hopkins Room, Leeson Street. The Chair of the Council is John Cullen, Director of the Institute of Public Administration.

Short Notices

• Clongownian Philip Flahavan (Rhetoric), won a Silver Medal in the Irish Science Olympiad Physics section. (This is the second year that Clongowes have been in the medals.) Philip will partake in further studies at Easter, and may end up going to Mexico in July to represent Ireland. Well done to Philip, the Science department and to Mr Stephen O’Hara, his physics teacher.
• Schools Senior Rugby Competitions: Belvedere beat St Gerard’s 19-0; Clongowes beat Newbridge 33-20; Gonzaga beat Kings Hospital 20-10; Crescent lost to Glenstal 16-23; Coláiste Iognáid beat Calasanctius 34-8; Connaught Schools Senior Hockey Semi-final; Coláiste Iognáid beat Salerno 2-0. For a longer write-up, go to AMDG.ie.
• Correction to last week’s note on Socius: There have been two instances in living memory of Irish Jesuits moving from the job of Socius to that of Provincial. Fr Brendan Barry was Socius from 1959 to 1962, and Provincial from 1965 to 1958. Fr Joe Dargan was simultaneously Socius and Rector of Clongowes from 1979-80, going on to be Provincial in 1980.

Building homes in Madagascar

Fifth year students from Gonzaga College in Dublin are once again raising money to help build homes in Madagascar, working in conjunction with Habitat For Humanity. They hope to raise €80,000 to cover the cost of their flights to Madagascar as well as building materials, food, clothes, and anything else that will make the trip a success. It is an ambitious plan, they acknowledge, but this doesn’t put them off. “The final goal will be achieved eventually,” say Rory Vignoles (extreme left, back row) and Donagh Seaver (second from right, back row), adding that “All donations, no matter how small, will be very much appreciated”.

Jesuit schools in Leinster rugby

All the Leinster Jesuit schools made it safely through the first round of the Leinster schools senior rugby cup. Belvedere College, Gonzaga College and Clongowes Wood College all qualified for the second stage of the competition. Belvedere, the holders, bet St Gerard’s school, Bray, 19-0. Gonzaga won 20-10 against King’s Hospital. Clongowes staged a tremendous second-half fight-back to defeat close rivals Newbridge College 33-20, after trailing 17-3 at the interval. Clongowes full-back Gerard Mullen is pictured here scoring the opening try for Clongowes to get the fight-back under way. With Belvedere and Gonzaga set to meet in the next stage there will be at least one Jesuit representative in the semi-final. Clongowes are set for a cracking encounter against pre-tournament favourites Terenure.