Losing a linchpin

In any office there are usually one or two people who seem irreplaceable. In the Jesuit Communication Centre our web developer, John McDermott, fits that description, and alas, we have to replace him. He has accepted a job closer to his Midlands home, with Bord na Mona. They had tried for years to manage by outsourcing their online projects, but finding it messy and expensive they have opted to recruit their own developer. John has been managing up to twenty websites in JCC. In Bord na Mona he will be responsible for just one. JCC will miss John not just for his skills and commitment, but as a man of deep faith, and a most agreable companion.

Has the church come as far as Kandinsky?

‘The Second Vatican Council and Impressionism’ was the intriguing subject of a guest lecture in the Milltown Institute by Brendan Staunton SJ on Monday 16 February. Those who heard his lecture said that it was like a master-class in how to capture an audience – and the Milltown hall was full. Brendan spoke in a leisurely, pleasant way, with no need to refer to notes, at ease with his material, fielding questions confidently, and with a quality of voice that was easy to listen to. At one point he linked the resistance of classical painters to such innovators as Kandinsky with the resistance of the Roman Curia to Pope John’s proposed council. For a sense of Brendan’s style and message, read on. Read more »

In search of excellence

This month’s Ignatian Identity Group (IIG) meeting in Coláiste Iognáid tackled one of the Characteristics of Jesuit Education, In Pursuit of Excellence. Chaired by Conall Ó Cuinn SJ, it featured presentations on the topic by a parent, Catriona Clear, a teacher, Steve Parkinson, and by two students, Eveanne Allen and Darragh O’Brien. Much of the discussion attempted to capture the unique spirit of the school, and the balancing of academic standards with a rounded education.

At the frontiers – young people find God

Where do young people find God? In freedom and friendship, providence and prayer – not much mention of church, schooling or social justice. That was the message given convincingly to a gathering of some seventy people, including the Jesuit Provincials of Ireland, Britain, Netherlands and North Belgium. They were attending a forum in Milltown Park on the second of Fr Provincial’s priority ministries. Four young people spoke about finding God in their lives and their efforts to share that discovery with others. For Fr John Looby’s account of the evening, read below. Read more »

Volunteer teachers required

Jesuit Volunteers International (JVI) Ireland are looking for two volunteer teachers to work at a new Jesuit venture, St. Ignatius Primary school, in Dodoma, the capital city of Tanzania. The positions are for a year, starting on July 1st, 2009. According to the head teacher, Sister Pastorina Kimolo,  a volunteer with Music would be a plus! For further details go to the JVI website.

Retreat for parents

Slí Eile’s Debbie Moore and Colleen Brown from Boston College ran a retreat for parents, on the theme ‘Appreciation Parenthood’. While Audrey Hogan and Connie Dunne looked after the children, parents reflected on the many roles they take on. Frank Brady SJ closed the day with Mass. Parents and children voted the day a success by seeking a weekend away with Slí Eile. Debbie and Colleen are pictured here with some of the children of the attendants.

Short Notices

• Connaught Hockey Final: Coláiste Iognáid convincingly won the Connaught Hockey final on 10 February in Dangean Park, Galway. They beat Our Lady’s Bower Secondary School, Athlone. With a final score of 5-0, the Jes were always on top of the game and dominated all areas, the game being largely played in the Bower half with them under continuous pressure.
• Change at JCFJ: The Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice has an acting director, Gerry O’Hanlon SJ, as Tony O’Riordan SJ has sought and been given leave of absence.
• Remembering Fr Joe Kelly: A moving tribute to Fr Joe has been posted on YouTube.
• Schools Senior Rugby Cup: Clongowes beat Newbridge 33-20; Terenure beat Clongowes 9-5; Belvedere beat Gonzaga 12-7; Pres. Cork beat Crescent 15-0.
• Schools Junior Rugby Cup: C.U.S. beat Gonzaga 10-3; Clongowes beat Wesley 75-0; Terenure beat Belvedere 17-13.
• Clongowes Union Dinner: Over 200 attended a very successful dinner, raising significant funds for Clongowes Youth Club and the Clongowes Union Benevolent Association.
• Fr John Sullivan: Annual Mass in thanksgiving for the life of Fr John Sullivan and in prayer for his canonisation: in Gardiner St Church, Saturday Feb 21 at 11 a.m. Homily – Fr Tom Morrissey SJ.

JESUITICA: Making men of them

“Give me a boy for the first seven years and I will give you the man.” Anyone who can document this as a principle of Jesuit education can claim a large reward. It is still unclaimed. Jesuits don’t do little people. They heeded the Ratio Studiorum of 1586: “Children under seven are an awful nuisance (molestissimi sunt), and need nurses rather than teachers.”

Travelling the Pilgrim Road

On 3 February in Manresa, the Jesuit Centre of Spirituality,  a group of 21 people led by Brendan Comerford SJ, and accompanied by Paddy Carberry SJ, Avril O’Regan RLR and Eileen O’Brien began a  journey with other ‘fellow pilgrims’ along The Pilgrim Road – a programme of eight evenings offering participants the experience of journeying along the path of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Each session involves some short introductory input, some time for reflection on that input, and a time for sharing reflections. Ignatius wrote in the Spiritual Exercises, “It is not knowing much, but realising and relishing things interiorly, that contents and satisfies the person.” This course aims to help participants to experience together the graces of the Spiritual Exercises and so enrich their lives of faith and service.

Short notices

• The ‘Movies that Matter’ series in Manresa will continue this week (Wednesday 11 February at 7.30pm) with The Road Home, a Chinese film centred on the return of a city businessman to his rural home for the burial of his father. All are welcome.
• The Annual Belvedere Union Retreat will be held this year at Manresa House on March 6th and 7th and will be conducted by Fr. Michael Gallagher SJ. Full details and booking form are available on the Union website.
• David Coghlan, Edmond Grace and Michael McGuckian are planning a retreat based on the SJ Constitutions in the Manresa tertianship, 15-24 July. It will be a silent retreat, with a morning talk linking Constitutions and the Exercises, and an optional period of shared reflection in the evening. The retreatants themselves will produce the talks. If interested, contact mcmcguckian@jesuit.ie or David or Edmond.
• Latest on Fr Bill Johnston SJ: Not much change in his condition, but he is now taking food by mouth as opposed to nasal feeding. He is also benefiting from being with other Jesuits and in familiar surroundings as the home is next to the theologate where he taught for many years.

60 years after the Milltown Fire

At 5.40 a.m. on Friday, 11 February, 1949, a fire was discovered in a pantry of the Milltown Park building where the community lived. The fire brigade was summoned, and shouts went up to arouse those sleeping nearby. The fire was of the “flash-over” type: propagated by the secret spread of smoulder inside floors, stairs, partitions and lofts until a critical temperature is reached and the smoulder bursts into flames simultaneously at different points. At ten to six, with a muffled explosion, a great wave of fire and smoke rose up to the roof and flowed into the corridors of the house. The roof was in flames, the lights went out and within minutes the whole place was engulfed in thick smoke and fumes. Within two hours Fr Jimmy Johnston was burned to death, Michael Reidy was injured, and the Milltown building was a ruin. Below, Fr John Fitzgerald recalls that winter morning. Read more »

Tom Casey SJ lights a candle

At this time of crisis in Catholic-Jewish relations, precipitated by the Holocaust-denier Bishop Williamson, there was a tiny glimmer of light last Tuesday, February 3, in Jerusalem. Senior Catholic and Jewish representatives, including the Papal Nuncio to Israel Archbishop Antonio Franco, Rabbi David Rosen, chairman of the International Jewish Committee on Inter-religious Consultations, (and former Chief Rabbi of Ireland), as well as many professors and students, gathered for the 9th Annual Brenninkmeijer-Werhahn Lecture at the Hebrew University. Last year the lecture was delivered by Cardinal Martini. This year it was the turn of Irish Jesuit Thomas Casey, who talked about love in Jewish and Christian thought. The title of Tom’s lecture was “Kierkegaard and Levinas on more perfect human love”. (Emmanuel Levinas is pictured here.)

At the Frontiers – Young People Find God

Milltown Park will host an interesting forum at 7.30 on Friday, 13 February. Aisling O’Rourke (student of Law), Ray Dillon (Youth 2000), Padraig Swan and Noelle Fitzpatrick (Slí Eile) will engage the audience on the theme: “At the Frontiers – Young People Find God.” The Provincials of Ireland, Britain, Netherlands and South Belgium hope to attend what promises to be an engaging discussion. You are cordially invited.