Keeping the conversation going

Irish priests have suffered indiscriminate opprobrium for quite some time. They’re no longer on their own. “The doghouse no longer feels lonely,” says Fergus O’Donoghue SJ in the editorial of the Spring 2009 issue of Studies; “in fact, it is becoming rather crowded”. The clergy have been joined, he remarks, “by bankers, builders, property developers and government leaders”. In the light of all the mismanagement and corruption, the current issue of Studies asks “Can we govern ourselves?” It is a must-read. There are articles on the Central Bank, the public service, and local government, all contributing usefully to the national conversation about how we got into this mess and how we can get out of it. And Studies intends to contribute further – it hopes to engage interactively with its readers when it launches a blog next Friday. For directions, visit the Studies website.

Sex, Grace and Trinity

Edmond Grace SJ took part in what has been called a ‘Catholic sex’ debate in the Trinity College Philosophical Society. Among the speakers was Senator David Norris, and the session was chaired by Dervla Browne S.C. (both pictured here with Edmond). Both Dervla Browne and Edmond are former law lecturers at the National College of Ireland. The motion – ‘that teaching of the Catholic church on sexual matters is in accord with reason and fact.’ It was – predictably – defeated. Attached is a copy of Edmond’s speech. Read more »

The Crescent at 150

Crescent College Comprehensive S.J.  first opened its doors on 10th March, 1859, one hundred and fifty yeras ago. Early Jesuit schools existed in Limerick between 1565 and 1773. David Woulfe S.J., a native of Limerick, who came as the Pope’s envoy to Ireland in 1561, set up the first such school. His cousin, a Jesuit scholastic, Edmund Daniel (alias O’Donnell) aided him in running the school. William Goode, an English Jesuit also worked there, and we know about the school from letters written by Goode, which still exist.  The major celebrations of the jubilee will culminate with a visit to CCC by Fr. General on Sept 11th.  For a picture of the past, and of the planned jubilee events, read more: Read more »

So you can’t forgive…?

Maureen Gaffney showed warm appreciation of Brian Lennon’s new book, So you can’t forgive…? as she launched it in Gardiner Street. She spoke first of the psychological blessings of forgiveness, how it enhances health and adds years to one’s life; then of the sociological dimension; and finally of the spiritual: how the capacity to forgive is a mystery, a grace, something we can and do pray for. On Today with Pat Kenny Brian unwrapped the themes of the book in an excellent interview. For many photos from the booklaunch, see the Picasa album. And on the homepage of Jesuit.ie you can see a YouTube video, made by Lena Jacobs of JCFJ, of Brian talking about his book.

The MAGiS experience

Last weekend fifteen young people gathered at the offices of Slí Eile on Gardiner St., flung a sleeping bag in the corner, grabbed a bite to eat, and headed out on a night-time soup run with a number of ‘guides’ well used to this work. Thus went the beginning of a weekend exposure to MAGiS, a programme developed by the Ignatian family for young adults, and first experienced by Slí Eile as the lead-in event to World Youth Day in Germany 2005. They experienced the impact of the MAGiS programme once again in Sydney, Australia, in 2008. It was, they say, “time for us to take up the challenge, and do something with it for an Irish audience, in Ireland”. Read more »

Todd talks

Book-launches lead to book talks. Todd Morrissey followed his launch in Milltown with a talk on “the Jesuits in China” to the Irish/Chinese Cultural Society at the United Arts Club. About 35 were present. It went well and there were many questions. On the 2 March he spoke to the Milltown Parish Society on “William Martin Murphy Re-Visited”.  His new book on John Sullivan, “Where Two Traditions Meet”, will be launched in Gardiner Street at 7.30 p.m. on 23 April.

Winning rugby for a cause

Old Clongowninan Justin Meagher was the winning captain of the Blackhall Baa Baa’s Rugby team that won the “Stuart Mangan Trophy”. The competition was organised by Keith Mangan to raise money for his brother Stuart, who after a serious rugby injury requires round-the-clock care. Afterwards Justin reflected on the satisfaction of doing something to help, something developed in Clongowes by the SRPA and the yearly Duck Push. He concluded: “The Jesuit ethos still lives strongly in all of us. Men for others – that’s something you never forget!”

Father Scully House comes down

In 1968 the galloping cancer which killed 46-year-old Tom Scully SJ must have been nourished by the tension in which he lived: between the demands of full-time science teaching in Belvedere, demands that were sharpened by an exigent headmaster, and the needs of the poor which Tom saw outside his door. When he died, the flats which he had funded and planned for the aged poor and for newly weds, were given his name. They have served their purpose for forty years, and now, as the photo shows, they are being tossed with a view to replacement.

JESUITICA: A costly Jesuit clock

Parts of a water clock fountain designed by Jesuit missionaries have been sold in Paris for €28,000,000 and are triggering a row between Christie’s auction house and China. The two bronze fountain-heads were part of a dozen heads from the Chinese Zodiac, and they marked the time by spouting water. They were looted from the Beijing Summer Palace by British/French forces in the Second Opium War.  The  buyer turned out to be a patriotic Chinese who refused to pay for them as being stolen property.

Short notices

• Rugby updates: Coláiste Iognáid (pictured here) beat Marist College, Athlone, 23-11 in the semi-final of the Conanught Cup. Clongowes JCT, tipped as favourites, lost to St Michael’s 14-15.  Belvedere SCT lost to Blackrock 12-16.
• On 4 March Pat Coyle, Manager of the Jesuit Communication Centre, will be speaking on ‘Addiction in the family’ as part of a week of Lenten talks in Borrisokane/Aglish parish.
• On Saturday, 14 March, the Ballymun Gospel Choir will give a concert in St Ann’s church, Dawson Street. Doors open at 7.30pm and the concert will start at 8.00.
• Michael O’Sullivan SJ chaired the Dublin launch of the Spiritual Capital Research Centre, which aims to raise awareness of spiritual capital and the resources in Christian spirituality and the academic study of such spirituality for engaging diverse challenges in contemporary social life in a positively transformative manner.  The Centre team is now seeking sponsorship for its work.
• Every year the Jesuit Parish of Farm Street in London holds a special Mass on 31 July, and invites all those alumni of Jesuit schools, colleges and universities across the globe who are in London on that day. Following the Mass, there is a reception in Mount Street Gardens beside the Church - a great chance for alumni to meet with fellow alums as well as old school friends. In 2008 close to 500 people attended, and there is room for more.
• Galway City Mayor, Padraig Conneely, officially launched the Jes Transition Year Bank project on Thur 26 Feb. A group of Transition Year students worked with Noreen Conway of AIB Bank to come up with their own school bank where they will learn the skills of lending and managing money.
• World renowned Benedictine monk Laurence Freeman OSB will give a talk to young adults on Christian meditation in the tradition of John Main OSB, a Benedictine who presented a way of meditating through the practice of a prayer-phrase. Slí Eile are co-running the event, which will take place in Gardiner Street Church on Friday 13 March at 8.00pm. For more details, contact Padraig Swan.