Presidential visit to ‘The Jes’

President Mary McAleese visited Coláiste Iognáid on Wednesday 4 March and addressed the school, staff and parents’ groups. The President viewed a number of display boards in the foyer and spoke with representatives of Rugby, Rowing, Hockey, Transition Year Social Outreach and the Slí Eile South Africa trip. She spoke in the school hall on how the gifts and talents of these students gave her hope for the future in the light of such depressing financial news. Click here for an album of photos taken on the occasion.

Making links: spirituality and medicine

At the invitation of Dr. Jack Lambert, coordinator of  Professional Clinical Practice in the UCD School of Medicine and Consultant at the Mater Hospital, Fr. Paddy Carberry, S.J., Director of Manresa, gave an hour-long lecture to undergraduate medical students last Friday on the topic, ‘A Spiritual Perspective on Healthcare Today’. In his wide-ranging talk, Paddy challenged the students to work out the practical implications of what he had to say for their future work as doctors and for their own personal welfare. He also mentioned that there has been a growing interest in recent years in the relationship between spirituality and medicine, especially in the United States. Two-thirds of medical schools in the US now offer some form of course work in spirituality and medicine. Perhaps Ireland is about to follow suit!

Entering the blogosphere

Fergus O’Donoghue SJ is continuing the work he does through Studies, the quarterly journal of which he is editor, by blogging daily on matters mostly related to Irish politics, culture and religion. His terse and thoughtful remarks on such issues as the recession, the Bishop of Cloyne, Michael Portillo on Christianity, and the Real IRA make valuable reading. Comments, of course, are more than welcome. “We want to hear from our readers,” Fergus says, ” to widen our circle of friends and to get involved in discussions. Studies is so good that more and more people need to hear about it.”

Football in Foynes

A joint initiative between JRS Ireland and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) for asylum seekers who are residents in Mount Trenchard, Foynes commenced with a Soccer Open Day on the 19th February 2009. Developed by Rory Halpin SJ (JRS Ireland) and Conor Nestor (FAI), the initiative involves an Open Day on the grounds of the Direct Provision Centre followed by a six-week pilot scheme of indoor soccer matches in the local community centre. The Open Day was a great success and many residents participated in a series of soccer skills competitions and an 8-a-side match to finish. Read more »

Ballymun choir bang out the hits

The Ballymun Gospel Choir, one of the foremost choirs of its kind in the country, is hosting an evening of “electric gospel music” on Saturday, 14 March, in St Anne’s Church, Dawson Street, at 8.00pm. The evening is in aid of the Slí Eile centre for young adults in Gardiner Street, Dublin 1. Over the past five years, the Ballymun choir have played to packed houses in venues such as the Button Factory, Farmleigh House, St. Ann’s Church, and the Axis Centre. They have also performed for television and radio – including the Late Late Show – on numerous occasions. Their repertoire includes contemporary hits as well as soul and gospel music. Ticket for the event in St Anne’s may be purchased at the door. Contact Cathy McEvoy (Musical Director) on 085-1127306  or ballymungospel@sli-eile.com for more details.

A Text from God

Over 120 students signed up for Coláiste Iognáid’s daily Gospel Text programme. There were Lenten options for a meditation group, blogging, MP3 downloads and praying on-line, but it was the Gospel Text idea that really took off. A short excerpt from the Mass readings of the day is sent to student’s phones, for example: Come back 2 me wit all ur hart 4 I am tnderness & compassion. The Jes Chaplain, Brendan McManus SJ comments: “It was a way of using mobile phone technology to spread the Lenten message- that is, God is continually trying to communicate with us, by the most unlikely means!”  Along with a good turn out for the weekly meditation group, the Trocaire 24 Hour Fast also proved very popular with over 80 students taking part in that.

Mass cards in focus

The Charities Bill, signed by President McAleese last month,  makes it a criminal offence to sell a Mass card that is not authorised by a Catholic bishop. The measure was proposed as a way to stamp out the bogus Mass card business which is peddling in death and grief for profit. In the Irish Times Barney McGuckian SJ traced the custom to people’s contribution of bread and wine for the Eucharist; it was brought up at the offertory procession and the surplus went to the poor. Now they bring coins instead of food, for the maintenance of the church and the priest. Records of Masses offered are kept for inspection by the Bishop.

JESUITICA: A Jesuit with perspective

The most influential Jesuit painter was Brother Andrea Pozzo, who wrote a seminal book on perspective in painting and architecture (1693). It has gone into many editions, even into this century, and has been translated from the original Latin and Italian into numerous languages such as French, German, English and Chinese. However Pozzo is best known for his masterful applications of his perspective art, the cupola, the apse and the ceiling of St. Ignatius Church in Rome. The image here is a detail from the allegory of the apotheosis of St Ignatius in the ceiling of that church.

Short Notices

• Next Friday, 13 March in St Francis Xavier’s, Gardiner Street, at 8 p.m., Laurence Freeman OSB will give a talk: Silence in the City, on Christian meditation in the John Main tradition, the prayer of silence and stillness when we go beyond words, thoughts and images to the presence of God within us. Laurence hopes to talk about the Irish desert tradition (as practiced, for example, in the Skelligs). Also, Deirdre Ní Chinnéide will sing ‘The Deer’s Cry’, based on St Patrick’s breastplate. Attendance is free.
• Belvedere Transition Year is creating a book of spiritual and inspirational writings, and invites contributions -  a piece of writing that has inspired you, and why. No limit on size. Include profile and a photo if you wish. Proceeds to charity. Send to book@belvederecollege.ie (or post to Belvedere College Transition Year) by 20 March.
• 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.
• Uwem Akpan, the Nigerian Jesuit writer, is still receiving glowing reviews for his collection of short stories: “Say you’re one of them” (paperback published by Abacus).

Are we global?

On February 19 Father General Adolfo Nicolas wrote a letter on “The Universal Vocation of the Jesuit”.  It was a meaty reflection on the need to think globally, a need stemming from the Constitutions and Spiritual Exercises, and stressed by the 35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus. Father Nicolás speaks about the “renewed awareness of our universal vocation” as a “fundamental element of our Jesuit identity”. This vocation, he adds, involves the need to restructure the Society at all levels with the view to “better respond to new and more universal challenges”, a response which requires “great agility and flexibility while maintaining or promoting excellence and responsible management in whatever we do locally”. For a fuller summary, read on: Read more »