The nature of Catholic education

Bruce Bradley SJ spoke in Galway to Coláiste Iognáid’s Ignatian Identity Group (IIG) last Tuesday, 10 March, on the nature of Catholic schools. He gave an astute historical background to the current secular environment, commenting on how it had changed radically, especially in the last 20 years. He referred at times to ‘Vision 08′, a pastoral letter from the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference (May 2008), which expounds a vision for Catholic education in Ireland. There was a group of around 40 to hear his talk, made up of Jes parents and staff from a number of other schools in the area.

Raising funds the hard way

Padraig Swan is pushing himself all the way in an effort to raise funds for the projects of Slí Eile, the Jesuit outreach to young adults. On 11 April, Easter Saturday, he will join more than 25,000 other runners in the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon, a 56 kilometre run (35 miles) which begins and ends in Cape Town, South Africa. This race, which has taken place annually for nearly 40 years, styles itself ‘the world’s most beautiful marathon’, but Padraig can expect to be distracted from the physical beauty of the route by the pressure and the pain of the race itself. In an effort to facilitate fund-raising for this event, Padraig has set up a page on MyCharity.ie. Go there to learn more about the run – and please note that you can click on ‘Sponsor me now’ and help Padraig reach his fundraising goal. Also, read his letter below. Read more »

Football fans raise funds for Belvedere

Sir Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United football club, is going to help raise funds for Belvedere’s Social Integration Scheme (SIS) by appearing as guest of honour at an event in Croke Park on 1 April. The aim of SIS is to cover the costs of full secondary school education at Belvedere for boys who would not ordinarily be able to attend, for financial or social reasons. ‘An evening with Sir Alex’ is a unique event which is expected to facilitate more of these scholarships. Sir Alex – who is giving his time free of charge - will speak after dinner and answer selected questions from the audience. The Ireland v. Italy World Cup qualifier match will be shown on big screens, and Sir Alex will comment on the match at full time. Full details of the event are given below.

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The Designing Messenger

Messenger Publications, having recruited Paula Nolan as a Designer, have now successfully worked in collaboration with the Pioneers and the Centre for Faith and Justice (JCFJ). They provided a design solution for the Pioneer’s Temperance Sunday project, which included the 8-page standalone supplement as well as the marketing posters for the churches and press campaign. From the joint experience of Paula and Manager Triona (pictured here, Triona on left), they were able to provide a ‘one-stop shop’ for design solutions and print advice. If any other Apostolates/Missions would like to avail of their services, they should  give Triona a call. Read on to learn what services are on offer. Read more »

Jes win the cup again

Coláste Iognáid – The Jes – beat Sligo Grammar 10-3 in the final of the Connaught Rugby Cup. It was a keenly fought match. The Jes’s two unconverted tries seemed a tenuous lead in the second half when Sligo got a drop goal and seemed to come back into the game. In the end, however, the Jes had done enough to reclaim the cup for another year. In the words of Cian O’Connell of the Galway Advertiser, “Jes had to be staunchly robust in the dying embers; bodies were heroically put on the line, and the Cup was retained”.

The Novena at SFX

The Novena of Grace, March 4-12 each year, in honour of St Francis Xavier, still attracts.  Up to 1,900 people attended three daily sessions in Gardiner St church.  The numbers attending the 5.30 and 7.30 sessions were higher than before with a greater sprinkling of young people. Some were on their first novena, others on their eighty-fifth!  Mostly a north city event, and now on its 298th consecutive year in inner-city Dublin, people came also from other parts of Dublin and  Ireland. The preacher, John Guiney SJ of the Mission Office, spoke simply and sincerely of St Francis Xavier and of Africa and linked much of this to both his own life and life today. Music with organists and cantors enhanced the ceremony; and an attempt was made to introduce some new music, especially at the evening sessions. The novena combines the best of traditional format with contemporary content. Read more »

On the air

Pat Coyle (pictured here), the manager of JCC, has been pulled into the public eye and ear and in turn has arranged air time for many others. She and Piaras Jackson SJ were talking about Lent on the RTE radio programme Spirit Moves. Joe Duffy invited her onto TV’s Spirit Level for a Mother’s Day programme. She interviewed Gerry O’Hanlon SJ about his new book, The Recession and God, for Religious News Network, which is taken by local radio stations all over the country. Pat has also agreed to talk to a parish group in Borris in Ossory about Addiction and the Family. Another Jesuit presence on the air was provided by Brian Mac Cuarta, who contributed Part Three of a 4-part Irish-language radio series on the Ulster Plantation.

Crescent Church

Following the tragic death of developer John O’Dolan, fresh doubt surrounds the future of the Sacred Heart Church. Mr O’Dolan bought it for €4,000,000 in 2006, and planned to spend €12,000,000 converting it into a leisure centre with spa and restaurant. No formal planning application has yet been submitted to Limerick City Council, though discussions continue with heritage officials in the Department of the Environment.

Short Notices

• Sr Maureen McMahon’s Reflections on Irish art (Messenger Publications) will be launched by Paul Andrews  SJ in Glasthule Parish Centre at 7.30 on Monday, 23 March.
• Veale Public Lecture: ‘A Church of Passion and Hope’: An Ignatian Perspective, by Dr Gill Goulding  on Wednesday 25 March 2009, 7.30pm, The Theatre, Milltown Institute.
• Professor Ray Kinsella will launch The Recession and God by Gerry O’Hanlon SJ; in Buswell’s Hotel, Molesworth Street, on Monday 23 March, at 2 p.m. sharp.
• At the invitation of Sonya Giles, Rector of Sandford Parish, Brian O’Leary SJ will be the guest preacher at Sandford Church on Spy Wednesday and Good Friday, and in St Philip’s, Temple Road, on Holy Thursday.
• Tom Leyden SJ will be guest speaker at the N.I. Mixed Marriage Association  on the theme of the shared spirituality that springs from mixed marriage: at St John’s Church, Malone Rd, Belfast, on 21 March.
• Manresa is running three evenings for anybody on a 12-step programme of recovery, on the theme ‘Spiritual Progress: take the next step’ –  in the Jesuit Centre of Spirituality, Dollymount, 7.30 to 9.00 p.m., on 19 and 26 March and 2 April.
• The Clongowes Union Easter Retreat will be held in the College on 9 and 10 April, starting 6 p.m. Holy Thursday and ending 7 p.m. on Good Friday. Book early (Sinead: 087 2745030) if you want to stay overnight in the college.

Thinking about thinking……

Thinking with the Church – Sentire cum Ecclesia was the challenging topic tackled by James Hanvey SJ in his address to Jesuits and their colleagues in Milltown Park on 13 March. The Heythrop College theologian rooted his reflections deep in spiritual and theological soil. Gerry O’Hanlon SJ, acting director of the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice, responded with personal experiences of the sun, stones and thorns (some of the institutional church’s own making) that can turn the challenge of  ‘thinking with the Church ‘ into a daunting one. A lively question, answer and reflection session followed before proceedings were brought to a close with some refreshments and cordial conversation stiumlated by the preceeding contributions. Piaras Jackson SJ recorded the event and we look forward to having hard copies of their papers, as both deserve further reflection.