Celtic Tiger and Christian values

“We spent money we didn’t have on things we didn’t need” was Peter McVerry’s summary of the Celtic Tiger in his keynote address to the bi-annual Irish Religious Education Conference on Sat Oct 3. Describing two defects of those  heady days, he said that Celtic Tiger wealth wasn’t sustainable or available to all. Addressing the conference theme “Between Memory and Hope”, in the Fairways Hotel, Dundalk, Peter McVerry SJ told the gathering of over 500 religious educators that no matter how well Ireland fared in the future, we must never go back to the days of selfishness and greed that characterised those heady Celtic Tiger times. Christian values represented the antithesis of that culture, he said,  as the Gospel commanded us  to build a society based on caring for our neighbour rather than looking out for ourselves. For the full address click here: Peter McVerry SJ on the Economic Crisis.

‘Messenger’ in pink!

For the first time in The Messenger’s 121 year history its iconic red cover has been transposed to a flush of pink  because The Messenger magazine has taken the lead in supporting Action Breast Cancer during the month of October. To mark Breast Cancer Awareness month  the magazine  will  be donating 10% from all new postal subscriptions taken out in the month of October, to the charity  Action Breast Cancer. Editor Editor John Looby, S.J.,says they did not take the decision to change the colour lightly but “The Messenger receives thousands of letters every month and many of those letters leave us in no doubt about the prevalence of cancer and in particular breast cancer in Ireland. So we wanted to signal our concern and show our readiness to help.” The special pink October edition has a feature article by Carita Kerr entitled “Me and My Cancer: A Personal Journey.”

Marking Gonzaga’s maturity

In a year’s time Gonzaga College will be sixty years old.  On 4th October Fr. John Dardis, Jesuit Provincial, marked its maturity when he blessed and formally opened the college’s new buildings. A capacity crowd of parents filled the hall in a spirit of joy in the new building that provides space for education, for gathering, for hospitality and creativity. The extension of new classrooms, science facilities, IT/Computer Room, Theatre, Library and Dining Hall finally provides facilities which are commensurate with the quality of the education. Jesuit education always looks to the future and prays that a new building be one of service in which potential is developed and glory is given to God’s name. The picture here shows the hall during the visit of Fr General Adolfo Nicolás SJ, the first use of the hall for a public meeting.

Meetings matter!

“Eighty-five million meetings occur every day” according to Meetings Matter! by Brian Grogan SJ and Phyllis Brady: Veritas: 2009. Here is a practical, easy-to-use handbook on how to make the meetings in our lives more useful and painless. John Galbraith, in his book on the Great Crash, described the various reasons for meetings, including those whose function is to do no business. Power-brokers in one of Dublin’s great academic institutions have been known to shy away from any committee or meeting which has no control of cash. Grogan/Brady’s focus is different and distinctive: on the often ignored faith dimension of meetings. “Our thesis is that God is involved with groups, and uses our help to achieve the common good. We are, in fact, presenting a spirituality of meetings.”

Retreat in Birmingham

Patrick Hume SJ (right in photo) reflects on St. Thérèse of Lisieux after her reliquary visits Birmingham: “Arriving on Friday at Manresa House, Birmingham, I learnt that all the novitiate were to attend Mass at St. Chad’s Cathedral on the following Sunday. The Reliquary of St. Thérèse of Lisieux otherwise The Little Flower (Bláithín) was on tour and would be the focus of a special celebration for religious congregations in and around Birmingham. I was curious. My grand uncle Timothy Canon Hurley, D.D., to give him his full title, wrote a biography of the same young saint. Uncle Timothy was a priest of the diocese of Elphin and while working in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon, as a curate he embarked on a study of the life of St Thérèse. He eventually published a devout study, St Thérèse of the Child Jesus. Story of her life, with mysticism of spiritual childhood in 1927. Read more »

Pioneers vowing and ploughing

The Pioneers’ Heroic Offering, first made 120 years ago by Fr James Cullen in St Peter’s Cathedral, Belfast,  drew hundreds of Pioneers to a jubilee Mass on the same spot. Cardinal Daly presided, Bishop Farquhar led the celebration, and Fr Raymond McCullagh preached. Across the Border, in Athy, hundreds more visited the Pioneer stand at the National Ploughing Championships, a show which attracted 80,000 people a day. Many of these visitors were young adults who saw the Pioneers as an organisation that could support them with the choices they have made around alcohol. The Association is reflecting on this year’s experience and planning ahead.

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Goodwill, trust and Europe

Edmond Grace SJ, who campaigned tirelessly for a ‘Yes’ vote on the Lisbon treaty, has written a brief reflection on the event and what it tells us about ourselves. “Last Saturday evening some hundreds of people gathered in a Dublin hotel to celebrate the ‘yes’ vote for Lisbon. These people were one small part of the ‘Ireland for Europe’ campaign which was made up of a myriad of small networks addressing different aspects of the campaign for a yes vote. They were to be found in every part of the country and in every sector of society – community groups, trade unions, farming organisations, churches, public service, politics, sport, business. The turn-out (the biggest of any European referendum) and the majority (two to one) is largely due to these extensive networks of dedicated people and the leaders of our three largest political parties have acknowledged their gratitude.” Read more »

School Mass

Opening Masses are a feature of the beginning of the school year in most Catholic schools. Frs Donal Neary (Belvedere and Kings’ Inn St) and William Reynolds (Gardiner St Primary School) celebrated opening Masses in the local schools. Such events are an important feature of the faith life of young people. For many, the school and parish are the main spaces for faith. For some pupils it may be the only Mass of the year, or one of few. The  preparation of the Masses by staff and pupils - selection of readings, meditations and music - teaches pupils about faith and liturgy.  The celebrants pay tribute to the huge work of catechists and chaplains in our schools, particularly in schools where there is no regular presence of priests or religious.

Hopkins where he died

There is still time to see a unique dramatisation of Gerard Manley Hopkins in Newman House. Go there at 7 p.m. on 6th or 7th October, and relish (rather than enjoy) “No Worst, there is none” (the title is from Hopkins’ desolate Sonnet 49). The young Irish company, the Stomach Box, uses the rooms and stairwells in which GMH spent the last sad years of his life, to bring the audience close to the horrifying disparity between the exuberance of The Windhover and Pied Beauty, and the downward spiral of the sonnets of desolation. It is as though nature has disappeared from his consciousness, and it is just the depressed, guilt-ridden self that remains.

Giving boys an advantage

Orlaith Carmody discussed educational choice in the Irish Times: “After a lot of thought I’ve deliberately chosen a school with a Jesuit tradition because I hope it will bring out the best in my boys and hopefully teach them something about giving back to society. Am I giving my children an advantage? Make no mistake about it: I’m trying my hardest. I believe it is worth all the hours their Dad and I have to work because of the independent, grounded, thinking individuals I believe will emerge at the far end, with the ambition and hopefully the ability to make a difference. At the school, Clongowes Wood College, they call it becoming “Men for others”, and I see it demonstrated every time I’m there.”

JESUITICA: Superlative academic

When you read that Miquel Batllori i Munné SJ was awarded eleven honorary doctorates in one day, you could be tempted to think that he was an establishment figure who was never  “on the outside”. You’d be wrong. He was a solitary Jesuit protester after Franco’s bombing of Barcelona. His Jesuit superiors were uncomfortable with him, a brilliant Catalan who was passionately opposed to Franco. During that regime, Batllori retained contacts with the clandestine Christian-Democrat opposition and the exiled Catalans. He became interested in the Vatican only after the Second Vatican Council. He directed the Archivum Historicum SJ, lectured in the Gregorian University, and published over 200 works of solid historical research. So in a single ceremony each of the eleven Catalan universities presented the 80-year-old with an honorary doctorate.

Short notices

• Change at JCFJ: The Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice has a new Acting Director, Eoin Carroll. Gerry O’Hanlon SJ will still be working in the Centre, focusing on his current research and forthcoming book.
• Colaiste Iognáid (the Jes) has a staggering 19 players taking part in the schools interprovincial competion this weekend in Dublin, 3-4 Ocyober, 2009. There are 9 girls in the Under 18s and 10 in Under 16s for the Connaght squad. With winning the Kate Russell cup last season, hockey is stronger than ever in the Jes!
• Next Thursday, 8 October (8 p.m. in the school hall), a panel of past pupils of St Ignatius, Galway, will recount their experience of the school and reflect on the changes it has seen over the last fifty years.  At its October launch the PPU aims to gather past pupils living in the Galway area. At some time in November it will organise a similar gathering in Dublin. Watch AMDG Express for details.

Forthcoming events

• Scripture Evenings:  Gardiner St Church:  Introduction to St Paul, with Fr Brendan Comerford SJ October : Tuesdays 6,13,20,27 – -  Fr John Sullivan Room, 7-30-9.00. Shared initiative of Iona Rd, North William St and Gardiner St Parishes. Donation €20 for series, €5 per session.
• This week Veritas publishes “Meetings Matter” by Brian Grogan SJ & Phyllis Brady.
• Tuesday November 10th. Gardiner St Church: Liam Lawton in Concert,   featuring Liam’s new CD, “Healing Song”. Tickets €25, on sale at the parish office (9.30a.m.-8.30 p.m.; Sat and Sun 10-1); bookable by phone: 01 8363411.