Gerry O’Hanlon in Christchurch Cathedral

Gerry O’Hanlon, from the Jesuit Centre of Faith and Justice, was guest preacher at the annual Christchurch Cathedral ecumenical citizenship service on November 15th. In his homily Gerry warned that the Government would more readily achieve its goals “if those who are primarily guilty are not seen to escape with impunity… Ireland’s poorest people are being asked to pay for the recklessness and corrupt activity of a number of extremely wealthy people and institutions.” He noted the grim times we are going through, the necessity of pulling together in an equitable way that does not penalize the most vulnerable, and the need to search for a more sustainable economic paradigm. He also noted the resources of humour, resilience and faith which will enable us to survive and prosper. It is a homily worth reading. Read more »

Peter McVerry in the thick of things

The Connaught Tribune reports a moving lecture given in Ballinasloe by Peter McVerry on the scourge of drug abuse in Irish life. He buries, on average, one young person a month killed by drugs. During the week Peter also tackled the Government on its unfair response to the economic crisis, because it was unwilling to ask the wealthy to contribute in proportion to their resources.  “In effect the poor can’t pay, but those who can aren’t being asked to. People who are poor or vulnerable have little or no influence on policy, and those who make the decisions reflect the views and interests of the better-off sections of our society.”

Bruton on religion in Europe

Former Taoiseach and former EU ambassador to Washington, John Bruton gave an address on Religion in the European Union, at an event jointly hosted by the Jesuit quarterly review, Studies and the Catholic think tank, the Iona Institute, at the Alexander Hotel on Monday night. Using a documents-based approach to his lecture, Mr Bruton outlined the reasons for a strong relationship between the Church and the European Union. A lively discussion followed, whereupon he fielded questions on issues such as the Lisbon Treaty, cynicism and the European Union, Rocco Buttiglione, legislative issues between Ireland and the European Union, and potential frontrunners for the first presidency of the European Council. He urged Irish people of faith to engage with the European Union, be less passive, and speak up for their faith.

Remembering the Jesuit martyrs of El Salvador

Jesuits and their collegues around the world are remembering the six Jesuit priests who were killed 20 years ago in El Salvador, along with their housekeeper and her daughter. On16 November 1989, a military death squad besieged the campus of the Jesuit-run University of Central America in San Salvador, and murdered Fathers Segundo Montes, Ignacio Martin Baro, Juan Ramon Moreno, Amando Lopez, Joaquin Lopez y Lopez and Ignacio Ellacuria, as well as Elba and Celina Ramos. The late Irish Jesuit Jimmy McPolin was working in the University at the time but had left the campus to visit in the countryside before the murders occurred. Read more »

Making use of new media

How can we use new information technologies to reach out to young people and to tell them about God? This was one of the core areas of inquiry in the meeting of Inygo, the Ignatian network of young adult apostolates, held in Budapest on 5-8 November. Conall Ó Cuinn, Piaras Jackson and John Dardis, Provincial, were the Irish representatives. The other attendants came from a range of European countries, including France, Belgium, Slovakia, and Italy. Music and liturgy during the event was arranged byVlasto Dufka, who has fond memories of his tertianship in Ireland. Piaras’s presentation on Sacred Space was well received, and it fell on John Dardis to identify the guiding principles – the ‘fil rouge’ – which emerged from the discussions and presentations and to sum them up at the end of the event.

Liam Lawton in concert

The old favourites like ‘The Clouds’ Veil’, ‘I will be the Vine’, Alleluia and others were part of a beautiful evening of song, reflection, light and music with Fr Liam Lawton in Gardiner St church on November 10th. A large crowd turned up on a cold night to hear songs from the new album, ‘Healing Song’ also. Fr Liam, nephew of the late Fr Hilary Lawton SJ, is rightly regarded as the foremost religious composer in Ireland, and creates a lovely link of sound through old Irish melody and contemporary language and concerns, with a sensitive use of the Scriptures. Ms Emer Barry with her beautiful rendering of ‘The Voice of an Angel’ added extra beauty to the evening. See Donal Neary’s reflection below. Read more »

Back to the Eighties

This year’s Coláiste Iognáid (Jes) school show ran from 11-14 November. Titled ‘Back to the Eighties’, it was a colourful and vibrant reminder of the songs, outfits and allusions of the 1980′s. It was directed by teachers Claire Lohan and Paul Kilrane, and it involved all the fifth year students in the dancing, singing, design and backstage work. It played to packed houses every night, proving very popular with parents who could remember the era!

‘Do we still need St Paul?’

‘Do we still need St Paul?’ is the question-title of Augustinian Kieron O’Mahony’s latest book which was launched in the Milltown Insititute on Tue Nov 10,’09. The author has lectured in  Milltown for almost fifteen years and in this year dedicated to St Paul by the Pope, he has visited many parishes around the country speaking about the man whom he says, above all, understands the mystery of the Cross. Dr Dermot Lane (pictured here, left, with Kieron O’Mahony), theologian and parish priest of Balally, launched the book saying it not only conveyed the author’s expertise and intellectual grasp of his subject but it did so in a way that made it accessible and indispensable reading for the believer who wanted to deepen his understanding of  St Paul’s thinking and its relevance for our times.

Pioneers take stock

On Saturday 7 November, over 50 Pioneers met in The Hazel Hotel, Monasterevin, Co. Kildare for a day-long session of debate, discussion and reflection. The busy conference agenda covered issues ranging from a vision for the Pioneers to more practical matters that included the forthcoming Charities Act. Feedback on the day focused on the importance of extending membership of the Association to greater numbers of youth and parents. Attendees also felt it was critical for the PTAA to contemporise its messages to all of its target audiences. The Pioneers of Eglish will take this further with a day of high-powered reflection on 20 November, and the Ulster and Munster Pioneers are also planning conferences. Read more. Read more »

JESUITICA: First automobile

In the history of the car, the Flemish Jesuit Ferdinand Verbiest, a missionary at the Chinese Imperial court, is credited with inventing the first motor vehicle, as a toy for the Emperor. Built and tested in 1679, it was two feet long and was operated by an eolipyle that warmed the embers. A steam jet struck a horizontal wheel with blades which meshed with the front wheels. It was tested in the courtyard of the Imperial Palace in Beijing to the great enthusiasm of the emperor and spectators. Verbiest was an astronomer and mathematician who earned his Presidency of the Board of Mathematics in a competition with Chinese astronomers. He was the only Westerner in Chinese history to ever receive the honour of a posthumous name by the Emperor. In the illustration, a stylised image of Verbiest’s car is regarded by his Belgian compatriot, Tintin.

Short Notices

• This Tuesday afternoon, bookmaker Paddy Power tips the Belgian Prime Minister to be the EU’s first president next  week. Herman Van Rompuy’s home page is mostly devoted to quotations and poems from his favourite writers rather than to politics. Although he has opted for a national focus, Van Rompuy says his Jesuit upbringing imbued him with a strong European identity. “When I was a student, the memory of the war was still fresh in everyone’s minds. So our teachers organised exchanges with other European Jesuit colleges. That left a deep impression on me, because I realised that we were all deep down so very similar.”
• For those who know and often ask about Fr Bill Johnston in Japan, the latest news is of little change in his condition. His right side is paralysed and he is fed through the nose. He cannot read or write, and his attempts to speak are impossible to understand. For a man who has been so bright and articulate, this is truly the Cloud of Unknowing, a dark night of the soul.
• John Brady SJ, a former President of the National College of Ireland,  is to be conferred with an honorary doctorate by NCI at the RDS on Friday 20th November at 11.30.
• Joe Greenan, the Provincial’s Human Resources and Training Consultant, was conferred with a Diploma in Employment Law by the Law Society.
• SOUL JOURNEY will be held in Gardiner Street Church from 6.0 to 6.30 p.m. each Monday from 23 November to 14 December. It consists of  Guided Prayer /Meditation with introduction – preparing for Christmas. It is is a weekly guided prayer in the Ignatian chapel, a quiet, candle-lit space to the right of the main altar at the top of the church. It will offer some insights for meditative prayer and an opportunity for spiritual exploration, using methods based on Ignatian spirituality and centering prayer. Arrive earlier if you wish –  the prayer space will be available with quiet music and candlelight before the prayer begins.
• Michael O’Sullivan returned a few days ago from Montreal where he presided at a session of the International Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality.  He was also the co-organiser of a session in Montreal on Pedagogical Engagements: The Arts and Spiritual Transformation. He returned from Montreal in time to chair a public lecture at All Hallows on Dorothy Day given by Patrick Jordan, Managing Editor of Commonweal, and Editor of a book on the writings of Dorothy Day that appeared in that journal during a 44-year period.

Forthcoming Events

17 November: Cathal Goan launches six FÁS publications  – Hopkins Room, Leeson Street, 6.00 pm.

18 November: Irish School of Ecumenics sponsors a public lecture by Professor Ron Large on “Vietnam-Iraq: Language and the Ethics of War and Peace” at the Synge Theatre, Arts Block, TCD, 7 pm

20  November: Pioneer Community Reflection in Eglish; see above: “Pioneers taking stock”.

5 December: Christian Life Community Day of Prayer, Emmaus Retreat House, Swords, Co. Dublin, 10 a.m. to 5 pm. Cost: €40 includes lunch. Contact Barbara Butler 046 9731936; or Michael Gallagher 7758596.

Mondays 23, 30 November, 7 and 14 December: SOUL JOURNEY in Gardiner St Church, 6.00 to 6.30 pm. See Short Notices.