Untangling the web of 19th century inter-church relations

Oliver Rafferty SJ, who taught at various colleges in England, Ireland and the United States, has just brought out a new academic work about Catholicism in 19th Century Ireland. The Catholic Church and the Protestant State: Nineteenth-century Irish realities pays particular attention to the deep complexities and ironies in the relationship between the Catholic Church and the various Protestant churches in Ireland in the decades after the Act of Union. The book can be purchased from the publishers, Four Courts Press.

Garnered from Gardiner Street

The opening chapter of RTE broadcaster Aidan Mathews’ new book, In the Poorer Quarters, begins with memories of the Jesuit church in Gardiner Street, Dublin. This sets the tone for a man seriously engaging with modern faith issues in the context of a tradition. The book, written by the former Gonzaga student, is based on his RTE radio programme of the same name. It is a contemporary dialogue with the Gospel of Mark taken from twelve months of his broadcasts. The book is currently being serialised in the Irish Catholic. Chapter 12, entitled Crossings, was reproduced in last week’s edition. Read the first chapter on CatholicIreland.net; for details on the book, see www.veritas.ie.

Media matters

A number of Jesuit ventures featured in the news this week. Richard Leonard SJ was interviewed by Dave Fanning (standing in for Ryan Tubridy) about his book Movies that Matter: reading film through the lens of faith. A film buff himself, Dave Fanning asked Richard to come on his own programme the next time he is in Ireland. You can listen to the interview here (at around 48 minutes).

On Wednesday, Pat Kenny hosted a lively exchange between Professor Simon Conway Morris and Professor David McConnell about Darwinism and religion. The occasion for this piece was Professor Conway Morris’s lecture on Thursday 21 February, organised by Studies review and the Iona Institute. Listen here.

Also on Wednesday, Eugene Quinn, director of JRS Ireland, spoke with Mary Wilson on Drivetime (RTE Radio 1) about JRS’s recently launched guide to the Irish education system for migrant parents. And the following day, John Carr of the INTO also spoke about the guide on Radio na Gaeltachta.

Father Adolfo’s first press conference

Rome Reports, a TV news agency, has footage from Father Adolfo’s first press conference. View it here.

Videos of the recently-elected Jesuit Father General

Father General, Adolofo Nicolás, speaks about what it means to be a Jesuit.
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Íosánaigh ar An tuath nua

A day in Tony O’Riordan’s work at the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice features as part of a factual programme to be broadcast on TG4. An Tuath Nua airs on the Irish-language channel on Friday 25 January at 7:30 p.m. Tony was interviewed by Pádraic Ó Neachtain in October for this element of the factual series which this week covers various religious topics. Glimpses of Jesuit life are presented in a package which includes interviews with Buddhist monks in Cork and a look at the power of angels. The programme will be repeated on Sunday 27 January at 8:00 p.m. Is ar éigin go mbeidh an clár le feiscint ar ball ag www.tg4.tv > Clár eile – Cartlann > An Tuath nua 25/1.

New Jesuit Father General – Audio

Fergus O’Donoghue SJ, Irish Jesuit Archivist and Editor of Studies, speaks to Eileen Good of RNN about Adolfo Nicolás who was elected Jesuit Superior General on Saturday 19 January 2008. Play the audio here (Courtesy of ©RNN):

 

 New Jesuit Father General [5:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Jesuit film expert visits Dublin

Richard Leonard SJ, who lectures in cinema and theology at Melbourne’s United Faculty of Theology, will spend some days in Dublin in mid-February. The Jesuit Communication Centre is hosting the visit and is arranging for him to give a number of public lectures on film studies in such venues as Manresa. More details will be posted in AMDG Weekly soon. Read more »

The Jesuit job description

John Dear SJ, web columnist with the National Catholic Reporter, reflects on GC35 in an article The Jesuits gather in Rome. Peace activist John Dear hopes that Jesuits “reclaim our early historic Gospel zeal, the spirit of our saints and martyrs.”

As Jesuit leaders gather in Rome to plot our work for the next few decades, pray with me that we can reclaim our early historic Gospel zeal, the spirit of our saints and martyrs; that we might individually and corporately renounce violence and war once and for all; that we might ban ROTC from every Jesuit campus; that we might have nothing to do with any military anywhere, and instead defend the poor and marginalized from every injustice.

Jesuits to launch new on-line journal

The state of ecumenism today, what scientists think about faith, and the European Treaty are among the topics that will be addressed as the British Province launches Thinking Faith this month. The online journal, which has been developed by Jesuit Media Initiatives in close collaboration with an editorial team of Jesuits and lay co-workers, will be officially launched next Friday, 18 January, at a reception attended by journalists, theologians, writers and others associated with the project. Read more »

Bridging troubled waters

A long-time peace worker who began work in Northern Ireland with Belfast’s Jesuit-led Columbanus Community has been awarded an OBE in the New Year’s honours list. Revd Paul Symonds was deeply involved in reconciliation in Harryville, Ballymena, and was recognised for his “leadership role in engaging with people across barriers of denomination and background”.

Belfast Telegraph http://qurl.com/9t16w

A flick through next year’s pages

In the last Saturday supplement of 2007, The Irish Times‘ Arminta Wallace previews the literary year 2008 with a mention of a Jesuit writer, Nigerian Uwem Akpan.

Conflicts in Africa are seen through the eyes of children in Say You’re One of Them (Abacus, June), the debut collection from young Nigerian Jesuit priest Uwem Akpan. Read more »

Ceiliúradh agus Fáithe

Irish language publications, Foilseacháin Ábhair Spioradálta (FAS) have just published two books – Fáithe an Fichiú hAois by Séamus Ware and Ceiliúradh edited by Éilís Ni Thiarnaigh. Fáithe tells the story of modern-day prophets, such as Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Dorothy Day. Ceiliúradh celebrates 50 years of publishing books on the faith and features nature photographs, some from Ciary Quirke SJ, with brief extracts from the Bible.