Short notices

• An Inter-Institutional Centre for Spirituality and Social Transformation has been launched in Waterford Institute of Technology, through the participation (pictured here) of Michael O’Sullivan SJ (Milltown Institute), Sister Bernadette Flanagan (All Hallows) and Michael Howlett (Waterford IT).
• The current Irish Catholic reports how ChurchServices.tv, part of CatholicIreland.net, is broadcasting Masses live to a growing audience, including some beleaguered Christians in Kenya. The site is an offshoot of Sacred Space, “The fire that lights other fires”.
• On 20 December, 3 to 5 p.m., girls and boys (with parent/adult supervision) are invited to join the Manresa Team, together with Mr. Paul McGuire (Belgrove Junior Boys School, Clontarf), for an afternoon of carol singing and reflection on the meaning of Christmas, followed by a little party at Manresa, 426 Clontarf Road.
• Noelle Fitzpatrick and Padraig Swan of Sli Eile Jesuit Centre for Young Adults were interviewed on Tuesday Dec 16th, on the Mooney Goes Wild programme on RTE Radio One. They spoke about their weekend pilgrimage in the Midlands without food or money and you can listen to the interview here.

Jesuit has last word on Ahern’s departure

Outgoing Taoiseach Bertie Ahern concluded his final Dáil session with a quote from the Jesuit writer, Fr John Sullivan. Mr Ahern urged that life be taken “in instalments” and that each day be a new beginning: “Let the past go. Now let me do whatever I have the power to do.” Mr Ahern has been a regular attendee at services in St. Francis Xavier’s Church, Gardiner Street, where Fr. Sullivan’s tomb is a centre of devotion and prayer. Fr. John Sullivan, who died in 1933, had a reputation for holiness and healing, especially in Co Kildare. The Cause for his canonisation was formally begun in 2002, and many come to Gardiner Street be blessed with his cross and visit his tomb. For the story of Fr. Sullivan’s life see: www.gardinerstparish.ie.

Jesuits to net €150m from move to new UCD site – Irish Examiner

Conor Ryan draws on some publicly available information to pad out the news that Milltown Institute is in discussion with UCD about relocation of the MI campus.

Use of’Roman’ Catholic title criticised – Irish Times

Describing Paul Andrews’ reflection on ‘Roman Catholic’ as ‘criticism’ Patsy McGarry synopsises Paul’s <a href=”http://www.amdg.ie/blog/serendipity/exit.php?url=aHR0cDovL25ld3NsZXR0ZXIuamVzdWl0LmllL2VfYXJ0aWNsZTAwMDc2NDY0NS5jZm0/eD1iOThGS0pILGIzMDVuVG5xLHc=&amp;entry_id=142″ title=”http://newsletter.jesuit.ie/e_article000764645.cfm?x=b98FKJH,b305nTnq,w” onmouseover=”window.status=’http://newsletter.jesuit.ie/e_article000764645.cfm?x=b98FKJH,b305nTnq,w’;return true;” onmouseout=”window.status=”;return true;” >AMDG article</a>. Page 5. 290 words.

Trocaire Lenten lecture in Belfast – Irish News

Michael Kelly’s delivery of the Trocaire Lenten lectureis is anticipated,<br />
<blockquote>”Without a frontal attack on the injustice of gender inequality – in Church, state, and every walk of life – the dominance of the epidemic will continue.”</blockquote>

AIDS expert backs gender equality drive by Trocaire – Irish Independent

John Cooney records Michael Kelly’s Maynooth lecture on page 12, linking it with the BCI’s banning of Trocaire’s advertisement.

Couldn’t grumble – Sunday Tribune

Anne Marie Hourihane writes of Terry Wogan that his Jesuit education has left him with a love of precise language.

Showbiz Gossip – Belfast Telegraph

Maureen Coleman writes that Liam Neeson is to play the part of Saint Francis Xavier <br />
<blockquote>Ballymena-born actor Liam Neeson has gone all religious in his latest television movie. The star of Kinsey and Schindler’s List is starring in a documentary-style fflm on the life of Xavier, the famed 16th century Jesuit missionary.</blockquote>

Heavenly place to work – Irish Daily Mail

Helen Bruce writes,<br />
<blockquote>The Baron Palles presided over a meeting in his house which resulted in the formation of the influential Clongowes Union, associated with the leading Jesuit school. But he is not the only famous figure linked with the five-storey building, which stands in a high-profile position at the junction of Fitzwilliam Place and Leeson Street, just a few minutes’ walk from St Stephen’s Green.</blockquote>

Church Celebrations – Bray People

Writing of the Novena of Grace, <br />
<blockquote>The Novena will be conducted by Fr. Noel Barber S.J., who rediscovered the painting ‘The Taking of Christ’ by Caravaggio.</blockquote>

Letters to the Editor – Irish Times

<blockquote>Madam, – Could I suggest that the PDs postpone their tax cuts until all homeless people have been given beds? – Yours, etc,<br />
Fr PETER McVERRY SJ,<br />
Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice,<br />
Upper Sherrard Street,<br />
Dublin 1.</blockquote>

The politics of Podge and Rodge… – Irish Independent

The writer asks what Michael McDowell learnt in Gonzaga,<br />
<blockquote>Had he learned irony from the Jesuits, you might see this as a brilliant stroke: as a mockery of auction politics by outlining an offer of a PD paradise that nobody could refuse and nobody could match – and nobody could believe. Alas, it seems he is in deadly earnest.</blockquote>

Seán Mac Réamoinn

<em>Journalist Seán Mac Réamoinn dies in Dublin hospital aged 85 years</em> was one of many articles and obituaries in which reference was made to Seán Jesuit education. In the <em>Irish Times </em>Deaglán de Bréadún writes, <br />
<blockquote>One of Ireland’s leading broadcasters and journalist in Irish and English, Seán Mac Réamoinn, died at St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin, yesterday morning aged 85 years.<br />
A prominent figure in the Irish language movement and many other areas of cultural life, Mr Mac Réamoinn was a former Controller of Radio Programmes and Director of External Relations with RTÉ.<br />
He was born in Birmingham on November 27th, 1921, the son of James Redmond from Boolavogue, Co Wexford and Wilhelmina née Bruen of Sligo. Seán’s parents soon returned to Ireland and he was educated in Dublin; in Clonmel, where he was taught by the Christian Brothers; and at Coláiste Iognáid, under the Jesuits, in Galway.</blockquote>