Brendan McManus SJ led 30 priests from Clogher diocese in a listening and reflecting process, Monday 8-10 April, 2024 at the Manor House Hotel in Enniskillen. Brendan encouraged personal faith sharing among priests using spiritual conversation in the synodal model. This model is based on insights from Ignatian spirituality and involves the two fundamental attitudes of active listening and speaking from the heart. Drawing on a document produced by the Synod of Bishops, Brendan explains that spiritual conversation focuses on the quality of listening as well as the quality of speaking. This means ..read more

The Irish Jesuit Province intends Gardiner St Parish to become part of the neighbouring Pro-Cathedral Parish from 1 August 2024. The Church of St Francis Xavier would then cease to be a parish church and would revert to being a public church attached to the Jesuit religious community, as was the case before 1974. The Church of St Francis Xavier became a parish church only 50 years ago, in 1974, when Archbishop Dermot Ryan established Gardiner St Parish. Even without the status of being a parish church, St Francis Xavier’s will still provide public Masses, confessions, devotions, funerals, and ..read more

May Christ’s victory on Calvary fill you with courage for the mission ahead. As always, here are some links to discover more about Jesuit life and mission.  Why religious life? Eamonn Walls SJ has recorded a series of short reflections for our Instagram page @irishjesuit called ‘Why religious life?’. I highly recommend watching them!  Sons of Ignatius podcast Last Easter I recorded a Sons of Ignatius podcast episode called Death and Resurrection in which I reflect on the experience of death and resurrection in the lives of missionary disciples. You can find it on Spotify or wherever ..read more

FORMER Bishop of Raphoe, Irish Jesuit Alan McGuckian SJ will be installed as the new Bishop of Down and Connor on Sunday 14 April 2024 at 3 pm in Saint Peter’s Cathedral, Saint Peter’s Square, Belfast. Cardinal Seán Brady, Archbishop Emeritus of Armagh will preside at Sunday’s ceremony and other concelebrants will include Archbishop Eamon Martin (Armagh) and the Apostolic Nuncio Most Rev Luis M Montemayor. Rev Noël Treanor, the former Bishop of Down and Conor, now Apostolic Nuncio to the European Union will also concelebrate along with Bishop Donal McKeown of Derry. Alan’s Jesuit brothers, Mic ..read more

The story of exploited garment workers bookends the latest issue of Working Notes from the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice. It explores the theme of a ‘just wage’ and ‘the just wage initiative’ from a social justice and theological perspective. In his opening editorial Dr Kevin Hargaden, Director of JCFJ tells of his encounter with a young garment worker in a sweatshop in Bangladesh. He asks her what message she would like him to take back to the people he teaches or preaches to. “Tell them,” she said, “that my blood is on their clothes.” (Click here to listen to an interview with Kevin ab ..read more

The Society of Jesus worldwide has issued a statement condemning the ongoing attacks on the people of Gaza and the ensuing famine facing thousands of people there. “It is scandalous that no one has been able to ensure that the residents of Gaza have enough to eat,” the statement says, adding that “It is shameful that no one has been able to call the warmongers to account.” Irish Jesuits International (IJI) the Jesuit mission office in Dublin have added their voice to this statement » which calls for an immediate ceasefire, for the release of all the 7 October hostages, and for peace negotiatio ..read more

Below are three very different ‘takes’ on Eastertide from the Religious Network News archives. Each interviewee shares their unique insights into this period of fifty days from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday, as well as looking back at the life of Jesus, culminating in the events of Holy Week. Begin by listening to Luke Macnamara OSB » a monk of Glenstal Abbey and lecturer in Sacred Scripture in St Patrick’s College. In this interview with Sr Marie Stuart, he explains the significance of Easter Sunday, the most important day of the church’s liturgical year. He underlines the importance of M ..read more

Crescent Past Pupils Union (PPU) have purchased a signed portrait of their fellow past pupil Sir Terry Wogan, beloved Limerick man and radio/television broadcaster known for his work with BBC in the UK. He had a long running BBC Radio 2 breakfast show ‘Wake up to Wogan’ and hosted the the Eurovision Song Contest. The painting is signed both by the artist and by Sir Terry himself. Limerick artist and well known portrait painter Barbara Hartigan is selling her portrait paintings on one condition, buyers agree to donate the cost to a chosen charity. The PPU have donated €500 to the ‘school pyjama ..read more

Throughout the season of Lent, Manresa, the Jesuit Centre for Spirituality in Clontarf, facilitated prayer for 30 minutes each Wednesday evening via Zoom. The prayer was led by different people, on invitation and an average of 50 people from different countries joined the Zoom each week. According to Joe Greenan, the new Director of Manresa, each prayer leader chose their own prayer template so that over the seven weeks of Lent, all those who took part were introduced to different ways of praying together. Joe says the feedback from participants was really encouraging and you can read below so ..read more

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Ireland is calling for an emergency response by the Irish Government to avoid a repeat of the shocking, squalid, and unsafe living conditions experienced by 150 asylum seekers, who were recently moved for public health reasons from a tented encampment at the International Protection Office (IPO) on Mount Street. Eugene Quinn, National Director, JRS Ireland, warned: “It is likely that the unacceptable and shocking living conditions of unaccommodated asylum seekers living in IPO tents will be repeated in new and emerging tented settlements across Dublin with all ..read more