The book launch of Vindication and Justice for Michael Mallin by author William T McCartney was a lively occasion with many relatives of Commandant Mallin (father of deceased Jesuit Joe Mallin SJ) in attendance. Former members of the Irish Army and Gardaí were also present. The book has also been translated into Irish by Dr Jake MacSiacais. Paula Nolan, formerly of Messenger Publications, designed the book. Commandant Michael Mallin was executed for his part in the Easter Rising in Dublin. His son, Joseph Mallin SJ, died in 2018, aged 104. He was two and a half years old when his father was ex ..read more

To mark the silver jubilee of the online prayer website Sacred Space » Messenger Publications have just published Sacred Space the Companion, a book that reflects on the story of Sacred Space thus far. It is also a resource for a yearly cycle of reflection in the Ignatian tradition. It features an introduction to Ignatian spirituality, an Advent and Lent retreat, and various contemporary prayers by Irish Jesuits, their colleagues, and associates. It has been twenty-five years since the Jesuits brought prayer to the internet with the launch of sacredspace.ie » on Ash Wednesday of 1999. It was o ..read more

Ronan Geary SJ died peacefully on the evening of Thursday 25 April 2024, in the Jesuit’s Cherryfield nursing home where he had spent the last 14 years. He was 90 years old. His family, friends, and fellow-Jesuits attended his funeral Mass in Gardiner St Church on Tuesday 30 April. Michael Kirwan SJ presided, and Brian Grogan SJ preached the homily. Fr Ronan was born in Dublin on 16 January 1934. He was raised in Limerick, where he attended the Model School and the Christian Brothers School, before moving to Clongowes Wood College SJ in Clane. His third level education was in UCD. On 6 Septembe ..read more

The third Annual Lecture of the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice » took place in Gardiner Street on 25 April. It was given by Professor Brian Brock, who addressed the title ‘Enabling death? Euthanasia from a disability perspective’. Professor Brock, who holds a personal Chair in Moral and Practical Theology at King’s College, University of Aberdeen, has taught and written extensively on a theology of disability, connecting it with the larger issues of incarnation and human creatureliness. Himself the father of a child, Adam, with special needs, he challenges misconceptions about disability ..read more

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