‘A Question of Faith’ podcast : seeking the way, the truth and the life
In this episode of ‘A Question of Faith’, theoretical physicist Dr Peter Taylor reflects on how knowledge of the order within the universe can lead to spiritual insight
August 27, 2025
The A Question of Faith podcast (available on YouTube and Spotify) features broadcaster Wendy Grace in conversation with a range of guests who grapple with our search for meaning and truth. These questions are echoed in the scriptures and each episode has biblical question that resonates with the title question.
In the forth episode theoretical physicist Dr Peter Taylor reflects on how knowledge of the order within the universe can lead to spiritual insight.
Pope Leo XIV has renewed his invitation for Christians to join together on September 1 to celebrate the World of Prayer for the Care of Creation, which draws inspiration from the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea and the theme: ‘Seeds of Peace and Hope.’
Speaking during the Sunday Angelus, Pope Leo XIV recalled that Pope Francis extended the celebration to Catholics 10 years ago by instituting the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, saying prayer for Creation is “now more urgent and important than ever.”
“Together with all Christians, we celebrate it and extend it into the Season of Creation until October 4, the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi,” he said. “In the spirit of the Canticle of Brother Sun, composed 800 years ago, let us praise God and renew our commitment not to spoil His gift, but to care for our common home.”
Creation Day, also known as the World Day of Prayer for Creation, is celebrated by most Christian Churches following an invitation by the Orthodox Church in 1989.
Grounded in an ancient Orthodox liturgical tradition from the 5th century, it is a day to praise God as Creator, commemorate the mystery of Creation in Christ, and inspire Christians to care for the created world.
The World Council of Churches, the ecumenical body bringing together Orthodox and Protestant Churches, released a new video about the day’s history and symbolism.
While many Catholic Bishops’ Conferences have been celebrating Creation Day since the 1990s, Pope Francis instituted it as the World Day of Prayer for the universal Catholic Church in 2015.
The Jesuit Pope then encouraged annual Creation Day celebrations by publishing official annual messages for the day of prayer.
“The theme of this World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, chosen by our beloved Pope Francis, is ‘Seeds of Peace and Hope,'” he said. “On the tenth anniversary of the establishment of this Day of Prayer, which coincided with the publication of the Encyclical Laudato si’, we find ourselves celebrating the present Jubilee as ‘Pilgrims of Hope’.”
Pope Leo added that “for believers, environmental justice is also a duty born of faith, since the universe reflects the face of Jesus Christ, in whom all things were created and redeemed.”
Pope Leo recently promulgated the new ‘Mass for the Care of Creation’ formulary, with the Dicastery for Divine Worship, explaining that it was offered “with a view to its possible use on the next World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.”
The new Mass formulary enables Catholic communities to celebrate Creation Day in a liturgical format for the first time, beyond the traditional ecumenical prayer services.
The Creation Day initiative is coordinated globally by the World Council of Churches, chaired by its Moderator, Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, in collaboration with various Christian world communions and partners.
The Pope Video: September 2025 – For our relationship with all of creation
Sep 2nd, 2025
This month, Pope Leo XIV invites us to pray “for our relationship with all of creation.” Inspired by Saint Francis of Assisi, he invites us to experience our interdependence with all creatures loved by God and worthy of respect and love.
His prayer intention for September comes during the Season of Creation. This is a special time when Christians of various denominations join in prayer and action for the care of the earth. We are also celebrating two important anniversaries: the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of Creation, and the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si’.
Pope Leo XIV is encouraging us to discover God’s presence in creation and to feel responsible for our common home. Let us together pray through the video produced by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, in collaboration with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.
Let us pray that, inspired by Saint Francis, we might experience our interdependence with all creatures who are loved by God and worthy of love and respect.
Lord, You love everything You have created,
and nothing exists outside the mystery of Your tenderness.
Every creature, no matter how small,
is the fruit of Your love and has a place in this world.
Even the simplest or shortest life is surrounded by Your care.
Like St. Francis of Assisi, today we too want to say:
“Praised be You, my Lord!”
Through the beauty of creation,
You reveal Yourself as a source of goodness. We ask You:
open our eyes to recognize You,
learning from the mystery of Your closeness to all creation
that the world is infinitely more than a problem to solve.
It is a mystery to be contemplated with gratitude and hope.
Help us to discover Your presence in all creation,
so that, in fully recognizing it,
we may feel and know ourselves to be responsible for this common home
where You invite us to care for, respect, and protect
“Future generations will never forgive us if we miss the opportunity to protect our common home. We have inherited a garden; we must not leave a desert for our children.” Joint statement from Pope Francis, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury.
Peace with Creation
This year’s Season of Creation has as its theme “Peace with Creation”, inspired by the passage from Isaiah 32:14-18; “My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” In a world of challenges and division, marked by war and climate change, how can we as people of faith create and work towards peace with creation?
The Season of Creation has a special significance for the Catholic Church, particularly since the late Pope Francis established 1 September as an annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. The Season of Creation is marked throughout the Christian world from 1 September to 4 October (Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi) and celebrates the joy of creation as well as encouraging awareness-raising initiatives to protect the natural environment.
We hope that the following resources will help you and your parish community to celebrate the Season of Creation 2025. These resources are compiled by the Laudato Si’ Working Group of the Irish Bishop’s Conference and Trócaire. You can find further resources on the international Season of Creation website: www.seasonofcreation.org
Resources:
Sunday Liturgy Notes for Season of Creation 2025: This resource includes homily notes for each Sunday of the season, prayers of the faithful, music suggestions, reflections and Mass parts which highlight the call for “Peace with Creation”.
Ribbons of Peace – a short 10 minute liturgical moment that could be done within parish activities, at the end of the Sunday Mass or even at the start of parish meetings that occur during the Season of Creation.
Nurturing your family faith in nature: This resource from Trócaire is ideal for a children’s group, youth group or any family or community setting where people can explore their relationship with God’s Creation through reflection and activities.
Rubbish graveyard – a resource which helps to show people just how long it takes for items to biodegrade. You might create a space in your parish to display it. This is a helpful activity for children’s liturgy or youth group. With thanks to An Tairseach Ecology Centre.
A blessing for animals: On the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (4 October ) parishes might like to invite people to bring their pets for a special blessing. This resource will help support this activity. “Praise be to you my Lord, with all your creatures.” (Canticle of Creation).
An ecological rosary: Slides to accompany an Ecological Rosary from the Laudato Si’ Movement.
Creation walk moments: adapted from the booklet by Father Brian Grogan SJ, ‘Creation Walk: The amazing story of a small blue planet’. You may use this resource in your parish community by setting up ‘moments’ around the church, or around your parish, to convey the different stages of the story of our universe. This resource will provide people with an opportunity to experience the wonder and awe of God’s creation and to become familiar with the story of our universe. Did you know that there is now a beautiful Creation Walk at Knock Shrine? You might consider bringing your parish group to visit it. You can read about it here.
Tree planting resource: engage your parish or diocese in tree planting initiatives this year. Thanks to ‘Easy Treesie’ we have all the tips you need and prayers for a tree planting service.
Video reflections: These video reflections can be used as part of liturgies, parish meetings during the season or linked to your parish website and social media pages. With thanks to Vivek da Silva from the Laudato Si’ Working Group.
A River Ritual: This is a resource for a ritual to be celebrated by a river or stream. This resource was created for a previous Season of Creation, however it can be adapted for use at any time. Did you know that every Irish diocese has a river or sea access point? It seems appropriate to offer a ritual prayer that we could celebrate near water. We hope that this opportunity to gather out of doors in “the cathedral of nature” will be a support and inspiration for all involved.
Brother River Meditation: A three-minute reflection of nature sounds and visuals. This could be used at the start of a liturgy or a meeting to help people reflect
Earth Day Prayer Service – Earth Day is celebrated on 22 April each year. This beautiful prayer service could be adapted for use at any time of the year, particularly during the Season of Creation. With thanks to the Care for Creation team in Balally Parish, Dublin.
TROCAIRE RESOURCES
School resources for the Season of Creation 2025 are now available. There are assemblies for Primary and Post-Primary Schools, as well as child and youth friendly versions of our ‘Ribbons for Peace’ activity. You can access the resources on the Irish Catholic Bishops’ website and the Trócaire Season of Creation page.
If you would like further information on youth activities for this year’s Season of Creation, or are interested in school/youth workshops or talks for the year ahead, please do get in touch.
Catholic Schools Week 2026 will run from 18th to the 24th January 2026
Catholic Schools – Normal Lives, Called to Holiness
“Holiness does not mean performing extraordinary things, but doing ordinary things with love and faith.”
— Pope Francis on Blessed Carlo Acutis
Introduction
Catholic Schools Week 2026 celebrates the extraordinary call to holiness in the midst of ordinary life. Inspired by Pope Francis’s reflection on Blessed Carlo Acutis—soon to be canonised as the first millennial saint—this year’s theme invites pupils, teachers, families, and parishes to explore the call to holiness as something both universal and accessible. Holiness is not for a few, but for all; not reserved for religious professionals or mystics, but for every student, teacher, parent, (and grandparent!) living each day in friendship with Jesus Christ.
Catholic schools exist to form individuals who know that their lives have a purpose and a calling. This year’s theme, “Normal Lives, Called to Holiness,” resonates with the central conviction that education is a path not only to knowledge and maturity but to sainthood.
“Each of us is called to be holy by living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do.”
— Gaudete et Exsultate, 14
Key Theme: Everyday Holiness
This theme offers a meaningful opportunity to speak to children and young people about how God calls each of us to holiness in the concrete circumstances of daily life. It allows us to:
Introduce students to modern saints like Blessed Carlo Acutis, who lived an ordinary teenage life with extraordinary faith.
Highlight saints who lived in families, went to school, worked in trades, or suffered illness.
Explore the meaning of holiness as a loving relationship with Jesus Christ, lived through prayer, service, courage, love, and joy.
Emphasise the role of the Eucharist, the Scriptures, and Christian friendship in forming a holy life.
As Pope Leo XIV recently affirmed:
“The saints show us that holiness is not about escape from the world, but deep engagement with it in the Spirit of Christ.”
Daily Themes
Each day of the week reflects a different dimension of our call to holiness:
Monday: Called to Holiness through Prayer Holiness begins with a relationship with God. Children will learn that prayer is the lifeblood of that relationship—from silent moments to joyful praise, from formal prayers to personal words shared with Jesus.
Tuesday: Called to Holiness through Love and Friendship Holiness is lived in love of neighbour, in kindness, forgiveness, and friendship. Inspired by the words of Jesus, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12).
Wednesday: Called to Holiness in Family Life – Grandparents’ Day A cherished tradition, this day honours the vital role grandparents and elders play in passing on the faith and in showing how holiness can be lived over a lifetime. Pupils will be encouraged to show gratitude and celebrate their family roots.
Thursday: Called to Holiness through Service and Courage Young people will explore how self-giving love and courage in the face of challenges form part of holiness. Stories of saints who served the poor, forgave their enemies, or stood up for what is right will be shared.
Friday: Called to Holiness through Joy and Mission Holiness is not grim but joyful! The final day focuses on the joy of the Gospel and how young people are called to be missionary disciples who share Christ through action and word in the world.
Support Resources
Resources for Catholic Schools Week 2026 will include:
Daily classroom reflections and activities (Junior Infants to Leaving Cert).
Suggested Scripture passages and short prayers.
Profiles of saints (e.g. Carlo Acutis, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. Josephine Bakhita, Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati).
Multimedia content developed in collaboration with CCO to support social media campaigns and classroom engagement.
A poster and theme logo for school display.
Pedagogical Integration
CSW 2026 aligns with the ethos of Catholic education and with current curriculum developments:
SPHE: exploring human dignity, resilience, and friendship through a Catholic lens.
Religious Education: drawing on themes of sainthood, sacramentality, and Scripture.
Wellbeing: understanding spiritual wellbeing as integral to personal flourishing.
Digital Literacy: engaging with Carlo Acutis’ story as a way of exploring positive online presence and ethical technology use.
Conclusion
Holiness is not an achievement but a gift—a gift that God offers to each of us in the ordinary rhythm of our days. During Catholic Schools Week 2026, let us joyfully proclaim with Pope Francis: “Do not be afraid to be saints!”
Catholic schools are communities where every pupil can discover that their life matters, that they are loved by God, and that they are called to be saints—not in some distant way, but right now, today, in the classroom, the playground, and at home.
“The measure of holiness stems from the stature that Christ achieves in us, to the extent that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we model our whole life on his.”
— Gaudete et Exsultate, 21
More information will be posted as available Declan
Parishes across Ireland are invited to unite once more in a Day of Prayer and Reflection for for the suffering people of Gaza on Sunday 24 August 2025.
Archbishop Eamon Martin, said: “The Catholic Bishops of Ireland dedicated the month of June to prayer for, and solidarity with, the suffering people of Gaza.
“Heartbreakingly, since then, the situation has deteriorated further. Innocent lives continue to be lost, many of them children and families while hunger, violence and devastation tighten their grip on a people caught in the crossfire.
“Across the parishes of Armagh and Dromore I have published a pastoral letter that echoes the urgent appeals of Pope Leo XIV, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and the Heads of Churches in the Holy Land, for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages and respect for international humanitarian law. As Pope Leo reminds us, “Every human being has an intrinsic dignity bestowed by God Himself.”
“Ireland’s Bishops have condemned, in the strongest terms, the genocidal acts being carried out with the sanction of the Israeli government, actions that have led to the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians. Such disproportionate violence is described as “unconscionable… and immoral for world leaders to stand by inactively.” The ongoing suffering of hostages held by Hamas and the cruel withholding of their remains from their families is also acknowledged and unequivocally condemned. In the face of such darkness, this call to prayer is a call to hope,” Archbishop Martin said.
How Can We Respond?
On Sunday, all are invited to take part in 24 hours of prayer and reflection. Whether as a parish or in the quiet of your own home, please consider:
– Attending Mass and offering it for peace in Gaza – Spending time in Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament – Praying the Rosary for peace and justice – Lighting a candle at home or in your parish church – Making a small personal sacrifice or act of penance – Reaching out to your political representatives to advocate for justice and humanitarian aid – Supporting trusted aid organisations bringing relief to Gaza
Archbishop Martin concluded: “This is a moment for our nation to radiate the light of Christ into the darkness, a light of peace, of justice and of hope for our world. Let us stand together, as one body in Christ, for the people of Gaza and for all who long for a just and lasting peace in the Holy Land.”
Archbishop Eamon Martin is Archbishop of Armagh, Apostolic Administrator of Dromore and Primate of All Ireland.
Thanks to so many of you for your prayers for the success of our RE teachers Community Day starting at 9 .30 this morning. I hope there will be about two dozen present and I pray that our speakers Martina Purdy and Elaine Kelly will inspire them with their own faith journeys and insights into Celtic Spirituality for folk today. Tina has done the working lunch sandwiches etc so her early mornings work will feed the five thousand !! Charlotte and her team have the room all set up and will have the handout resource folders in each place for participants arriving. Noelle and her staff are so generous and hospitable they actually set a great example about the true nature of Catholic Education and its key values. Hold us in your hearts today that Gods work will help replenish faith and hope and that all leave blessed with renewed energy to share our faith with young people. Bless you and your family. Declan 👍👣
Thursday.
Thank you all so much for your kind prayers yesterday. Attendance was good for our day and the atmosphere was peaceful and reflective. St John the Baptist College received us with open hearts and amazing hospitality. Thanks to Noella and her wonderful staff. Charlotte had everything set up for us. Speakers and prayer together was really touching and inspiring. There was a real sense of God present to us in His Word , In His presence in each of us and as community there was Jesus amongst us as He promised. During our prayer we venerated a penal cross dating from 1760. And later a relic of St Oliver as it is his 400 th anniversary this year. I was so aware you were praying hard for us and I know your prayers helped us enormously. So may you too be blessed for your generous support and care for us. Food made up by Tina at an early hour was fab as always and appreciated for the break and later for lunch. These days are so important for realising your colleagues face the same issues and struggle with the same or similar choices. Often sadly lack of servant leadership can lead to the erosion of ethos and spirit. Many of us arrived with empty jugs, hopefully leaving our jugs were refilled and spiritually recharged. We were blessed too by four students from St Ciaran’s College who shared how they are involved in a charity that supports people with various life challenging conditions. I marvelled at their creativity and awareness that the Christian Message has to be lived. Full marks to them. You played an important part in all of this day by your prayers and wishes. I pray for all this you are greatly blessed. Declan. 🙏👣
Good morning Fr Declan
We wanted to thank you again for inviting us to address your programme of teachers and to say it was a great blessing for us. What an experience – to have the penal cross and the relic of Oliver Plunkett added to the amazing graces that flowed from you and the teachers and the much-needed prayerful Taize and scripture session. We felt truly welcome and lifted up and the hospitality was superb.
Thank God for you and for your generosity and the wonderful prayers.
Please be assured of our prayers for you and may God continue to fill you with his beautiful Spirit!
Much love
Martina and Elaine Rom 5:3-5
Feedback
Hello Declan
Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed today’s RE meeting. Our 2 speakers were wonderful and the whole ambience was great. A very uplifting day. Thank you for all that you do for us and have a lovely summer Deirdre. St Paul’s.
A class day!! Raving about it 💓 you are the best x. St Catherine’s College
Thank you for yesterday Declan. What a wonderful day. I hope that you had a great nights rest. God bless, 😘Susan
Was a wonderful day – I really felt a bit revived last night and ready to finish off the year. 👏🏻. St J the B.
Declan these are lovely. I have been inspired to have the blessed Sacrament adoration in our school chapel, after yesterday. Fr Barry Matyhew, our school chaplain was in with us this morning and he will help us with it. It will bring peace. Thanks again for yesterday. Maria St Pats Armagh
Well Declan- glad to hear all went well yesterday & the school girls got on well too 💪
No doubt all staff there have benefited- it is such a different type of day now – to be able spend a bit of quality time with other RE teachers. Hope you are keeping well & looking forward to the summer break as well. Take care Pascal. St Ciarans.
Well done Declan. I’m sure you were exhausted last night. Such a privilege to be back with colleagues Hope you have a chance to chill today xx. Roisin K.
“Peace be with all of you!” – the first words of Pope Leo XIV. The Conclave has elected Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost as the 267th Bishop of Rome.
The new pope was announced to the waiting crowds by Cardinal Protodeacon Dominique Mamberti from the central loggia of Saint Peter’s Basilica:
‘Annuntio vobis gaudium: HABEMUS PAPAM Eminentissimum ac reverendissimum Dominum Robertum Franciscum Sanctae Romane Ecclesiae Cardinalem Prevost qui sibi nomen imposuit Leo XIV.’
Pope Leo XIV greeted the city of Rome and the world with these words at his first appearance as the Successor of Peter from the Central Loggia of St Peter’s Basilica:
Peace be with you! Dearest brothers and sisters, this was the first greeting of the risen Christ, the good shepherd who gave His life for the flock of God. I, too, would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they are; and all the peoples, and all the earth: Peace be with you.
This is the peace of the Risen Christ, a disarming and humble and preserving peace. It comes from God. God, who loves all of us, without any limits or conditions. Let us keep in our ears the weak but always brave voice of Pope Francis, who blessed Rome – the Pope who blessed Rome and the world that day on the morning of Easter.
Allow me to continue that same blessing. God loves us, all of us, evil will not prevail. We are all in the hands of God. Without fear, united, hand in hand with God and among ourselves, we will go forward. We are disciples of Christ, Christ goes before us, and the world needs His light. Humanity needs Him like a bridge to reach God and His love. You help us to build bridges with dialogue and encounter so we can all be one people always in peace.
Thank you Pope Francis!
Thank you to my Cardinal brothers who chose me to be the Successor of Peter and to walk together with you as a united Church searching all together for peace and justice, working together as women and men, faithful to Jesus Christ without fear, proclaiming Christ, to be missionaries, faithful to the gospel.
I am a son of Saint Augustine, an Augustinian. He said, “With you I am a Christian, for you a bishop.” So may we all walk together towards that homeland that God has prepared for us.
To the Church of Rome, a special greeting:
We have to look together how to be a missionary Church, building bridges, dialogue, always open to receiving with open arms for everyone, like this square, open to all, to all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love.
Hello to all and especially to those of my diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, a loyal, faithful people accompanying the bishop and helping the bishop.
To all you brothers and sisters of Rome, Italy, of all the world, we want to be a synodal church, walking and always seeking peace, charity, closeness, especially to those who are suffering.
Today is the day of the Supplicatio [Plea] to Our Lady of Pompei.
Our blessed mother Mary always wants to walk with us, be close to us, she always wants to help us with her intercession and her love. So let us pray together for this mission, and for all of the Church, and for peace in the world.
We ask for this special grace from Mary, our Mother.
Hail Mary… [accompanied by the crowds in St Peter’s Square and around the world.]
Biography
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, OSA, Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Chiclayo, was born on 14 September 1955 in Chicago (Illinois, United States). IN 1977 he entered the novitiate of the Order of Saint Augustine (OSA) in the province of Our Lady of Good Counsel, in Saint Louis. On 29 August 1981 he gave his solemn vows. He studied at the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago, receiving a diploma in theology.
At the age of 27 he was sent by the Order to Rome to study canon law at the Pontifical Saint Thomas Aquinas University (Angelicum). He received priestly ordination on 19 June 1982. He received his licentiate in 1984, and was then sent to work in the mission of Chulucanas, in Piura, Peru (1985-1986).
In 1987 he was awarded a doctorate with the thesis: “The role of the local prior in the Order of Saint Augustine”. In the same year he was elected director of vocations and director of the missions of the Augustinian province of “Mother of Good Counsel” of Olympia Fields, Illinois, United States of America. In 1988 he was sent to the mission of Trujillo as director of the joint formation project for Augustinian aspirants in the Vicariates of Chulucanas, Iquitos and Apurímac. There he served as community prior (1988-1992), director of formation (1988-1998) and teacher of the professed (1992-1998). In the archdiocese of Trujillo he was judicial vicar (1989-1998), and professor of canon, patristic and moral law in the “San Carlos e San Marcelo” Major Seminary.
In 1999 he was elected provincial prior of the “Mother of Good Counsel” province, Chicago. After two and a half years, the ordinary general Chapter elected him prior general, a ministry again entrusted to him in the 2007 ordinary general Chapter. In October 2013 he returned to his province (Chicago) to serve as teacher of the professed and provincial vicar, roles he held 3 November 2014, when Pope Francis appointed him apostolic administrator of the diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, elevating him to the dignity of bishop and assigning him the titular diocese of Sufar. On 7 November he took canonical possession of the diocese in the presence of the apostolic nuncio James Patrick Green; he was ordained a bishop on 12 December, Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in the cathedral of his diocese. He served as bishop of Chiclayo from 26 November 2015. In March 2018 he became second vice president of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference. Pope Francis appointed him a member of the Congregation for the Clergy in 2019, and member of the Congregation for Bishops in 2020.
On 15 April 2020, the Pope appointed him apostolic administrator of the diocese of Callao.
On 30 January 2023 Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Prevost as prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and presidet of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Pope Francis in the Consistory of 30 September 2023, of the Deaconry of Santa Monica.
He was a member of: The Dicasteries for: Evangelization, Section for first evangelization and the new particular Churches; the Doctrine of the Faith; the Eastern Churches; the Clergy; the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life; Culture and Education; Legislative Texts; The Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State.
With great joy, I welcome our new Pope Leo XIV. At the end of February I and the other Irish archbishops – Dermot Farrell, Kieran O’Reilly, Francis Duffy – met with him, and he came across as a humble and respectful listener, wanting to learn as much as possible about the Church in Ireland. He is a calm, affable and approachable person. He is a friend of Ireland and no doubt the Augustinian communities at home will be delighted with the news.
Pope Leo is a missionary at heart with a breadth of international experience and background – having ministered in three continents. His opening words about peace and ‘building bridges’ indicate that he wishes to work for reconciliation and unity in the Church and in the world.
Pope Leo’s choice of name suggests that a commitment to Catholic social teaching will be a hallmark of his papacy. Please pray for him. Saint Peter intercede for him. Our Lady of Grace watch over him.
I pray: God bless Pope Leo XIV. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon him with all the graces he needs to be a courageous and gentle shepherd. Fill him with faith, hope and love. May he govern with wisdom and fidelity to Christ and the Gospel. May he be an inspiring missionary of peace, healing and reconciliation in the world. Give him health and strength to do all that you ask of him. Amen.
Tomorrow morning, (Friday, 9 May), at the grotto in Lourdes, France I will use the name of Pope Leo XIV for the first time at Mass and pray for our new pope. I’m here on the Archdiocese pilgrimage and Mass is at 7.30am Irish time available on the Lourdes website: www.lourdes-france.org live at the grotto.
For students to look about Pope Leo’s family and life follow this link
At the age of 88, following serious illness, Good Pope Francis has passed from earthly life to eternity on Easter Monday 2025. He will be most fondly remembered by all who caught his dream of a synodal church – in which every person is conscious of the equal importance of their own life in witnessing to the saving truth of the Gospel.
I loved the Stations of the Cross written by Pope Francis for Good Friday this year
Yesterday a friend sent me this tribute to Pope Francis
Tribute
“A Hindu man, Vinod Sekar, has written one of THE most moving and beautiful tributes ever written for anyone… for the late Pope Francis.”
*The Loss of a Good Man: A Tribute to Pope Francis and the Power of Universal Faith*
I only met Pope Francis once. It was brief. Just a few moments in a crowded room filled with dignitaries and seekers, some out of duty, others out of belief. I was neither Catholic nor there on some divine pilgrimage. I was just a man in need of a little hope. And somehow, in that fleeting encounter, I received it.
It’s hard to explain without sounding overly romantic. Still, when you’re in the presence of someone truly good—not performatively good, not “publicly moral” or selectively kind—but genuinely, deeply, relentlessly good… something shifts in you. You feel lighter. You feel braver. You feel like humanity, for all its wounds and wickedness, is still worth fighting for.
That was the gift Pope Francis gave me. And I imagine, from the tears I’ve seen today and the aching silences of millions across faiths, races, and borders, that he gave that same gift to many.
Today, we mourn not just the passing of a Pope. We mourn the loss of one of the strongest chess pieces humanity had on this plane of existence.
He was a man who made kindness radical again. Who reminded the powerful that humility was not weakness. Who spoke of love not as doctrine but as duty. He was not just a religious man. He was something far more rare — he was universally spiritual.
I am a Hindu. My God wears different names. My prayers come in different rhythms. But I would have followed this man through fire. Because in his belief in God, he carried a belief in all of us. His eyes didn’t see denominations — they saw dignity. His voice, always soft but never weak, carried the weight of truth even when it unsettled the comfortable. Especially when it unsettled the comfortable.
This world has a way of chipping away at your soul. The noise, the greed, the hate, the empty rituals that masquerade as faith or patriotism or family values. It’s easy to go numb. It’s easy to give in to cynicism. But once in a while, someone comes along who reminds us that the better angels of our nature are still within reach. That goodness is still possible. That we don’t need to be perfect to do good — we just need to be brave. Pope Francis was that man.
He chose love over doctrine. He chose compassion over judgment. And most remarkably, he chose action over applause. He walked with the poor. He knelt before the discarded. He challenged the powerful not with anger, but with moral courage. And he did all of this with a smile that felt like a prayer.
He understood something many religious leaders forget: that God doesn’t reside only in temples or churches or mosques. That holiness isn’t a place — it’s a way of living. A way of seeing others. A way of choosing kindness, over and over, even when it hurts.
So yes, today we mourn. I mourn. Not just for the Catholic world, but for all of us. Because when a man like this leaves, it feels like a light has been dimmed.
But maybe — just maybe — the way we honour him is by becoming the light ourselves.
Let us remember his faith in humanity, and let it fuel our own. Let us keep making the right chess moves in this complicated, brutal, beautiful game of life. Let us speak truth with grace. Let us protect the vulnerable, question the powerful, and lift each other up not because of who we are, but because we are here together.
*Pope Francis believed in a world where dignity wasn’t conditional. Where faith was lived, not just preached. That world can still exist — if we build it.*
And maybe that’s the final gift he’s given us. A call not to despair, but to duty.
*Because as long as we carry his belief in each other, then truly, he has not left us at all.*
Vinod Sekhar
Pope Francis wrote a lovely piece on death, which I read yesterday ( Declan )
Death is one more step in life. If you are sure that the Lord will not betray you, then you can go forward with courage. The Lord himself will give you the grace to see life in death. There is an expression that I do not like: “the House of the Father” or “going back to the Father’s House,” as if our life were a round trip. It would be better to say: “Go to meet the Lord” or “I’m going towards that meeting.” There will be a meeting or encounter at the end of life. It’s a meeting I may or may not have had in life and it’s a meeting that I’ve been looking forward to or not looking forward to in my life. But in the end, we will meet God face to face.
Another tribute I came across that resonated with me. Declan
A Pope in a Poncho: The Gospel of Fragility
It was not the papal cassock, the golden cross, or the solemn gaze from a palace balcony that marked April 10, 2025.
Instead, it was a fragile old man in a striped poncho, worn black trousers, and oxygen tubing, rolling quietly through the grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica.
No proclamation, no camera crews, no ceremonial fanfare. Just a tired pilgrim in the skin of a pope, moving slowly toward the restored chair of Peter and the tomb of Saint Pius X.
To some, it was a scandal. To others, a shock. And to a few—perhaps not many—it was a moment of profound, unscripted holiness.
Because it was not the Vicar of Christ clothed in tradition but something far rarer: a leader without costume, a priest without performance, a man who dared to embody the Gospel in raw, human skin.
In an institution where clothing is language—the cassock, the skullcap, the ring—all speak of office, succession, and sacred continuity—Francis chose a language older than vestments: the language of presence.
In his beige Argentine poncho, he wasn’t signalling authority; he was invoking memory—of his homeland, of the poor, of the Jesus who walked dusty roads with no sceptre, throne, or robe worth envying.
Some saw an older man too frail to dress appropriately. Others saw disrespect for ritual. But to those attuned to the undercurrent, it was something else entirely: a gesture of undoing, the kind that refuses to uphold a performance when the soul is calling for honesty.
He didn’t come to be venerated that day. He came to be.
And in doing so, he reminded the Church—perhaps unintentionally—that the robes, collar, rituals, and relics are only bridges. They are not the water beneath.
When we strip away the grandeur, what remains is a question the Church must confront more often: What happens when the sacred no longer looks impressive? When authority arrives in a wheelchair, with sunken eyes and no cross on its chest?
Whether deliberately or by accident, Francis exposed the quiet truth: the real scandal is not the poncho, but how much we’ve come to rely on appearances to sustain our reverence.
We want our popes upright, glowing, and draped in theology. We don’t want them too human, too frail, too much like us.
But isn’t that precisely the paradox at the heart of Christianity?
*Today, when Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a colt, his official representative on earth is wheelchaired into the most ornate church on earth, dressed in an Argentinian poncho reminded us that fragility is not the opposite of faith—it may be its most honest form.*
That perhaps, in a moment like this, the Church caught a glimpse of what Jesus meant when he knelt to wash feet instead of issuing commands.
This was not the Pope as prince or priest. This was the Pope as a person, as a pilgrim, as a reminder that grace may arrive not dressed in white but in weakness.
And maybe, just maybe, that is the Church we need to become.
Johnson Kotaram
From the editorial of this weeks Tablet Journal
Let us Dream is also the title of the wonderful little book Pope Francis wrote in 2020, during the months of lockdown, with the English Catholic writer, papal biographer and former deputy editor of The Tablet, Austen Ivereigh. “I never imagined I would grow close to a pope, of all people, and can’t quite describe what the relationship was. I sometimes see myself in the media described as his friend, but that can’t be right. He was a master and a father and a loving guide, the greatest teacher of the Gospel of Jesus Christ I have known, and I was blessed that he cared for me, as he cared for everyone,” Austen writes in this week’s special issue. He last met Francis in December. “He seemed exhausted, and short of breath. I got out my recorder and asked him questions, as usual, but his voice was raspy and the answers perfunctory. So I turned it off, and said I had no more questions. ‘That’s OK,’ he said. ‘I’m just glad you’re here. Tell me what’s been happening.’ So we spoke of this and that, and we chatted, heart to heart. When he looked tired, I got up to leave. We hugged. As I left, sensing it might be the last time, it hit me how much I would miss him, what a hole he would leave. By the time the lift reached the ground floor, I was in tears.” Some of us were in tears, too, when we read Austen’s piece. Brendan Walsh
“Right up to his very last day,” Julian Paparella writes in his View from Rome, “Francis put into practice what he characterised on countless occasions as the ‘style of God’: closeness, tenderness, and compassion … This pontificate has been a new springtime of renewal in the Church; his point was not to see it all through to completion, but to open up new pathways forwards. To quote the well-known prayer associated with Archbishop Oscar Romero whom Francis canonised, he was ‘a prophet of a future not his own’.”
As a subscriber to the weekly Tablet I am always impressed by the quality of Journalism and the angles taken in reinforcing the insights and reforms established by the Second Vatican Council. I warmly recommend it to teachers to keep you informed and to assist you in keeping updated and grounded in contemporary spiritual and ethical issues Declan
Archbishop Eamon Martin Speaks on the Death of Pope Francis
“There was something different about this pope who came to us twelve years ago from “the ends of the world”. On that very first night when he stood on the balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica, our hearts were moved as he greeted the people with a simple ‘Buonasera’ and asked us to pray to the Lord to bless him.”
On hearing today the announcement that Pope Francis has died, my heart is filled with both deep sadness and immense gratitude, as we say farewell to a faithful shepherd who has walked closely with his people and carried their joys and sorrows in his heart.
Pope Francis’ papacy has been a profound gift to the Church and World. On behalf of the Irish Bishops’ Conference, and the Catholic faithful on the island of Ireland, I extend sympathy to Pope Francis’ family members, to those who have worked most closely with him, and to all those around the globe who loved him and will mourn his loss.
There was something different about this pope who came to us twelve years ago from “the ends of the world”. On that very first night when he stood on the balcony of Saint Peter’s Basilica, our hearts were moved as he greeted the people with a simple ‘Buonasera’ and asked us to pray to the Lord to bless him. Now we pray to that same Lord to show him mercy and welcome him to his eternal reward. Pope Francis often expressed his personal unworthiness, insisting ‘I am a sinner’. He would want us to pray now for his soul as he appears before God whom he himself presented to the world as a loving and merciful God, who understands all our weaknesses and frailties, yet loves each of us deeply.
The Catholic people of the world will mourn the loss of the late ‘holy father’, while thanking God for his tireless service as priest and bishop, and his courageous witness as servant leader of the Catholic Church. Pope Francis embodied a Church that listens, accompanies, and embraces all. His vision was not one of rigid structures or distant authority, but of a Church committed to encounter and deep solidarity with humanity. Grounded and shaped by the Latin American Theology of the People (Teología del Pueblo), Pope Francis recognised the wisdom of ordinary believers, affirmed the beauty of popular devotion, and upheld the dignity of those on the margins of both the Church and society.
From the very first days of Pope Francis’ pontificate in 2013, he had a special place in his heart for the poor, those often forgotten on the peripheries, and those who are suffering most – both globally and locally. He showed us by word – and action – that solidarity with the poor and vulnerable means looking into their faces, touching their flesh, sensing their closeness and trying to help them. Such solidarity never tolerates any assault on human life or on the human dignity of any person.
Pope Francis’ bold gestures of compassion spoke to millions across the globe – from his sincere empathy for migrants and outreach to prisoners, to his humble avoidance of many of the traditional privileges and accoutrements of the papacy.
Pope Francis was not just a leader of Catholics, or even of Christians; rather, he was a global leader who spoke with much needed balance and authority on behalf of countless people of goodwill around the world. He went the extra mile in reaching out to those of other Christian denominations and world faiths. He built friendships across religious divides because he firmly believed that we are all brothers and sisters. He abhorred war as a ‘defeat for humanity’ and he continuously advocated for peace building, reconciliation and cooperation between peoples, faiths and nations in our very troubled world.
For someone who took up such a challenging role at the age of 76, Pope Francis appeared happy and youthful and, until recently, he seemed to have boundless energy! He never lost a minute in promoting the Good News of Christ to children, young people, parents and the elderly all over the world, travelling to many faraway places to bring the joy of the Gospel.
At the Vatican, he insisted on reform of the Curia and of the global Church’s safeguarding procedures, courageously confronting the terrible sins and crimes of abuse in the Church and its traumatic impact on victims, survivors and the wider faithful.
In choosing the name Francis, he set himself the demanding task of following in the footsteps of the great saint of Assisi – modelling a preferential option for the poor, building peace and friendship everywhere, and highlighting the urgent need for the care and protection of God’s creation. He alerted the entire world to the ‘cry of the Earth’ and the ‘cry of the poor’, emphasising that all creatures are connected by the love of the Creator; he constantly highlighted the imperative facing humanity of caring for our common home and protecting the gifts of creation for future generations.
Here in Ireland we will always remember that Pope Francis made time to visit us when the World Meeting of Families was held in Dublin in 2018. He brought us a message of encouragement and consolation, stressing the fundamental importance of family and marriage for society and for the Church. But even in that hectic, short visit he emphasised the importance of ‘encounter’- meeting with the homeless and hungry at the Capuchin Day Centre, conversing with couples preparing for marriage, and travelling to Knock to pray with, and for, the people of Ireland. Most importantly, however, he wanted to take time to listen and respond to the heartfelt, painful stories of survivors of abuse.
No doubt in the coming days and weeks many more memories of Pope Francis will emerge, but for me it was his closeness and friendship with Christ which stood out most of all – in his compassion for the suffering, and the way he placed the vulnerable at the centre of his ministry – the poor, refugees, victims of war, human trafficking, and all who are exploited, overlooked or excluded by Church or by society. He wanted to bring them in from the cold.
As a leader, Pope Francis continually emphasised the importance of listening and discernment, calling the Catholic Church to be a ‘synodal Church on mission’. He wanted everything in the Church to be put in what he called ‘a missionary key’. The Church cannot be shut up in the Sacristy; it should neither come across as a dusty museum, nor, on the other hand, as some kind of NGO. The Church is a home for the lost and wounded. Like a ‘field hospital’, it is entrusted with the task of welcoming the sinner with tenderness and mercy, and presenting the joyful message of salvation in Christ. This, he said, impels her to go out and spread the Good News, accompanying and calling people back to the person that God wants them to be. Now, as Pope Francis goes to God, it is up to us to continue to make known that ‘God loves us first’, and that we in turn are called to love one another as brothers and sisters who know that Christ is alive; Christ is our hope!
In his 2020 encyclical Fratelli Tutti, on fratenity and social friendship, Pope Francis posed a series of ‘real’ questions for leaders to reflect upon, such as: ‘How much love did I put into my work?’; ‘What did I do for the progress of our people?’; ‘What mark did I leave on the life of society?’; ‘What real bonds did I create?’; ‘What positive forces did I unleash?’; ‘How much social peace did I sow?’; and, ‘What good did I achieve in the position that was entrusted to me?’.
No doubt he often put these same questions to himself.
It is my hope and prayer that our loving and merciful God shall give Pope Francis the answer to those questions today: ‘You did well, Francis; well done, good and faithful servant.’
At the outset of his Petrine ministry, Pope Francis urged us in his 2013 Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel, (86)): ‘Do not let yourselves be robbed of hope.’ May his legacy continue to bear fruit in a Church that listens, serves, and dares to dream.
Pope Francis, thank you.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on his soul.
Amen.
+ Archbishop Eamon Martin
Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland
Catholic educators respond to death of Pope Francis
Following the death of Pope Francis on 21 April 2025, the Ireland’s Catholic Education Partnership published the following statement:
It was with profound sadness that the Board of Catholic Education Partnership (CEP) learnt of the death of Pope Francis. Our prayers are joined with that of our brothers and sisters in faith throughout the world that Jesus Christ may grant Pope Francis rest in the House of the Father.
Dr Marie Griffin, chairperson of CEP, said, “Catholic educators remember Pope Francis with gratitude and fondness for his leadership and inspiration. In the Global Compact on Education he gave us a pathway to compassionate care and respect for all, especially the marginalised. In it, he drew our attention to the twin ecological challenges of our age: the ecological crisis of our common home and that of the ecology of the human person. In it, he placed families and the human person at the centre of concern for educators, emphasising the need to listen to the voices of the young and to find new ways of understanding economics, politics, growth and progress. In time, I am confident that this will be seen as a key aspect of the rich legacy of his pontificate.”
The Chief Executive of CEP, Alan Hynes, noted, “that the last message on social media posted by Pope Francis reminded us that the resurrection of Christ captures ‘the entire meaning of our existence, for we were not made for death, but for life’. This is the Golden Thread running through Catholic education – that human life has a meaning, purpose, and destiny, far beyond the limitations of this mortal life.
“Time and time again, Pope Francis drew attention to the significance of human dignity, made as we are in the image of God. In Fratelli Tutti he reminds us that ‘as a community, we have an obligation to ensure that every person lives with dignity and has sufficient opportunities for his or her integral development.’ These words serve as a mission statement for Catholic education, words that we will seek to honour as we continue on with our work in the light of Pope Francis’ profound legacy to the Church and to the world.”
The Catholic Education Partnership was established in 2020 and replaced the Catholic Schools Partnership. The purpose of the CEP is to provide an authoritative and unified voice for the Catholic education sector at primary, post-primary and tertiary levels on the island of Ireland.
The Bishops’ Communications Office in Maynooth has made available digital Books of Condolence for people to record their sympathy and these are available on the homepage of catholicbishops.ie, on the bishops’ social media platforms of Facebook, Instragram, X, Linkedin and on BlueSky.
Pope Francis: Lent calls us to journey together in hope Source: Vatican Media
In his Message for Lent 2025, Pope Francis invites the faithful to “journey together in hope,” and to take the opportunity of the upcoming Lenten Season to ask ourselves whether we are truly willing to heed God’s call to change our lives.
The Pope’s reflection, which ties into the broader theme of the Jubilee Year: ‘Pilgrims of Hope‘ focuses on conversion and unfolds in three key dimensions: the importance of journeying, journeying together, and journeying with hope.
Recalling the biblical Exodus of the people of Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land, the Pope reminds us that our lives too are a journey-one that should be directed toward God.
This journey is not merely a metaphorical one but involves a constant call to conversion, “to leave behind the occasions of sin” and situations that degrade our human dignity.
Pope Francis, therefore, urges the faithful during this Lenten Season to examine their own lives: are they actively progressing on the path of spiritual renewal or are they held back by fear and hopelessness or reluctant to move out of their comfort zone?
Drawing a parallel between the Hebrew people’s “arduous path from slavery to freedom” and the plight of modern migrants and refugees, the Pope invites us to use this period as an opportunity to consider how we relate our own lives with the struggles of those who are forced to flee “situations of misery and violence in search of a better life” and “in this way discover what God is asking of us.” This, he writes, “would be a good ‘examination of conscience’ for all of us wayfarers.”
“It is hard to think of the biblical exodus without also thinking of those of our brothers and sisters who in our own day are fleeing situations of misery and violence in search of a better life for themselves and their loved ones. A first call to conversion thus comes from the realization that all of us are pilgrims in this life.”
A fundamental aspect of the Lenten Message is the emphasis on community and synodality-the idea that Christians must walk together rather than in isolation.
Pope Francis reminds us, “The Holy Spirit impels us not to remain self-absorbed, but to keep walking towards God and our brothers and sisters.”
“Journeying together,” he writes, “means consolidating the unity grounded in our common dignity as children of God (…) without letting anyone be left behind or excluded.”
Again, he challenges the faithful to reflect on whether we are capable of walking together with others in our families, workplaces, and communities, resisting the temptation to become self-absorbed. Are we welcoming to others? Do we include those who feel marginalized?
“Let us ask ourselves in the presence of the Lord whether, as bishops, priests, consecrated persons and laity in the service of the Kingdom of God, we cooperate with others. Whether we show ourselves welcoming, with concrete gestures, to those both near and far. Whether we make others feel a part of the community or keep them at a distance.”
The third fundamental dimension of the Lenten journey is hope, anchored in God’s promise of salvation and eternal life fulfilled in Jesus’ Resurrection, the victory over sin and death.
This hope is not abstract but must be lived concretely. Pope Francis invites us to examine whether we truly trust in God’s mercy. Do we believe in His forgiveness, or do we fall into the trap of self-reliance? And do we concretely experience the hope that inspires in us “a commitment to justice and fraternity, to care for our common home and in such a way that no one feels excluded?”
Quoting Saint Teresa of Avila, the message urges the faithful to remain watchful and patient, understanding that God’s promises will be fulfilled in His time.
“This was the prayer of Saint Teresa of Avila: ‘Hope, O my soul, hope. You know neither the day nor the hour. Watch carefully, for everything passes quickly, even though your impatience makes doubtful what is certain, and turns a very short time into a long one.'” Pope concludes by entrusting this journey of hope to the intercession of the Virgin Mary, “Mother of Hope,” praying that she may accompany the faithful as we prepare to celebrate the joy of Easter.
Below are Lectio Resource Pages for Taize Prayer this Lent
I was delighted to be invited to view and write a short appreciation of this commissioned Icon of St Patrick on the 150th Anniversary of the Armagh Cathedral that bears his name. Icons are a way that God uses to reach out and draw us into Himself Christians have venerated this unique presence by anointing icons with Holy Chrism and praying with and through them as sources of blessing and grace. Hence they are usually placed with a burning lamp or candle and incensed on special occasions.
To pray with an icon is to be united with God as Father Son and Holy Spirit. It is to venerate those millions of disciples who in faithfulness have shared God’s Love and the Gospel message we call the Good News. Patrick was a Christian disciple who during his years as a slave in captivity learned to relate at a very deep mystical level with God as Trinity during his time on Slemish Mountain and the surrounding landscape His isolation and silence taught him to turn to his God as the Desert Fathers and mothers practiced in their isolated hermitages in Syria and the Arabian deserts. Mysticism is the gift of the community we know as God.
Patrick became a deeply committed Trinitarian and this led him to priesthood and later ministry as a bishop; to the very people who had enslaved him and taken him to a foreign land. We know from his writings both his Confessions and letter to Coroticus that Patrick was indeed fully attuned to the similar path being at that time explored in the Middle East the cradle of the Church Filled with zeal for God like Patrick these souls lived austere lives praying the gospels and using disciplines like the Jesus Prayer as a means to enter the circle of life and love God enjoys as Father Son and Holy Spirit.
In this icon Patrick is shown holding the Cathedral a symbol of the See or Church of Armagh As its first bishop and founder it is appropriate he holds it in support and surrounds it with his prayer and protection. Patrick is wearing the pallium that special collar woven from the wool of lambs and kept by the tomb of Peter to be bestowed on every Archbishop reminding them and God’s holy people of our close link to the church of Peter and the Apostles. their mission or task was and is to share and live the Gospel as taught by and lived by Jesus our Saviour and Master
Above the main figure of Patrick we are shown two more important patron saints of the Armagh Church, St Brigid of Faughart ( Mhuire na nGael) baptized herself by Patrick and also St Malachy who in his turn reformed the whole Irish Church and united it with fresh vigor to the See of Peter in Rome. These patron saints together with St Oliver Plunkett are depicted on either side of Jesus on the present High Altar in the Cathedral,. In Patrick’s right hand, we find his great reputed teaching aid the sprig of green shamrock. With it’s three leaves but one stem. Three persons but one God.
The God of Christianity although in continuity with the Hebrew God is radically a Community of equal but distinct persons. “ The Father and I are one “ Unthinkable to Jews yet revealed by Jesus as the core of all life here and in heaven. The intimacy He shows with The Father is amazing and inspires Christians to pursue a similar bond by living daily the spirit of the Beatitudes. Those early desert-dwelling mothers and fathers thirsted for ways to live intimately in the love the Father shared with the Son and Holy Spirit. “To see Me is to have seen Him. “ This was the new Way. The Magi returned home in a new Way prefiguring a whole upturning in our knowledge of God. Jesus tells us He is “The Way, the Truth and the Life “ He lived this bond to the Father as easily as breathing air.
We know Patrick shared this desire to know and love God and he longed to share this with all he encountered. Patrick was familiar with the great teachers of prayer. Anthony of Egypt, John Cassian, and other greats of the desert shared their knowledge and teaching. We can sometimes be surprised at how fast the Good News was shared and how far it traveled. From Egypt and Syria to the Skelligs! This Trinitarian Faith spread all around the Mediterranean coastline moving ever farther through Italy, Gaul, and Spain and it was Patrick who was the main instrument the Father used to draw the Irish peoples of the time to a new radical vision of eternal life and its prospects. “Where I am you too will be “ What hope and what life these words offer to us. Today as then, Patrick calls us all to unite in praise for this Community of God whose living Heart yearns for each of us to step into their life of love. “ I bind unto myself today the strong Name of the Trinity, By invocation of the same, The Three in One and One in Three. “ Each of us today must embrace these words and live our Trinitarian Faith aware of and living the relationship they offer us daily. Each morning like Patrick let us step into their circle of love embracing and taking ownership of the space they have left us to complete so that when we step from this life we will behold their faces and share in their life of love I pray you may be indeed embraced by God as you gaze at and pray before this most holy Icon. St Patrick pray for us. Amen.
Declan O’Loughlin. July 2023
BLESSING SHAMROCK
Heavenly Father. We gather today to celebrate the life and ministry of Patrick, your servant. We ask you to bless these shamrock plants, our national symbol used by Patrick in his ministry to our ancestors, You are truly one God and Three Persons, a Trinity of love and compassion. Through wearing and having these blessed symbols in our homes this day may we be reminded that your Most Holy Trinity watches over and blesses our daily lives. And so now as we sprinkle these shamrock plants with holy water may you bless them † in the name of the Father, creator of all, in the name of the Son, your Word made flesh and in the name of the Holy Spirit who consoles us and reminds us of your love for us, one God forever and ever Amen.
The Council for Catechetics assisting the Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference has published a new document called Wellbeing and the Catholic School for primary and post-primary Catholic Schools. Drawing inspiration from both Christian teachings and governmental strategies, the document highlights how Catholic schools create environments that foster resilience, hope, and moral integrity, ensuring students thrive not just academically but as whole individuals. This resource offers practical insights for school leaders, teachers, and parents to embed a Catholic vision of wellbeing into policies, curriculum, and daily practices. The document is available online here:
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