Every year on the Sunday before Pentecost the Church celebrates the achievements of the communications media and focuses of how it can best use them to promote gospel values. Patrick Duffy explains what it is and refers to both the achievements and new initiatives of CatholicIreland.net.
Alex Wright, Director of SCM Press, calls for theologians and churches to dialogue seriously with contemporary culture in a world where religion and faith are becoming ever more marginal.
Retired Bishop Geoffrey Robinson critiques the Church’s use and misuse of power, from the Pope to any preacher at the pulpit. He also proposes a new model of exercising authority in the Church where all the members are treated as responsible adults.
Boethius defined ‘person’ as an individual, and that became theologically and socially dominant, whereas Augustine understood person as ‘relatio’ and Aquinas as ‘relatio subsistens’. Tom Norris thinks if we could return to thinking of the divine person as ‘relatio’ we could more easily return to a spirituality of communion.
The theologians who wrote the essays for this book have done theology a great service. They have shown how Pope John Paul II in the twenty-six years of his pontificate progressed and developed the way the Church thinks on a wide range of themes: revelation, suffering, the Holy Spirit, communism, [...]
This is a book of papers delivered at a conference on the encyclical of Pope Benedict XVI Deus caritas est. And like Jesus’ reply, it pushes beyond the defences implied in asking the question ‘Who is my neighbour?’ Eoin G. Cassidy, Head of the Philosophy Department at Mater Dei is [...]
Fr Michael Collins examines the extraordinary history of the papacy and the great influence it has had on the development of civilisation.
Andrew Pierce and Geraldine Smyth OP edit this tribute to Gabriel Daly OSA. It is a collection of essays on faith and culture by such authors as Enda McDonagh, David Tracy and Johann Baptist Metz.
This series of essays from the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice reflects on the integration of spirituality with a commitment to working for a more just world.
Nurturing Children’s Religious Imagination is aimed at primary school teachers, parents and others as they set about responding to the challenges of religious education in the twenty-first century It is edited by Raymond Topley and Gareth Byrne.
February 1st, the feast of Imbolg in the old Celtic year, marked the beginning of spring. It was Christianised and adapted as the feast of St Brigid and many rituals still associated with the feast are best understood in the light of their pagan Celtic origins. After a Foreword on [...]
Pat Seavers book gives some background into suicide itself, its effect on families and the local Christian community, general historical viewpoints, and the unique characteristics of funeral liturgies developed for such occasions.
In this book, Maurice Reidy meets with four people: two are believers and two are not and explores their experiences of religious belief and unbelief. He shows that to believe in God is a reasonable decision and one that can be sustained. He concludes with a personal account of his [...]
Fr Jack McArdle offers his pastoral thoughts and insights on different aspects of Christian living. He looks at different signposts and gifts we may have. Always easy to read, this book will be helpful to many.
Written by Steven Croft, this evolving Advent tale can be read on many levels and is suitable for adults and children alike. It is packed with codes and secrets and invites the reader to explore the deeper meanings of Advent and Christmas.
Rosemarie and Peter Atkin’s short book ‘Prayer-Bytes’ offers much needed time-out for young people, with prayers and reflections that are simple in style and relevant to the concerns faced by today’s youth.
This is a collection of recent essays by Enda McDonagh – many in honour of friends – on a variety of topics such as theology in the university, education, globalisation, grief, suicide, politics, risk, transformative justice, poetry, art, theatre and tragedy.
This well-illustrated book is a course of fifteen lessons for children preparing for First Confession and First Holy Communion. It will be an invaluable resource in any home, parish and school which wants to hand on the faith to their children.
Fr Michael Mullins lectures in Scripture in St Patrick’s College, Maynooth. He has already produced commentaries on the gospels of John and Mark. Again this commentary on Matthew gospel is a thorough and scholarly, but written in a readable style.
In this book, Daniel O’Leary develops two themes that are central to the Catholic Education Service(CES) of the religious education programme document of the Bishops of England and Wales. These are: “the Catholic imagination” and “the sacramental vision”. The book is inspired by “On the Way to Life”, an interpretive [...]
The recent Synod on the Word of God (October 2008) highlighted ways of more effective proclaiming the Word of God in today’s world and Have it inspire the lives of Christians. In anticipation of this, the Cloyne Commission for Liturgical Formation last year produced two beautiful companion booklets, of which [...]
How to minister in contemporary Irish society is the question addressed by the articles in this interesting book edited by St Patrick’s Missionary Fr Thomas Grenham. Topics include the roles of conversation, presence, systems theory, supervision and reading the signs of the times play in pastoral ministry.
Dermot Lane invites Christians to deepen their faith by exploring some of the fundamental issues of contemporary theology, such as the religious meaning of experience, the nature of Christian revelation and the place of grace and faith in Christian life.
Harry Bohan and Gerard Kennedy edit this selection of essays which give pointers as to how we can meet with responsibility the challenges of a changing world and discover a spirituality adequate to this purpose.
Starting with human desire, Vincent MacNamara traces the possibility for the contemporary reader to move through the development of a personal self and soul-awakening to religious faith and moral transformation.
This book by Anne Hession and Patricia Kieran brings a welcome clarity to the language and thought about the major issues in the debate about Catholic religious education.
In this book, (one of ‘Into the Classroom series’) designed for second level teachers, Patrick Hannon examines some understandings of morality and the implications of these understandings for personal moral decision making.
Garry Wills believes that the Rosary, all twenty mysteries, is a form of devotion ideally suited to the modern world, when so many are seeking a form of contemplation, spiritual renewal and calm. It contains reflective meditations and lavish illustrations by Tintoretto
Caitriona McClean presents twelve interviews she conducted with people involved for many years in pastoral ministry in Ireland. They are frank and open conversations, easy to read and with an infectious energy.
John Farrelly has written an excellent guide for couples who want to save or strengthen their relationship. It includes insights into separating fromour family of origin, avoiding conflict, overcoming infidelity, maintaining work-life balance, parenting and effective communication.
