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| 4 March 2008 | |
| Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises are a gift to the whole church, and they have been adapted in many ways, like the parish mission or the novena of grace. The longest-standing novena in Ireland, the novena of grace has taken place every year since 1712, from March 4-12. Popular devotion feeds good liturgy, and the liturgy of the novena widens its appeal beyond personal likes and dislikes to the whole church. Each age and culture has to find its particular ways of praying from the heart. Jesuit pastors and colleagues try to meet this challenge during the coming week, as they marry a traditional format with contemporary spirituality and make connections between the life of St Francis Xavier and those who pray in his name. Editor |
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GC35 adopts first three decreesThree decrees have been adopted by the General Congregation in Rome in recent days. The first of them (29 February) concerns ‘Governance at the Service of the Universal Mission‘ and calls for a renewal of the Jesuit mode of government in such a way that it remains authentically Ignatian. The second decree is ‘On Obedience’. It looks at issues which arise from the integration of individual efforts into the mission of the entire Society and offers reflections on how Jesuits may live their relationship of obedience to the papacy today. The third decree is entitled ‘Collaboration at the Heart of Mission‘. It provides instructions on how Jesuits ought to proceed in collaborating with lay people, other religious, and people of other religions so that all concerned may go deeper, both spiritually and practically, in the mission they share. For more detail and for more news from GC35, see SJWeb.info. |
Requiescat in pace: Father Diarmuid Ó Peicín SJ
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The family todayThe Irish family is not in crisis, but neither is it in full health. So argues Fergus O’Donoghue SJ in the editorial of the spring 2008 issue of Studies, which takes as its theme ‘The family today’. ‘There are social and ideological currents that affect all of us,’ Fr O’Donoghue continues; ‘if we try to understand them, we will have a better grasp of what is happening, thus lessening our chances of being helpless and hapless victims of change.’ Many of the articles in this issue deal with matters which impact on the family in contemporary Ireland, including secularisation, multiculturalism, home stability, cohabitation, and civil unions. For more details, see the Studies website. |
Can faith and politics mix?Can faith inform secular affairs while respecting freedom of conscience? This is one of the questions up for discussion at the Sixth Slí Eile Pub Conversation, which will be held at the Belvedere Hotel, Great Denmark Street, Dublin 1, on 11 March between 7.30pm and 9.30pm. To help bring issues into focus, Senator Ronan Mullen will be present as guest speaker. Ronan Mullen was chosen in the last elections to represent the NUI constituency. As a senator he aims ‘to be a consistent, constructive advocate for a society where every person is respected and for socially responsible policies in a globalised world’. |
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JCFJ book comes out in SpanishA book produced by the Irish Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice has recently been translated into Spanish and will now reach a much wider readership. The Development of Peoples: Challenges for Today and Tomorrow was translated by ALBOAN, a partner organisation of the JCFJ, and will be distributed by the Spanish Jesuit publishing house Mensajero, under the title El Desarrollo de los Pueblos: Desafios par hoy y manana. The publication was commissioned by the International Jesuit Network on Development (IJND) and the essays were compiled and edited by the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice in Dublin. Included in the book are essays by authors from around the globe which reflect on contemporary development challenges in the light of the encyclical Populorum Progressio, issued by Pope Paul VI forty years ago. For more information, please contact the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice. |
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St Francis Xavier Novena of GraceThe Novena of Grace of St Francis Xavier began in many churches in Dublin and around the country on 4 March and will continue until 12 March. Jesuit priests will be preaching at some of the venues in Dublin, Galway and Limerick. The novena in the Church of St Francis Xavier in the Jesuit-run parish of Gardiner Street, Dublin 1, will be led by Ciary Quirke SJ, Tony O’Riordan SJ, Edmond Grace SJ, and Gerry O’Hanlon SJ. For fuller details of this and other parish churches, see the table below. |
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Is Love Enough? Action Makes Love RealThe Pobal Dé conference held in Milltown Park on Saturday 1 March was a great success. More than one hundred people attended. Below is the full text of Gerry O’Hanlon’s address to the conference.
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Mr Frank Murphy, RIPPlease pray for the repose of the soul of Frank Murphy, father of Fr. James (Séamus) Murphy SJ, who died in Salthill, Galway. Funeral details will be published in Wednesday’s papers. Ar dheis lamh De go raibh a anam. |
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Please pray for the repose of Father Diarmuid Ó Peicín S.J. who died on 4 March 2008 at Cherryfield Lodge, Dublin, at 91 years of age. Born in Dublin on 16 October 1916, Diarmuid recieved his early education at the Christian Brothers (O’Connell Schools) and at Mungret College . He took his first vows in the Society of Jesus at Emo on 8 September 1936. During his Jesuit formation he studied Arts at UCD and philosophy at Saint Stanislaus College, Tullabeg, Offaly. He taught in Clongowes Wood College and Mungret College, Limerick before studying theology at Milltown Park, Dublin.
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