Fr Neal Carlin of Burnfoot, Co. Donegal and members of the Columba Centre and IOSAS Centre with a new shrine to St Ita of Waterford
    The Congress Bell was recently welcomed to St Joseph's Home in Ferrybank, Co. Waterford.
    Passionist Fr Ephrem Blake (2nd right) with volunteers in the newly reopened Passionist Retreat Centre at Tobar Mhuire, Crossgar, Co. Down.
    Members of the new diocesan Eucharistic Adoration Committee for Kerry pictured in Killarney. Photo: Valerie O'Sullivan
    Archbisop Michael Neary of Tuam and other attendees at the recent AGM of the National Grandparents Association in Knock.
    Bishop Denis Brennan of Ferns at The Most Holy Trinity Church in Bunclody for the Perpetual Vows of Sr Espuipulas, to the bishop's left.
    Parishioners of Youghal, Co. Cork during the recent visit of the Congress Bell. Photo: www.iec2012.ie
    Children of Kildare & Leighlin's Polish community who staged the Nativity Play in Newbridge parish church. Photo: Fr Tadeusz Durajczyk
    Bishop Kieran O’ Reilly (right) recently dedicated a stained glass window to St Flannan at Lisdeen Church in the parish of Kilkee Co. Clare.
    Irish College seminarians Andrew Black and Michael McGavigan, beside Bishop Donal McKeown of Down and Connor, were instituted as acolytes during Advent at the Irish College in Rome.

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    Christians offer 'beacon of hope' in recession

    Mags Gargan

    Parishes of all denominations in the Mullingar area united as one Christian community last weekend in order to face the challenge of how Christians can offer practical support to those struggling to cope in the current financial climate.

    Christian Voices Together, an initiative launched in Christian Unity Week last year by local Christian churches, hosted a conference attended by 120 people from all denominations who wanted to work together to help their community through financial austerity.

    ''The conference is a significant beacon of hope for our community,'' said Rev. Alastair Graham, chairperson of the group.

    ''Christianity in practice makes a difference to peoples' lives. We hope to clearly identify what needs to be done in the Mullingar area.''

    ''We need confidence in ourselves and confidence in the Good News,'' said Fr John Nally of Ballynacargy parish.

    ''If one Church was doing it, people would say fair enough, but when all Christian communities come together,...

    Comment

    Institutional religion never reformed itself

    Prophetic voices are often lauded in the abstract but when they appear in reality they are more likely to be ignored, sidelined and generally scoffed at.

    The retiring Dean of St Patrick's was one of those few prophetic voices in any of the Christian churches on this island -- a prophet is not a saint and I'm sure the Dean would be the first to laugh if anyone tried to canonise him....

    Comment

    Notebook: The power of one - Andrew O'Connell

    Anyone who tunes in regularly to George Hook on Newstalk will hear him mention his old teacher, Br Athanasius.

    George frequently declares, with pride and gratitude, that Br Athanasius taught him an appreciation of Shakespeare, a love of rugby and a belief in himself during his student days at Presentation Brothers College in Cork city.

    Athanasius, a Presentation Brother and rugby enthusiast, spent much of his life teaching in Cork and Bray, and, last week, at the grand old age of 87, he departed this life.

    Athanasius had a wide circle of friends and when news of his passing broke there were many messages of sympathy and sadness.

    However, some of the most remarkable and touching tributes were paid in perhaps the most unlikely of places -- Facebook.

    Over 140 past students of Presentation College Bray, mostly men in their 20s and 30s, left a response under the notice announcing his passing.

    They awarded him the greatest accolade an old man can...