Archbishop Martin: Lent in the history of the Church is the time when those who have come to the faith for the first time undergo a catechumenate in order to be baptised at Easter

Let’s Live Lent 2012: Trócaire invites you to journey with us through the season of Lent and to welcome the people of Bar Kawach into your homes and community.

The Lenten season offers us once again an opportunity to reflect upon the very heart of Christian life: charity. This is a favourable time to renew our journey of faith, both as individuals and as a community, with the help of the word of God and the sacraments.

A Liturgical Reception to welcome Archbishop Charles Brown, the new Papal Nuncio to Ireland took place at the Pro Cathedral in Dublin on Sunday 19 February.

Sunday 19 February was a Day of Prayer for Temperance, we reflect on our relationship with alcohol and pray for those who suffer from addiction.

More than 1,000 people have already signed up as volunteers with this year’s 50th International Eucharistic Congress 2012 (IEC2012) but hundreds of different roles still remain for people interested in participating in this significant international event.

Caring for Health in Ireland is a response to the health care reform outlined in the current Programme for Government. Our response is inspired by key principles from Catholic social teaching – human dignity, the common good, participation, solidarity and subsidiarity. From the health perspective, issues analysed by Caring for Healthcare in Ireland include the current public health consultation, the proposed Universal Health Insurance scheme and related changes to the structure of the hospital system; mental health services; disability; older people; and palliative care.

Ahead of the World Day of the Sick on 11 February, Pope Benedict remembers the sick in a special way and asks God to grant trusting patience to the sick and prays that they may be attended with care by their relatives and health care workers.

Bishop Kieran O’Reilly and Dublin footballer Ger Brennan will address the National Parish Youth Conference which is being held in Tullamore on 25 February. The theme of this year’s Conference is ‘Our Faith, Let’s Celebrate!’ and it is aimed at young people between the ages of 12 and 18.

Content from the Christmas issue of Intercom, including an article by Séamus O’Connell, Professor of Sacred Scripture at st Patrick’s College, Maynooth: ‘Mark’s Gospel and Recovery for Battered Believers’.