News archive 2016

Please find below the joint New Year’s message from the leaders of Ireland’s four main Christian denominations and the president of the Irish Council of Churches:   Message  As with all people, none of us are immune from standing at the gate of the New...

Some people said that the Peace People were naive, others, that they were being manipulated.  For me, their message and actions were motivated by a strong belief in non-violence and a conviction that peace begins from the ground up Violence and aggression is...

Dubliners who may have been a little less than overjoyed when they opened their presents yesterday morning are being asked to help the city’s homeless by passing on their unwanted Christmas Gifts.  The Unwanted   Gifts Appeal at St. Mary’s Pro Cathedral...

"I am humbled by ... the courageous work of Trócaire to help traumatised victims and survivors of conflict ... to the brave Irish UN peacekeepers and for the tremendous humanitarian work of our navy in the Mediterranean. I thank God for the work of the Saint Vincent...

St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, 24 December 2016 Saint Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus begins with a clear affirmation.  Luke boldly places the story of the birth of Jesus into terms of the real world.  He identifies who the Roman Emperor was and who the...

At this special time of year we celebrate the coming of our Saviour, who came into our world in the humblest of circumstances and was welcomed in the first place by poor shepherds who were the first to be told the good news that faithful Jews had longed for, for...

First Christmas in Killaloe With great delight and happiness on my first Christmas season as new bishop of the Diocese of Killaloe, I have the privilege to offer a seasonal greeting and blessing. A Time to look back The festive season of Christmas is a time to look...

At Christmas, God comes to us as a child, vulnerable, wordless, dependant and he evokes a love from us that is free, faithful and joyful. Christmas is very much a family time.  In a busy world family can easily be neglected.  Time spent with family is very...

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light On those who have walked in the shadow of death a light has shone”  (Is. 9:2) This hope and vision of the new dawn that the Messiah brings to the world is what makes Christmas so special.  It is a wonderful...

“Every family is urged by Pope Francis to look to the icon of the Holy Family of Nazareth because its daily life had its share of burdens and even darkness” – Bishop Smith The Scripture texts that tell the story of the birth of Jesus take us into an unfamiliar divine...

Christmas greetings to you wherever you are  today.  Every family has their own particular way of marking Christmas, their own traditions and rituals which are often handed down from parents or grandparents. Still, we are all united in remembering and celebrating the...

Over the last few weeks I have been struck by a range of different stories. On the one side there are many stressful and shocking situations around every corner and around the world. On the other side, there are great people and groups who can laugh in the face of the...