The summer 2008 issue of Studies, the Irish Jesuit quarterly review, addresses a series of matters relating to Irish education. Under the title ‘Educating ourselves’, it carries articles about Catholic schools, intercultural education, professional ethics in teaching, and religious values in education. In his editorial, Fergus O’Donoghue SJ notes that the benefits of the churches having a role in Irish ...

In this brief commentary on the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty by the Irish electorate, Edmond Grace SJ identifies in Irish politics a crisis of trust which requires attention. After the Lisbon Treaty referendum our political leaders find themselves in an unenviable position. Among their counterparts in Europe they have failed, for a second time, to deliver the agreement of ...

The Jesuit Refugee Service (Ireland) is currently welcoming applications for the post of Integration Officer, a two-year, fixed-term, full-time contract. The successful candidate will be required to support and develop the integration services of the JRS, which have a special focus on education, and to contribute to the policy and advocacy work of the JRS in this area. Those interested ...

Sunday the 15th June marked the Golden Jubilee of the ordination of Msgr Tom Stack, a long time friend of the Jesuits. A celebration was held at St. Anne’s Church Milltown, Dublin, to mark both the jubilee and Fr Stack’s retirement as Parish Priest in that parish. Bishop James Moriarty, of Kildare and Leighlin, was the chief celebrant. In his ...

Dr Michael Punch, an authority on Irish Housing Policy, has joined the team of the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice (JCFJ) for the summer months. He will devote much of his time to research and analysis that will form the basis of a position paper on Housing Policy and Catholic Social Teaching, to be published by the JCFJ later ...

The Gardiner Street Gospel Choir and band will play at the launch of the Viking ship, Sea Stallion, on Sunday June 29 at 9.30am, at Dublin’s Custom House Quay. The launch marks the end of a two-day Viking Festival, with the choir headlining a musical morning along with sea-shanty singers and other entertainment. This will be the build-up to the ...

Dr. Terence O’Reilly addressed the Milltown Summer School on Ignatian Spirituality on Tuesday 17 June, on the theme of Ignatius’ spiritual diary. Based in University College Cork’s Department of Hispanic Studies, he lectures in 16th & 17th century Spanish literature. The other lecturers on St. Ignatius in the Summer School were Brian Grogan SJ, Brendan Comerford SJ, Ray Moloney SJ, ...

Padraig Brady, the new CEO-elect of the Pioneer Association, is also a keen marathon runner. Padraig, who is from Leitrim originally, previously worked in the AIB for 41 years and was vice-chair of the Pioneers and chairman of the finance committee, before taking up his current position. His wife, Noreen, is chair of the Pioneer spirituality committee and organises the ...

The Jesuit Communication Centre (JCC) held their annual garden party on June 11 on Leeson Street. Over 100 people attended, representing a variety of bodies including the Jesuit Curia, Irish Refugee Council, JCFJ, RTE, Slí Eile, RNN, Messenger Publications, JUST, Studies, Manresa and various Jesuit communities. Pictures of the event are available on: PicasaWeb.

Slí Eile are currently carying out a review of their international volunteering projects, examining questions of effectiveness, cost-benefit, sustainability and volunteer impact. An external consulant, Kieran Brehony, has been hired to do the review, thanks to an IMRS grant application made through the Jesuit Mission office. Kieran has been interviewing volunteers and Slí Eile staff involved with the international trips.