Fr Paddy
Fr Paddy is the parish priest of Abbeyleix. From Carlow town, he was educated in Carlow CBS and studied Business and Politics in Trinity College Dublin before training to be a priest in Carlow College.
He writes for a number of media outlets. He has almost 31,000 followers on Twitter.
Fr Paddy: A guide to prayer
In the secular world, mindfulness is much embraced and practiced. Personally, I find it difficult to differentiate between practicing mindfulness and prayer.
Prayer and meditation...
Fr Paddy: An eight-year old’s explanation of God
A second class student in primary school recently wrote the following wisdom …
One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to...
Fr Paddy: Summer … A time to rest
Despite all the bad news, regarding huge queues and cancellation of scheduled air flights, it is still wonderful that Dublin International Airport, enjoys a...
Fr Paddy: Synodality … Listening and Learning
Recently, the chiming of a bell at the ancient monastic site of Clonmacnoise, was significant.
Laity, religious, priests and bishops, all participated at a daylong...
Fr Paddy: God’s Coffee
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor.
Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in...
Fr Paddy: 18 Things to remember during our summer rest
The month of June, is a wonderful time of year. Long bright days that awaken within us all a sense of peace and calm.
Traditionally...
Fr Paddy: No state exam, can ever measure how valued and loved these young...
As we have begun the month of June, I pray sincerely that this bright month, will be a time of rich blessing, health of...
Fr Paddy: Anything that you have to control, controls you
Anything that you have to control, controls you.
There are many variations to this story, but it’s quite instructive.
In South America, Africa and Asia,...
Fr Paddy: Saint Charles de Foucauld – an inspirational Christian
The following is a biography of the wonderful life, of an inspirational Christian, recently canonised by Pope Francis.
For all of us it is...
Fr Paddy: Without counting the cost …
There is story in the Gospel about a leper coming to Jesus on his knees and pleading with him, saying, ‘If you want to,...
Fr Paddy: Let go … Let God
It’s good to think of prayer, not just as saying prayers, or speaking to God, but as listening to God.
Not just as words but...
Fr Paddy: Meandering our way through unprecedented times
Security is an important reality we all desire, even though most of us spend most of our lives doing just that. We long for...
Fr Paddy: A message of Hope following a walk in Emo Court
As we move closer to the Month of May, it brings a sense of hope and fresh opportunity.
A recent walk in Emo Court, reminded...
Fr Paddy: Easter – A time to hope
Easter is a time of hope and new life, an opportunity to begin again in a new way.
The Angel said to the wounded followers...
Fr Paddy: Make time to share a meal this Easter
This is Holy Week, a sacred time when through ritual and symbolism we remember and give thanks for the great sacrifice Jesus made for...
Fr Paddy: The danger of keeping silent
The number of priests and members of religious orders in Ireland has dropped by 70% since 1970.
In the past three years more than...
Fr Paddy: The Strangest Dream
Tanks in the city streets of Ukraine. Blocks of flats on fire. Wrecked and burnt-out trucks, twisted metal and shattered windows.
Small groups of cold...
Fr Paddy: The Little Flower … a powerful Saint
St. Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897) was a French Catholic who became a Carmelite nun at an early age.
She died in obscurity at the age...
Fr Paddy: St Patrick – icon of solidarity
After two long years of lockdowns and living with the reality of pandemic, it is with a great sense of joy that we can...
Fr Paddy: Martin Luther King’s Letter to White Church Leaders
In 1960, Martin Luther King was imprisoned after leading a civil rights march. His dream seemed a long way off.
Criticised by white church leaders,...
Fr Paddy: Make the most of Lent
Saint Basil, known as the Great, was a fourth-century bishop of the Eastern Church who was known for his care for the poor.
He was...
Fr Paddy: ‘No one can do everything, but everyone can do something’
In the Bible, the Virgin Mary was named Sella Maris, which means star of the sea.
The Virgin Mary is a symbol of guidance and...
Fr Paddy: The importance of slowing down
Most of us live rushed lives, dashing from one thing to another. One consequence is that we live on the surface of life, skimming...
Fr Paddy: Stay positive because life is the best educator
February is such a beautiful month. The brighter evenings and earlier mornings, awakens within us, a new energy.
Winter has passed and thankfully the darkness...
Fr Paddy: A springtime of hope
There was a great sense of relief and unburdening, when An Taoiseach Micheal Martin, announced the ending of most of the restrictions, regarding COVID-19.
We...
Fr Paddy: Remembering Ashling Murphy
The recent tragic death of Ashling Murphy, has left a deep sense of vulnerability and pain, in the heart and soul of our nation.
Ashling’s,...
Fr Paddy: Five spiritual tips for new year 2022
The best resolutions are elastic, they cannot be broken with a single act.
If you swear never to touch red meat, one burger ruins the...
Fr Paddy: Happy New Year
A new year is here! This means new beginnings, new journeys, and new resolutions.
The New Year is often seen as an opportunity to improve...
Fr Paddy: Let the light shine
At this time, every year, we hear these words from Scripture: ‘The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light’.
Familiar words indeed,...
Fr Paddy: ‘O Holy Night’ continues to inspire hope and comfort
The gun should never have been left lying around in the first place. Making the carelessness even worse was that it was loaded.
With two...