Tag: Fr Paddy Byrne
Fr Paddy: The importance of staying positive
Our world screams out for poetry even if it can’t cope with it. Faith can only exist in a world of poetry.
God is...
Fr Paddy: Harvest – A Time of Hope
Recently I was greatly inspired by the kind gesture of a neighbour calling with a bag of fresh vegetables from their garden.
There is something...
Fr Paddy: 10 guidelines for a happy and peaceful Summer for...
This week marks the beginning of our summer holidays for all primary school children. Let’s pray that they will all enjoy a happy and...
Fr Paddy: How to come out on top when faced with...
A very clever dog!
A wealthy man decided to go on a safari in Africa. He took his faithful pet dog along for company. One...
Fr Paddy: Martin Luther King’s letter to White Church Leaders
We can wait no longer - Martin Luther King’s Letter to White Church Leaders.
In 1960, Martin Luther King was imprisoned after leading a civil...
Fr Paddy: Turning Green is being Christian
Recent European and local elections highlighted that our environment and climate change is a fundamental concern among most citizens.
Young people lead this awareness in...
Popular Portlaoise priest set to take up new role in Abbeyleix
Popular Portlaoise priest Fr Paddy Byrne is set to leave for a new role as parish priest in Abbeyleix, also taking in Shanahoe and...
Fr Paddy: Increasing our Faith
You don’t just wake up one morning, light streaming in from the window, birds fluttering about, and jump from your bed with exuberance declaring,...
Fr Paddy: A prayer for students
As we move through the month of May thousands of students prepare for exams.
Exam-time brings with it many mixed emotions and feelings. Soon it...
Fr Paddy: May – the month of Mary
Mary Queen of the May.
May is marked with 'Alleluias' as we celebrate the Resurrection and live into the Easter joy we proclaim.
May is also...
Fr Paddy: Divine Mercy – A sacred gift
How can anyone argue against Divine Mercy Sunday?
Divine Mercy is hope wrapped up in a loving God, ever ready to embrace us and forgive...
Fr Paddy: Easter – A time to hope
“He is not here, he is risen”, is the signal message which the women receive as they make their way to anoint this dead...
Fr Paddy: Parable of the Prodigal Son challenges us all
The story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 1–3, 11–32) has an extraordinary amount of wisdom and good advice packed into it.
Indeed, the more...
Fr Paddy: A mother’s love – A blessing
Sure I love the dear silver that shines in your hair. Does anyone recognise that song? An old, old Irish favourite, Mother Machree.
I remember...
Fr Paddy: Spring – a blessed season of Hope
According to the English Catholic priest-cardinal John Henry Newman, “Growth is the only evidence of life.”
Life is then most apparent in the springtime with...
Fr Paddy: Lent – a time to embrace positivity
Lent is an old English word meaning 'lengthen'. Lent is observed in spring, when the days begin to get longer.
Lent is a good time...
Fr Paddy: Being merciful and responsive in time of Lent
The Trócaire Lenten Campaign for 2019 focuses on land-rights. The four-sided “Trócaire Box” has stories to tell.
One about families forced from their homes, another...
Fr Paddy: Where is my brother?
“Where is your brother?” This is the question that God asks each one of us in our hearts regarding our brother who is sick,...
Fr Paddy: The Weight of the Glass
The Art of Letting Go is about deciding to stop making the same mistakes and choosing to take a different path.
It has been...
Fr Paddy: Fr John… A lovely man
The recent tragic death of Fr. John Cummins, following a freak car accident has left me numbed and deeply saddened.
It resonates with ancient...
Fr Paddy: From beyond hope to Amazing Grace
John Newton was a cruel and vile man who seemed beyond hope, but he became an example of God’s amazing grace.
His true story...
Fr Paddy: It’s nearly Spring… A Time of Hope
On Friday, February 1 we celebrate St. Brigid's Day, a day which brings great hope.
St Brigid brings with her a story of compassion, generosity,...
Fr Paddy: Helpful tips to overcome Blue Monday
After the buzz and good cheer of the festive season, January can feel like one long and exhausting slog.
Researchers have dubbed January 21st as...
Fr Paddy: Remembering the enigmatic TV art critic and nun Sr...
Sister Wendy Beckett, recently died aged 88, could be dismissive of the high-profile television work that made this hermit nun with owl-like glasses into...
2018 Remembered: Portlaoise priest says ‘church cannot bury its head in...
Back in May, the people of Ireland and Laois voted to Repeal the Eight Amendment – paving the way for abortion to become legal...
Fr Paddy: Christmas – A Time to Hope
The Advent Season is a time to get ready for the approaching feast of Christmas. Liturgically this is a time when we prepare for...
Fr Paddy: Dealing with stress in our lives
A motivational speaker walked confidently around the room holding a glass of water while leading a seminar on stress management.
Everyone guessed she was going...
Fr Paddy: How to handle adversity
How do you handle adversity? What are you thinking when the sun goes down on those cold, windy nights, when you're trying to get...
Fr Paddy: Generosity is contagious and beneficial
Generosity is a wonderful gift. To have a big heart is a blessing, that is to be open and compassionate in love to the...
Fr Paddy: November… A time to remember
It's the time of year when the shadows lengthen, evenings fall quickly and our busy lives slow down, all of which is this is...