PUPILS at St Kevin’s College are set to auction two Belgian Blue calves to raise money for an upcoming trip to Africa. Next year, members of St Kevin’s Carlo Acutis Faith Group will head off to Kenya to spend time with another school, learning about their strong faith and helping provide vital resources. St Kevin’s College […]
Novena of Hope concludes after nine days
AFTER nine days of prayers and reflection at the Graan Monastery in Enniskillen, the well-attended Novena of Hope concluded on Monday night with a special talk from a leading Irish playwright. Leitrim man Gerry Farrell, who has written a number of popular plays including ‘The Last Prime Minister’, shared his thoughts on faith, prayer and […]
COLUMN: Michael Hand – The Swan Story
I NEVER expected to be on the dating scene in my fifties but after 22 years my marriage ended and I wasn’t cut out for being on my own. I have heard it said that women grieve and men replace, so after a short period of grief I went looking for love. Dances and pubs […]
COLUMN: A dark secret
THE first man I ever hugged was Tony Esposito. In a black-and-white world, he was an explosion of Technicolor. But he had a dark secret. I had been accepted by the Diocese of Youngstown to work as a deacon in my final summer before ordination. I was assigned to this rather backward parish called East Liverpool […]
COLUMN: An accidental meeting
I WAS responsible for him losing his eyelash and gaining a wife yet I only met the man once and I don’t even know his name. It all came about because my first car as a newly ordained priest was a clapped out ten-year-old Austin Allegro that was held together by rust. The reason I came […]
Sadness at death of much-loved Elizabeth Greene
THE Derrygonnelly community was left deeply saddened following the death of much-loved teacher Elizabeth Greene who left ‘a lasting impression’ on many pupils in West Fermanagh. Formerly of Mullykivet in Derrygonnelly, Ms Greene, 68, passed away peacefully on Tuesday. Born in Belmore Street in Enniskillen to parents Denis and Laura Joan Hughes, Ms Greene (nee Hughes) […]
COLUMN: A reluctant celibate
THE start of my journey to become a priest was very shaky. I fell in love twice in my first three months. The first time was the week before I entered the Seminary. I had received an itemised list that was considered essential for a young man starting off on the road to priesthood. Most items […]
Graan’s Novena of Hope returns
THE theme of ‘hope’ will once again be the central one at the upcoming Novena at the Graan which will see hundreds of people gather for nine days of prayers and reflections. The Superior at the Graan, Fr Charles Cross, will lead the liturgies which is scheduled to kick off on Saturday, March 2. He’ll […]
COLUMN: Is there anything after this?
IN THE 1980s when I worked as a priest in a town in Fermanagh, I lived next door to a couple who were rather traditional, conservative Catholics. I wouldn’t have thought of myself as their type of priest as I was a product of the post-Vatican 2 church which for a very brief period flirted with some […]
Fermanagh priest Fr Gary Donegan awaiting third surgery
JUST hours after he underwent surgery on his eye, Fr Gary Donegan has confirmed that he’s going to have to go under the knife again later this month. Since December, the Fermanagh cleric has been undergoing treatment on his right eye, in a bid to save and secure his sight. The Newtownbutler priest underwent surgery […]