Fr. Paddy’s Blog

Slowing Down
October 2, 2025

Pope Leo’s, first 100 days in the Petrine Office recently took place. His ministry is fuelled with deep discernment and prayer. Two qualities stand out: calmness and confidence. The calmness...

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Slowing Down
September 25, 2025

This week marks the beginning of October. I really love the colours associated with October, nature as it bids farewell to foliage and fruits produces a farewell of magnificence and...

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St. Pier Giorgio Michelangelo Frassati
September 18, 2025

Recently, Pope Leo XIV declared Pier Giorgio Frassati, a young Italian from the 20th century who died at the age of 24, and Carlo Acutis, an Italian teenager from the...

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Daniel O’Connell, the Great Liberator.
September 11, 2025

This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Daniel O’Connell, the “Great Liberator”. Daniel O'Connell (1775–1847) changed the face of Irish history. A brilliant orator, political organiser and...

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The Art of Letting Go
September 3, 2025

September brings a rich feast for our senses. Autumnal colors are very beautiful. In many ways’ autumn is a season of letting go. harvest has been gathered, fruit has ripened...

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Monsignor John Byrne, 25 years as Parish Priest of Portlaoise
August 28, 2025

Often in life, we only get the opportunity to speak well of someone we highly regard and respect, after they have physically gone from us. It is therefore with a...

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The Good Samaritan
August 21, 2025

It was a lawyer who asked Jesus in the Gospel, ‘Who is my neighbour?’ He was probably expecting a definition that would determine the limits of his obligations. Did ‘neighbour’...

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When did you last say your prayers?
August 14, 2025

When did you last say your prayers?  This question makes all kinds of presumptions. Not least that people don’t pray. Or that prayer has any value. Or that there’s a consensus...

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St. John Henry Newman…. Doctor of The Church
August 7, 2025

Pope Leo XIV has declared St. John Henry Newman a “Doctor” of the church, bestowing one of the Catholic Church’s highest honours on the deeply influential 19th century Anglican convert, who remains...

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A Rich Harvest
July 31, 2025

The month of August traditionally marks the beginning of autumn. For the Celtic people, this time of year was filled with festivity, engaging in many rituals which expressed gratitude for...

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August….A Time to Harvest
July 24, 2025

Time and Seasons come and go, so far 2025 seems to have moved very quickly, it's hard to believe, this week we begin the month of August. Traditionally August is...

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Saint Camillus de Lellis
July 17, 2025

Our health is our wealth. Health of body and peace of mind are indeed rich blessings that many long for. Western culture, continues to value life on how the human...

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