Fr. Paddy’s Blog

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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Brother Kevin…. A Living Saint
July 11, 2025

In a statement announcing Br Kevin’s death on 02 July 2025 at Mount Desert Nursing Home in Cork, the Capuchins said he was known throughout the country and beyond as...

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Enjoy Your Coffee…..
July 4, 2025

It was disappointing to read that tourists visiting our beautiful island has greatly reduced in recent times. Ireland has benefited hugely from tourism, especially many of the service industries. Ireland...

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A Summer Solstice Prayer
June 19, 2025

These weeks many cemetery masses take place in every parish across the country. I really like these occasions when family and communities unite in the brightest days of the year...

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Spirit of God, Loving and Free
June 12, 2025

Time moves by too quickly, soon we arrive at the longest day of the year June 21st. These long bright days I pray will bring blessing of faith hope and...

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