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: The more I care for myself the greater I can care for...
It's wonderful these days to see the brightness of Christmas lights decorating our streets, shops and homes.
In the darkest days of the year, we...
Fr Paddy: The Advent season – a time to get ready for Christmas
There is a story of six people who froze to death around a campfire on a bitterly cold night.
Each had a log of wood...
Fr Paddy: Never underestimate the incredible genius that defines our human spirit
The gift of creativity and vision always brings hope and optimism.
Hope is a great gift and an important value to maintain and cherish these...
Fr Paddy: ‘When we’re refreshed, we can carry on with the burden’
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: Alzheimer’s Disease – Who cares for the Carer?
In every community, often silently and heroically, are people who voluntarily care for a vulnerable loved one.
For me personally, those who care for a...
Fr Paddy: Samhain – the Celtic festival that became Halloween
Time continues to move as we now have entered winter time. We begin this Season with Halloween.
It’s origins are strongly connected to ancient Celtic...
Fr Paddy: Economics and justice plus the important roles that political leaders play
The Gospel has a very challenging relationship with economics. Justice is at the heart of the Gospel message.
In growing and vibrant economy those who...
Fr Paddy: The story of Medjugorje, a major pilgrimage destination
Medjugorje, located in present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina, is where the Virgin Mary has allegedly revealed herself on a regular basis to six local children...
Fr Paddy: St Francis of Assisi – the most beloved and familiar of all...
Throughout this month of October, the universal Synod of the church continues in Rome.
This is a wonderful process, where discernment , reflection and pragmatic...
Fr Paddy: Angel of God my Guardian Dear
This week we begin the month of October. October is the time when leaves fall and darkness begins to be felt, nature produces beautiful...
Fr Paddy: Huge numbers expected as relics of St Bernadette to come to Portlaoise
Currently the relics of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes, are visiting many churches across the Country.
Saint Bernadette’s relics will be present in the Carlow Cathedral...
Fr Paddy: Random tales of wisdom – Sleep When the Wind Blows
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: Scoping Inquiry details dark chapter of abuse
The recent publication of the Scoping Inquiry into historical sexual abuse in schools, details the horrific trauma inflicted by the abuse of young students.
This...
Fr Paddy: Ignore the pessimism of others – stay positive!
There was once a bunch of tiny frogs, who arranged a running competition.
The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.
A...
Fr Paddy: Where is God in the midst of war, violence and human suffering?
It is not God, but our false images of God we need to challenge ourselves about.
God is not a puppeteer who is pulling the...
Fr Paddy: Blessed Carlos Acutis Relics visit Portlaoise Parish Church
This September a relic of blessed Carlo Acutis will be brought to Ireland by three Franciscan friars from Assisi where his mortal remains repose.
Portlaoise...
Fr Paddy: We live in turbulent times, where polarisation and extremism are becoming all...
Recent violent protests in the United Kingdom regarding racial tensions, displays firsthand the horrible reality of racism and prejudice.
We live in turbulent times, where...
Fr Paddy: Laughter is good for the soul
Earlier this summer, Pope Francis, hosted more than a hundred comedians from around the world at the Vatican.
The entourage of comedians included some famous...
Fr Paddy: August – the month to carry out the harvest and thanksgiving
Time and seasons come and go, so far 2024 seems to have moved very quickly, it's hard to believe, this week we begin the...
Fr Paddy: The value of doing the little things well
We live in extraordinary times; our world seems to be coming increasingly polemical.
Looking at live news commentary of Donald trump's attempted assassination seemed almost...
Fr Paddy: ‘Faith is the end result of a long journey, but makes the...
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: Where are all the Good Samaritans Jesus once spoke of?
The Good Samaritan
It was a lawyer who asked Jesus in the Gospel, "Who is my neighbour?" He was probably expecting a definition that would...
Fr Paddy: July – a month where many take the opportunity for rest and...
As we begin the month of July, I pray in the brightness of summer all our families will be blessed with health of body...
Fr Paddy: We have much to learn from our history, and yes, history has...
In many ways we have become desensitised to the horrors of violence, inequality and human suffering displayed on our screens every day.
Politics has become...
Fr Paddy: Behind every challenge, no matter how overwhelming it may be, there is...
I love the following humorous story…
“A wealthy man decided to go on a safari in Africa. He took his faithful pet dog along for...
Fr Paddy: God embraces vulnerability
Thoughts and continued prayers for all students currently sitting state exams.
I find it interesting, regarding people's recurrent dreams, top of the list are exams....
Fr Paddy: Church’s first Millennium Saint
Carlo Acutis was born May 3, 1991, in London, where his father was working.
Just a few months later, he moved with his parents, Andrea...
Fr Paddy: Summer – a time to enjoy
Time seems to be flying by. The academic year has almost come to conclusion in secondary schools and for third level students, a long...
Fr Paddy: 2024 Exam Time
In the last years of his life, the great cellist and conductor Pablo Casals suffered greatly from rheumatoid arthritis and emphysema.
At 90, he was...
Fr Paddy – Darkness into Light
The recent walk celebrating 'Darkness into light' has an important message in all our lives.
Whilst Darkness into Light raises significant funding towards those seeking...