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: 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: Direct provision centres have no place God’s Kingdom
On this, the last Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year, the Feast of Christ the King, The Gospel reading was about the Last Judgement.
It...
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...
Fr Paddy: Letting go of things that aren’t good for us
Anything that you have to control, controls you.
There are many variations to this story, but it’s quite instructive.
In South America, Africa and Asia, the...
Fr Paddy: Oscar Romero – How the good will always prevail
This week Oscar Romero will become Saint. A life that gave tremendous witness to the poor and vulnerable people from South America.
Archbishop Romero was assassinated...
Fr Paddy: How the Franciscan movement was born
Recently, the feast of Francis of Assisi was celebrated on Thursday, October 4. Francis the radical reformer of the 13th century, although in our...
Fr Paddy: How best can we celebrate Sacraments?
Current debate and reflection regarding school patronage is both necessary and relevant. Recent Census statistics however regarding the vast majority of citizens subscribing to...
Fr Paddy: The misery of need
Intolerance and harsh judgments always create a sense of division, separation and exclusiveness. Those who cannot conform to the confines of acceptability often find...
Fr Paddy: Grandparents are a family’s greatest treasure, their strong foundation
His hands were age-spot-ridden and weathered by time, and they seemed enormous in comparison to the one-week-old puppy he scooped up from the litter.
“Here...
Fr Paddy: Life is a gift – Live it, Enjoy it, Celebrate it and...
Next weekend here in Portlaoise we celebrate our Harvest Thanksgiving. An occasion of gratitude and pryer that will happen in many places of worship...
Fr Paddy: Reflection on Papal visit
Now that the visit of Pope Francis has concluded, it is good to pause and reflect.
Anyone who gave the visit even a small amount...
Fr Paddy: Tough time for so many members of our church as Pope Francis...
This is an historic week here in Ireland as we welcome Pope Francis. His visit is an important one. The papal mass on the...
Fr Paddy: The Gift Young People Bring to our Church
Pope Francis will travel to Ireland in two weeks to attend the World Meeting of Families which will take place in Dublin.
Since the last...
Fr Paddy: Pope Francis – a man of his word
This week a new movie is being released in Ireland detailing the life and papacy of Pope Francis. It is certainly timely as soon...
Fr Paddy: Father John Sullivan – a Man of Healing
John Sullivan was born in Dublin on May 8, 1861. His father, the future Lord Chancellor of Ireland Sir Edward Sullivan was a Protestant....
Fr Paddy: Harvest … a Time to Encourage
There is something very fulfilling eating fresh vegetables that you have nurtured and cultivated with your own hands.
As we celebrate the beginning of harvest...
Fr Paddy: Kildare and Leighlin Pilgrimage to Lourdes – a place of serenity
St Bernadette, of Lourdes once said “If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces... never be afraid to pick one of...
Fr Paddy: 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 day, the dog...
Fr Paddy: The Gift and Challenges of internet according to Pope Francis
Pope Francis recently remarked that “The Internet is a gift of God, but it is also a great responsibility.” Francis says that ”Communication technology,...
Fr Paddy: ‘When one of us is threatened, we are all at risk’
A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. “What food might this contain?”...
Fr Paddy: First Communion – Sacrament or Pantomime?
Current debate and reflection regarding school patronage is both necessary and relevant. Recent Census statistics however regarding the vast majority of citizens subscribing to...
Fr Paddy: Identify your doubt, find your mantra, take action
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: Over the coming weeks pray for young people …
I recently came across this inspirational story…..
A shop owner placed a sign above his door that said: “Puppies For Sale.”
Signs like this always have...
Fr Paddy: Bishop Curry’s royal wedding sermon emphasised the power of love
The Most Rev. Michael Curry, born in Chicago, was selected by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, to present the sermon at their Saturday wedding...
Fr Paddy: Angels are gifts from God
Angel of God, my Guardian Dear,
To whom God’s love, commits me here,
Ever this night, be at my side,
To light and guard, to rule and...
Fr Paddy: Growing Older a Sacred Gift
Growing older brings its challenges ...... But this can be a time to relish and value...the following story I find inspirational...
An 87 Year Old...
Fr Paddy: Alfie Evans ‘A Sacred Life’
The world is mourning for Alfie Evans, a British two-year-old who this weekend passed away at Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.
Alfie had an extremely...