Is religious education a thing of the past, or is it something whose time has not yet arrived? In New Directions in Religious Education Finola Cunnane details her conviction that religious education is one of the most important issues facing our world today and argues that there is a need for a language that honors both the educational and the religious in life. New Directions in Religious Education aims to provide food for thought, to suggest a new imagining of religious education, and to unveil the truest meaning of this endeavor.

Aimed at primary school teachers of religious education as they set about responding to the challenges of religious education in the twenty-first century. The collection begins by focusing on children's existential concerns and on the response of home, school and parish. Consideration is then given to contemporary issues affecting religious education such as intercultural education and outreach to children from a variety of disadvantaged situations and circumstances. The third section includes essays on catechetics and on the use of story, including popular cultural narratives such as Harry Potter. The final section addresses the sacraments of Communion and Confirmation, and includes an essay on the liturgical inclusion of people with special needs.

In an imperfect world, our consciousness of creation is not always as clear as it might be. One of the purposes of prayer is to enable us to become more aware of God, ourselves and our world. In a state of perfect awareness everything would be understood. Small World by Dermot O'Brien, a collection of short poems in haiku form, contains moments of this awareness.

Pleads passionately for peace, for fair conditions of world trade and for a more equitable sharing the world's resources.

Anne Alcock has compiled a selection of twenty-four well-loved Old Testament passages that touch upon many of the issues that concern us as we enter middle age.

Buchan’s work is an examination of the theological use of the doctrine of Christ's descent to the dead in the works of Saint Ephrem the Syrian (ca. 306-373 C.E. ). Ephrem's conception of Christ's descent to Sheol provides us with an important and distinctive vision of the significance of this salvific event. Ephrem's use of Semitic and non-Western poetic forms and structures as a mode of theological discourse, coupled with his preference for imagery and symbolism rather than definition, resulted in a variety of vivid depictions of Christ's descent to Sheol. The doctrine is shown to be an integral and multifaceted component of Ephrem's theology.

Ephrem, the most celebrated writer of the Syriac Church, presents a wide range of theological themes and images that are characteristic of fourth-century Syrian Christianity. A significant theme that no one has yet studied in Ephrem is the concept of sickness and healing. This book presents the significance of healing theology and the ways in which the healing of man - spiritually, mentally, and corporally - is highly valued by Ephrem. The main part of the book deals with the causes of spiritual sickness and the process of healing, and the way in which Ephrem places them in the divine history of salvation.

Provides a new and much needed appraisal of Ireland's engagement with the phenomenon of modernity. The path we have traveled from being a rural-based, religious, traditional, insular country, to a secular, highly prosperous economic hi-tech centre has brought in its wake both problems and advantages. 'Engaging Modernity' evaluates how in the realms of politics, culture and literature, Ireland has undergone a major paradigm shift. This book is composed of a selection of papers from a conference held under the auspices of EFACIS (European Federation of Centres and Associations of Irish Studies) in Aarhus (Denmark) in 2001 and organized by Michael B""ss. It brought together academics and commentators from many European countries and the book bears witness to a diversity of opinions on Ireland's recent evolution.

The death of a baby - either near the time of birth or earlier in the pregnancy - and the impact upon the family members requires special insights and care. In the past this unique loss has often gone unacknowledged with parents being encouraged to forget their baby and try again. This book addresses the importance of marking the experience of pregnancy, however short it may have been. Bruce Pierce explores the nature of grief and the significance of ritual as part of the grieving process, and offers liturgical resources from the Christian traditions, from other faith traditions and from various support groups. Baptism, Limbo and Original Sin are also considered, and the author acknowledges the struggle between theological correctness and pastoral necessity. As care for the bereaved is now provided by a multidisciplinary team, the important roles played by each profession in a comprehensive response is examined. Miscarriage and Stillbirth , the changing response also provides insights into past and present practice and explore the evolution between the two. Miscarriage and Stillbirth , the changing response is a comprehensive, valuable and informative resource for healthcare providers, those in pastoral ministry and bereaved families.

More Liturgies for Post-Primary Schools

What are the values that we choose to prioritise and live by? What price are we prepared to pay for ethics? Is it enough to rely on the law as the minimum standard of acceptable behaviour? Ultimately, can one person make a difference? These and other far-reaching questions are addressed in Values and Ethics, the fifth collection of papers from the Ceifin conference which is held annually in Ennis, Co. Clare. Contributors include sociologist Dr. Tony Fahey, Bishop Willie Walsh and Dr. Lorna Gold from the University of York. There is a belief in Ireland that we have not adjusted to our new-found prosperity. In a society that measures almost everything in monetary terms, values and ethics are increasingly sidelined. We now face the challenge of taking our social growth as seriously as we take our economic growth. This book gives hope that real change can begin with committed individuals who believe passionately that shared values can become a social reality. ABOUT THE EDITORS Fr. Harry Bohan, Chairman of the Ceifin Centre, qualified as Sociologist in the University of Wales and is currently Director of Pastoral Planning in Diocese of Killaloe and Parish Priest in Sixmilebridge, Co Clare. Believing in family and community as the two vital systems in fostering human relationships he founded the Rural Resource Organisation. This organisation was responsible for encouraging communities across Ireland to participate in determining their own future and resulted in the building of 2,500 houses in 120 villages, in 13 counties. In 1998 he founded the Ceifin Centre for Values-Led Change to carry on the conversation on the direction Ireland is taking. The purpose of Ceifin is to reflect, debate and direct values-led change in Irish society. He was appointed to the Task Force on Active Citizenship by an Taoiseach in 2006. Recognised as one of the leading social commentators in Ireland today Fr Bohan has written extensively on the subjects of christianity, spirituality and economic development, the importance of the local responding to the global and on understanding change. His books published include Roots in a changing Society and Community and the Soul of Ireland and he is editor and contributor to all 10 previous books of published papers from Ceifin Conferences. He has broadcast widely on national radio and television. Fr Harry is also well known for his involvement in sport and Clare Hurling in particular. Gerard Kennedy is the co-editor of this book.

Have we become helpless in the face of change or can we manage the future? More and more people talk about the emptiness of modern life, they wonder where meaning is coming from and what values are shaping us; they say it is not easy being young today in spite of the choices and the freedom. We cannot assume that if we simply sit back and comment the storm will blow over, or that we will return to the old ways. The fact is we are experiencing a cultural transformation, we are witnessing the passing of a tradition, the end of an era. Every day we hear questions like Why aren t they doing something about it? or Who is responsible for this, that or the other? It is time to ask: Have I got any responsibility for the way things are?

In the 'Song of My People ' internationally acclaimed liturgical composer Liam Lawton tells the story behind his music. For the past 10 years he has been drawing inspiration from the rich and beautiful heritage of his native land, never tiring of discovering connections between people, landscape and spirituality, one constantly influencing the other. Song of My People tells the story of what has inspired him to compose. He explores what it is about the native Irish tradition that has created some of the most beautiful and lyrical melodies despite knowing times of great strife and struggle. This is not an academic study but rather a compelling look into the world that has shaped Liam Lawton s music, from the early Christian settlers in Ireland, to the stories of Famine days to the contemporary world of Irish music.

A collection of essays from the widely respected moral theologian Donal Murray, Bishop of Limerick.

Of all the seasons in he Church's year advent is in many was the most beautiful and rich in meaning. and yet it passes most of us by.This is mainly due to the fact that is falls in the weeks coming up to Christmas. While written for Catholics, 'whether they be church-going or not', everyone open to god will enjoy these thoughts. Advent's themes of expectancy (the hope of a Saviour, which requires us to recognise our need for someone to fill in our inadequacy) and waiting (that we need patience for God to do His work in us) are explained and illustrated through scripture (especially Isaiah) and other Christian writings. After two introductory sections, thirteen others of three to four A5 pages, lead us gently into a deeper appreciation of Advent. It is a book, we are reassured, to be dipped into and pondered at leisure; in other words, to be prayed. Highly recommended.- Rev. J.Nicholas Latham