In his apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia – the much anticipated response to the recent Synods on the Family– Pope Francis offered an eminently encouraging and consoling account of modern family life, both its comforts and challenges. In this thought-provoking companion volume, journalist Breda O’Brien has invited an array of contributors, both lay and religious, to each explore a chapter of Amoris Laetitia from a variety of perspectives. This rich collection of essays illuminates such subjects as the centrality of love, compassion and forgiveness to family life; the special place of marriage; the gift of children; the role of the parish; and spirituality, the bedrock of family life. The book also contains a series of questions to prompt reflection and, as such, is ideal not only for individual use but as a study aid in a group setting. As we prepare to celebrate the World Meeting of Families in Ireland in 2018, Exploring Amoris Laetitia offers timely and considered views on the joys and stumbling blocks facing families today.

In Recovering Common Goods, Patrick Riordan explores how Catholic social teaching and the principle of the common good can be successfully deployed in the public sphere, be it in relation to education, economics, democracy or civil rights. From global conflicts, to national politics and industrial disputes, we are bombarded with news of the divisions between people, the issues that separate them and the violence of their language and actions towards one another. However, in working together to uphold the common good we help enable both ourselves and our neighbour to realise objectives, and, in turn, to flourish both as individuals and as communities. Recovering Common Goods illuminates the power of social solidarity with recourse to scriptural analysis, philosophical inquiry and Church doctrine, and is aimed at anyone interested in creating a more equitable society, particularly those working with local communities or charitable organisations in the pursuit of social justice.

As we celebrate the tercentenary of Nano Nagle’s birth in 2018, this timely publication considers the untold contribution made by the founders of the Presentation Sisters to the field of social justice in Ireland and abroad, and also provides a fascinating exploration of her enduring legacy for Christians today. The editors have invited leading scholars and theologians to engage with various pertinent facets of Nagle’s life and the resulting essays offer a rich insight into the social milieu in which Nano Nagle was born, her pioneering role as a champion of Catholic education and the formative years of the Presentation Sisters; the book also highlights how the charism of the congregation’s early members has remained a defining characteristic of their mission today. Nano Nagle and an Evolving Charism also analyses the vision of the Presentation Sisters, the order’s immeasurable impact on the lives of the impoverished both at home and overseas, and the great example their mission offers to educators, leaders and care-providers across the globe in the twenty-first century.

A collection of Pope Francis' talks, conversations, and dialogues with young people. This charming book also includes a series of pertinent responses from Pope Francis to questions from young people.

Finding Our Way Home is a collection of prayers and reflections by Presbyterian minister Andrew Watson that invites the reader to contemplate and celebrate the gift of ‘home’ – both earthly and divine. As well as addressing key events in the Christian calendar, such as Easter and Pentecost, the book considers universal subjects including marriage, parenthood, ageing and bereavement. Finding Our Way Home offers consolation during times of difficulty in our lives, but it also invites readers to express joy, gratitude and wonder for the many gifts bestowed upon us by a benevolent creator: be it family, friends or the untold beauty of the natural world. All royalties from the sale of this book will support the work of two charities: Mission Aviation Fellowship and A21. For more see www.maf.org and www.A21.org

The core tenets of Christianity point towards the deep truth about ourselves, the truth that sets us free. In In a Landscape Redrawn, Bishop Donal Murray examines the place of faith in a world that increasingly views religious belief as antiquated and ‘doomed to extinction’. Rather than becoming despondent about the future of our faith, Bishop Murray encourages us to reassess our deeply personal relationship with God and to take consolation in the Good News of Christ. By first exploring what it means to be human, and then considering how Christianity illuminates our humanity, this book highlights how a profound respect for Gospel values can improve all facets of life both in the personal and the public spheres.

In The Cross of Addiction we walk the Way of the Cross with those who are among the most vulnerable in our society, those battling addiction and their loved ones. Through compassionate and thought-provoking meditations on each of the Stations of the Cross, we are given insight into the struggle of addiction. Personal meditations from those carrying the cross of addiction and those closest to them provide intimate portrayals of this struggle, while reflections from those who work in the area highlight the importance of compassion for those carrying this cross and provide a deep sense of hope. Reflections are included from some of the leading advocates of social justice in Ireland, including Sr Consilio, Archbishop Eamon Martin, Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown, Fr Peter McVerry, Sr Stan Kennedy and many more.

Something Within is a collection of poems, reflections, sketches, illustrations and vignettes from first-time author Nollaig O’Donnell. A paean to the simple pleasures of life, such as taking solace in friendships and in the beauty of the natural world, Something Within encourages the reader to cultivate asense of gratitude, to share in the mystery of existence and to truly savour life’s defining moments – both large and small.

Mother Teresa of Kolkata, founder of the Missionaries of Charity, was a tireless campaigner for the rights of the impoverished and is widely regarded as one of the most influential Christians of the twentieth century. I am Only an instrument of God: Walking a Day with Mother Teresa is a collection of her most rousing quotations and has been published to coincide with her canonisation in September 2016. Arranged thematically, these excerpts will provide consolation and encouragement for readers everywhere as they endeavour to follow Mother Teresa’s inspiring example throughout their own day.

The official directory of the Church's hierarchy, this publication is a necessity for all who are actively involved in the life of the Catholic Church in Ireland.Includes:- Complete address and telephone guide for all Catholic parishes, convents and religious houses in the thirty-two counties of Ireland- Full details of the Irish Episcopate and its various commissions- Details of Catholic societies- Information on retreat and pastoral centres- Details of chaplains in universities, hospitals and prisons- National Church statistics

‘Everything in Him speaks of mercy. Nothing in Him is devoid of compassion.’ - Pope Francis, Misericordiae Vultus In Graced Horizons: A Journey through Mercy, Bishop Brendan Leahy explores the many facets of mercy as illustrated not only in scripture, but in the writings and ‘concrete deeds’ of luminaries through the entire course of Christian history. This book offers an enlightening analysis of this core Christian value, as first evinced in the early Church – under the aegis of figures such as St John Chrysostom and Gregory the Great – then down through the centuries to the present day. Graced Horizons highlights the merciful example set by several Christian writers and visionaries, including the medieval mystics Julian of Norwich and Meister Eckhart; Sisters of Mercy founder, Catherine McAuley; Edith Stein and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, whose unwavering faith in the face of Nazism still inspires Christians today; and twentieth-century innovators such as Focolare leader Chiara Lubich and theologian Karl Rahner. By honing in on the experiences of Christians who have espoused mercy, often in the most testing of circumstances, Graced Horizons will galvanise readers into adopting qualities of forbearance, compassion and gratitude each and every day on their own journey with Christ.

The Energy Within, Parish Pastoral Councils Today grew out of the firsthand experience of its four contributors. At its core is the record of a process which has been used successfully in the establishment of many new parish pastoral councils. It is placed in the context of deep reflection on the unique contribution that parish pastoral councils can make to collaborative leadership in the Church. The book includes an overview of the story of parish pastoral councils in Ireland since 1971. This book is a valuable resource for the individual reader who wishes to explore the role and methodology of parish pastoral councils. It will be of special interest to parishes and dioceses who aim to establish pastoral councils as part of their pastoral planning, or who are looking at approaches to training and energising existing pastoral councils.

Why Not? is a selection of Turlough Baxter’s eponymous columns on the subject of liturgy which have appeared monthly in Intercom magazine for some twelve years. These short pieces, widely admired by clergy and non-clergy alike, offer refreshing insights into the celebration of the Eucharist, with a particular emphasis on seasons and sacraments.

Praying with Matthew is a set of prayerful commentaries according to the sequence of readings from the Gospel of Matthew arranged for Ordinary Time. The purpose of this book is to help the reader to pray the Gospel readings, to deepen their approach to scripture and, in doing so, to help them to make it their own. By exploring the link between the lectionary and the liturgy, the book will enable those who use it – clergy and layperson alike – to deepen the mutual relationship between prayer and sacrament.

What happens when we lose control of our destiny and fate, in the guise of ill health, intervenes? It is As it Is tells the touching true story of two women whose friendship is tested to its limit by serious illness. Malina Stahre-Godycka’s account of her relationship with the remarkable Prudentia, who finds herself confronting cancer, is comprised of a series of frank and heartfelt diary entries that are brave, insightful and thought-provoking. It is As it Is provides a candid, unexpectedly wry exploration of faith, friendship and mortality, which will inspire all who read it, particularly those who care for loved ones living with serious illness or medical professionals who specialise in palliative care.

A good homily not only engages listeners but demonstrates the speaker’s keen understanding of scripture and its enduring relevance for Christians today. An effective preacher is someone who understands the complex and ultimately rewarding nature of this challenge and strives to communicate core scriptural values in a way that is clear and concise but never simplistic. In Speaking from Within, Kieran J. O’ Mahony explores ways in which homilists can improve and develop their skills by engaging, first and foremost, in prayerful self-reflection, because ‘only from within that personal encounter can we hope that a word of life will be spoken’. The book also focuses on the integral place of the lectionary to preachers, before underscoring how a sincere and attentive reading of the scriptures is key to writing an effective, meaningful homily. Speaking from Within will inspire not only all who preach, but also those who pass on their faith in any way.