January Messenger: A Year of Hope

Theologian Jim Corkery SJ continues answering the question “Why pray for the dead?” in this month’s January Messenger. Readers may remember his first article on the topic which was featured in the November 2024 Messenger.
Patrick Carberry SJ reminds us of the Pope’s intention for the month that all migrants, refugees and those affected by war, will have a right to education, which is necessary to build a better world. Fr Carberry notes that “Pope Francis singles out the plight of education in situations around the world where war is being waged. Here education is often the first casualty of armed conflict, a horror shown too often on our screens. Peace is both the fruit of education and a fertile ground for its flourishing among and between peoples”.
In this Jubilee Year of Hope launched by Pope Francis on Christmas Eve 2024, Father Brian Grogan SJ continues his series on the theme of hope in this months Messenger. In his piece ‘Christian Hope as a Tree’ he likens our Christian understanding of this cardinal virtue to an oak tree that has grown steadily over the past 3,000 years.
David Breen continues his series on New Testament people. This month he focuses on John the Baptist and in particular the significance of the baptism of Jesus. He writes “John was obviously uncomfortable baptising Jesus and repeatedly tried to dissuade him, confessing that it was he who needed to be baptised by Jesus”.
Iva Beranek is a spiritual director and author. In her piece ‘Choosing A Word For The Year’ she writes about the power of naming. She notes that over the last few years she has chosen a word for the year that she tries to live by and remember each day. She asks “Have you ever thought of word that gives meaning to your life and to your year?”
Advocate and activist Father Peter McVerry SJ works with the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice. In his article ‘The Pain Behind Addiction’, he explains that seventy percent of those in prison have an addiction problem and normally those in prison have ended up there due to their addictions. He says that they are being punished for trying to find a way to take away their pain and that the government’s response is to build more prisons. He comments, “The demand for treatment far outstrips the supply of treatment centres, so the waiting list just keeps growing. Sometimes the decision makers think that they are thinking but all they are doing in re-arranging their prejudices”.
The Messenger has all its regular features as well, – reflections, scripture, cookery, crosswords, children’s pages, nature focus, and RE:LINK.