Evangelium Ireland, the annual Catholic apologetics conference took place on Easter Saturday April 26 in Maynooth College for the second year in a row and was attended by approximately 165 people.
Fr Chris Hayden (Ferns Diocese), the spiritual director of St Patrick’s National Seminary gave a talk entitled “What are you looking for? Discipleship in the Gospel of St John”.
Three workshops then took place. ‘Speed Apologetics: Proclaim the Faith with Confidence’ was given by Eoin McCormack, a Parish Catechist and Pastoral Worker in Dublin. He is also the Lay Programme Development Coordinator at the Pontifical Irish College in Rome. He defined apologetics as reasoned arguments or writings in justification of a theory or religious doctrine. The workshop consisted of attendees being put in pairs and rotated to practice in giving answers to common questions from secular atheist friends.
The final talk, ‘Understanding the Contemporary Mind’ was given by Fr Simon Nolan, Prior Provincial of the Carmelite Order and former Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy at St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth. Fr Simon explained the influences that led to the relativism, individualism and materialism which mark today’s culture. Attendees spoke highly of the talks given and the social aspect. Evan Cawley, a secondary school teacher from Sligo, said he goes every year meeting old and new friends and finds the talks very insightful. Cathal Barry from Galway said that Evangelium is great for meeting others strong in their faith; Katie Duffy and Theresa Traynor (both from Mayo) both agreed that it was uplifting to see so many young people being nourished by thought-provoking and inspirational talks and that there is a lot of hope and joy in store for the future of the Church. Paddy Davern from Galway said that he thoroughly enjoyed Eoin McCormack’s workshop and described the day as “edifying and cordial”.
Fr Benedict McGlinchey OP was the chief celebrant for the Mass in Maynooth College Chapel.
