Members of the Seminary Community visited Leinster House shortly before the recent General Election to attend a seminar on Politics and Christian Culture organised by Senator Rónán Mullen.

The seminar included fascinating inputs from former Taoiseach, John Bruton; Secretary General and Clerk of the Dáil, Peter Finnegan and Assistant Secretary and Parliamentary Legal Advisor, Mellissa English.

When he visited Ireland in August 2018, Pope Francis prayed that, “Ireland, in listening to the polyphony of contemporary political and social discussion, will not be forgetful of the powerful strains of the Christian message that have sustained it in the past, and can continue to do so in the future.”

Politics and politicians play an important role in serving the common good, by endeavouring to develop a society and a state in which each citizen, visitor and guest is not only welcomed but is allowed to flourish and to make a contribution, to the harmonious and integrated development of the community according to each person’s unique giftsand mission in life.

The work that politicians of faith do becomes immensely valuable when their minds are open to the enlightenment given by God’s Spirit of Love through the lived example of Jesus Christ which has been imitated by many other politicians and civil leaders across the ages.

Politics therefore is a noble profession and a lofty calling and the work that politicians of faith do cannot be underestimated; nor should it be undervalued.

Fr. Tomás Surlis

Rector of the National Seminary