The seminarians of St Patrick’s National Seminary, accompanied by the Rector Fr Tomás Surlis and members of the Community of Formators, paid a visit to Leinster House on St Brigid’s Day.
During their visit, the seminarians took part in a seminar organised by Senator Rónán Mullen, entitled Faith and Politics – Promoting Spiritual Values in a Secular World.
The Seminar was chaired by Senator Mullen and the Maynooth group was addressed by journalist and Irish Catholic columnist Mary Kenny on the theme, ‘A balanced view of the history of Catholic Ireland’. Former Irish Ambassador and Director of the DCU Centre for Religion, Human Values, and International Relations, Dr Philip McDonagh, spoke on the subject, ‘Faith, Poetry and Politics’ and Leinster House Chief Operations Officer, Michael Errity, addressed the group on the ‘Houses of the Oireachtas Service’.
The seminarians and staff had a separate meeting with the Ceann Comhairle at the opening of the seminar and, following a tour of the Houses of the Oireachtas, were hosted to dinner.
