28 Feb 2012
Dara O'Briain
A couple of weeks ago I managed to pick up a couple of tickets to see Dara O’Briain’s new show Craic Dealer. For those of you who haven’t come across him Dara is a stand up comedian from Ireland who has made a huge career for himself in the UK with shows like Mock the Week and Stargazing Live. His humour is sharp, original and genuinely funny.Ó Briain has said he sees himself as an atheist but ethnically Catholic. In one interview he said “I’m staunchly atheist, I simply don’t believe in God. But I’m still Catholic, of course. Catholicism has a much broader reach than just the religion. I’m technically Catholic, it’s the box you have to tick on the census form: ‘Don’t believe in God, but I do still hate Rangers.'”
Technically Catholic - I don't believe in God, but I still hate Rangers
With this in mind, I have to be honest with you, I approached the evening with a good friend and a great deal of trepidation! But it was a brilliant show and he had a wonderful ability to work the crowd. In the course of his routine, without wishing to give anything away, he made reference to the occasional absurdity of primary school Nativity plays, especially when all the animals break into a rousing chorus of S Club 7’s Reach for the Stars. Then he made a throw away remark about people only going to Mass in the UK so that they can get their kids into Catholic schools. Having lived and worked in England I can say that there’s an element of truth to this, but it’s certainly not the whole story.
It’s true that the Catholic schools in England have an outstanding reputation. It’s also certainly true that Mass attendance goes up in the months before school application deadline, because the priest’s signature is necessary for admission. You can’t help but feel like a minor celebrity with the number of people going out of their way to say hello to you as you walk along the street! Having worked in both the religious and secular education settings there is something special in the ethos of Catholic schools that goes beyond simple academia. Our schools are one of the greatest resources we have in Ireland and the UK, but they are only one element in sharing our faith, along with the Church and most importantly the family.
The debate continues in Ireland about the Church withdrawing its patronage from a percentage of schools and maybe that would be no bad thing. Our faith cannot be simply about going through the motions. While we have made great progress in Sacramental preparation we still have people sleepwalking through First Holy Communion and Confirmation. We need to engage families and work together with schools in witnessing to the Gospel and spreading the Good News. We need to reinforce the values taught in school with the help of the parish and above all the home. As a Church we need to reach out to parents now more than ever, supporting them in bringing up their children. The issue is whether we have the will and the vision to make it happen together.