25th September 2011 - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A - Maryvale Institute

On this weeks programme we explore Maryvale Institute, a Higher Institute of Religious Sciences, in Birmingham, our regular Gospel reflections, some spiritual musical and our weekly run through the saints of the week.

The weeks podcast is now available.

Maryvale Institute

Lorraine introduces a short series of interviews with various people involved with Maryvale Institute.

Maryvale is both a place of worship and a Higher Institute, providing distance learning opportunities in Catholic Theology, Evangelisation, Catechesis, Philosophy, Ministry and Religious Education at every level from short, informal courses to BAs, MAs and research degrees. The range of levels offered enables students from all backgrounds to develop their full potential and obtain nationally and internationally recognised qualifications.The Holy See has now erected Maryvale as an Ecclesiastical institute so that it can also offer degrees of the Holy See, at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Dr Farey introduces us to Maryvale Institute looking at the history and inspiration behind what is now an international college. She discusses how the work of the Institute contributes to the religious formation of the laity which is the desire of the Church to encourage the laity to engage with their faith. The Institute seeks to lead the laity to the "living sources of the faith" to help explore and understand Scripture, Catechism of the Catholic Church and using those as springboards to the vast treasury of the Catholic faith. She takes us through the various courses on offer from Maryvale describing how there are courses for the "professional" student and those people who just want to explore their faith at their own time and speed.

Lorraine also has a number of conversations with students of the Maryvale Institute about their experence of studying at Maryvale and how it has contributed to their faith journey.

Interviewees:

• Dr Caroline Farey - Academic Assistant to the Director for Ecclesiastical Development, Head of Catechetical Formation, Course Director License in Catechetics, Reader in Catechetics.
• Barbara Davies - 5th year student - Bachelors of Art in Divinity
• Kathleen O'Donnell - 5th year student - Bachelors of Art in Divinity
• Lynda Sanders - 5th year student - Bachelors of Art in Divinity

Gospel - Matthew 21:28-32

John and Lorraine take us through a reflection on a challenging gospel this week and how we are called to live our lives being open to the message of love of God. Although we may be sinners like the "prostitutes and tax collectors" the welcome message of God is always open to us if we are open to listening and accepting it.

Other reflections on this weeks gospel:

• Word on Fire
• Sunday Reflection
• English Dominicans
• PDDM - Breaking the Bread of the Word

Saints of the Week

26th September - St Cosmas and St Damien
27th September - St Vincent de Paul
28th September - St Wenceslaus
29th September - Ss Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael - the Archangels
30th September - St Jerome
1st Ocober - St Therese of the Child Jesus ("The Little Flower")

18th September 2011 - Fr John Cribbin OMI - RIP

On this weeks programme, Sacred Space 102fm repeats a programme done in 2010 with Fr John Cribbin OMI. Fr John Cribben OMI originally from Shanagolden and who worked in Brazil for over 43 years died on September 10th in Cahermoyle nursing home after battling illness.

Sacred Space 102fm originally interviewed Fr John back on 29th August 2010 including a discussion about the fundraising being done in Newcastle West in support of the street children of Rio and in support of the communities that Fr John worked with.
The interview and discussion with Fr John's about his early life and work in Brazil is available on podcast.

• Mission on the dark side of Rio - Limerick Leader
• Our missionary work - Oblates of Mary Immaculate Anglo-Irish province
• Limerick man made honoury citizen of Rio De Janareio

 May he rest in peace

Ten years on..................

The following post is taken directly from Rocco over at Whispers in the Loggia:

O God of love, compassion, and healing,
look on us, people of many different faiths
and traditions,
who gather today at this site,
the scene of incredible violence and pain.

We ask you in your goodness
to give eternal light and peace
to all who died here —
the heroic first-responders:
our fire fighters, police officers,
emergency service workers, and
Port Authority personnel,
along with all the innocent men and women
who were victims of this tragedy
simply because their work or service
brought them here on September 11, 2001.

We ask you, in your compassion
to bring healing to those
who, because of their presence here that day,
suffer from injuries and illness.
Heal, too, the pain of still-grieving families
and all who lost loved ones in this tragedy.
Give them strength to continue their lives
with courage and hope.

We are mindful as well
of those who suffered death, injury, and loss
on the same day at the Pentagon and in
Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Our hearts are one with theirs
as our prayer embraces their pain and suffering.

God of peace, bring your peace to our violent world:
peace in the hearts of all men and women
and peace among the nations of the earth.
Turn to your way of love
those whose hearts and minds
are consumed with hatred.

God of understanding,
overwhelmed by the magnitude of this tragedy,
we seek your light and guidance
as we confront such terrible events.
Grant that those whose lives were spared
may live so that the lives lost here
may not have been lost in vain.

Comfort and console us,
strengthen us in hope,
and give us the wisdom and courage
to work tirelessly for a world
where true peace and love reign
among nations and in the hearts of all.

--Pope Benedict XVI
Prayer at Ground Zero
New York
20 April 2008

Ten years from that horrific morning, much as we can never forget, may the powerful call of this Sunday's readings -- namely, to always forgive -- live much with us on the road ahead.

May the dead know peace, their loved ones feel continued strength and comfort, and all of us receive the grace to be ever-better peacemakers and bridge-builders in a fractured, violent world.

September 11th 2011 - Twenty- forth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A

On this weeks programme Stephanie O'Donnell takes us through what Youth 2000 Ireland got up to during the summer, Fr Frank Duhig takes us through this weeks gospel as well as our regular Saints of the week as well as some local notices.
This weeks progromme is also available on podcast.

 

Youth 2000 Ireland

 

Following on from the update we had a few weeks back from Limerick Diocesan Youth Mnistry, Stephanie O'Donnell brings us an update on the activites of Youth 2000 Ireland this week and the busy summer of events that Y2K had including the Clonmacnoise Summer Festival and Y2K participation in World Youth 2000.

 

Clonmacnoise 2011 - Summer festival was held this year with over a 1,000 young people present from all over Ireland. The talks this year included "Faith in trying times", relationship issues, pro-life talks and talks from various religious about their faith journey's. The festival culminated at the Healing and Reconciliation Service held on the Saturday evening.

• Youth2000 website
• Limerick group meet in the Domincan Church on Glentworth St on Wednesday nights at 7.30pm. Contact is Donal at 0868144783
• Lisnaux group meet weekly andthe contact is Ann Crowly at 0864082389.

Gospel Reflection - Matthew 18:21-35

 

This weeks passage is focused on forgiveness and this weeks discourse from Jesus is prompted by a question from Peter. Peter had thought by allowing forgiveness seven times he was being very generous but Jesus knocks us back and reminds us of the infinite mercy of God which we are called to imitate which is limitless.The parable is a deliberate exageration concerning the amounts of money to bring across to us the contrast between our generosity in forgiving others and the infinite generosity of God.

 

It is also a reminder of the impact of the Our Father which we pray so often where "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us". Do we really mean and implement that prayer which is so familar to us, perhaps too familiar?

 

The process of forgiving one another, where we really seek to do so, takes time, it is not going to happen straight away. It also requires the aid of God to help us to forgive through prayer and reflection, so that we can reach out in forgiveness to the person who has done us harm.

Other reflections on this weeks gospel:

• Word on Fire
• English Domincans
• Deacon Greg Kandra

 

Saints of the Week

 

September 12 - St Alibhe, Patron of Diocese of Cashel & Emly
September 13th - St John Chrysostom
September 14th - The Exaltation of the Holy Cross
September 15th - Our Lady of Sorrows
September 16th - Pope St Cornelius and St Cyprian
September 17th - St Robet Bellamire SJ

Youth Ministry in Limerick Diocese

A couple of weeks back we had Fr Chris O'Donnell on Sacred Space 102fm with some of the pilgrims who went to WYD 2011 in Madrid and he mentioned in passing the many things that were organised in Limerick as part of the diocesan support to the young church. Limerick diocese has for many, many years had an active youth ministry which was known under the banner of the activities of Muintearas Iosa, but this years annual activity report will give you a broader sweep of the activities of an Eaglais Óige ranging from Lourdes to WYD, pancake parties, youth leadership training programmes and a lot of craic, cairdeas, ceoil agus creideamh in between.

Well done to all concerned and check out the upcoming activities with Muintearas Iosa on Facebook or keep an eye on the Limerick Diocese website!

4th September 2011 - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) plus a pilgrims reflection on WYD 2011

On this weeks show John is joined by Fr Micháel and Colin Hayes. The show has a reflection about WYD 2011, our regular weekly reflection on the scripture.

The weeks podcast is now available.

 

World Youth Day 2011

Fr Michael was one of the "young" attendees at WYD 2011and recounts his experience of the days in Madrid with the youth of the world where he was encouraged by the way the young people were asking questions and being encouraged to ask questions about faith and what it means. He speaks of the various days and his thoughts and reflections on how WYD will support young people in their faith journey.

• Sacred Space 102fm blog post with quotes from various papal addresses and links to the full talks.
• Bishop Anthony Fisher OP's address and homilies at WYD 2011.

 

Gospel - Matthew 18:15-20

 

This weeks gospel looks to the unity of the Christian family, the family of Christ which can truly pray "Our Father". Jesus seeks to ensure that we be open, gentle and forgiving with each other; always seekings for unity of heart and mind which will lead us to grow in love of God and of our neighbours. It is a counter intuitive gospel for the society that we live in today where it is almost a case of everyone for themselves in a "compo culture" with a focus on individual human rights whilst ignoring individual human responsibilities and ignoring our need and responsibility to be in community - in communion.

 

At the sametime, the gospel also includes the passage of great hope and promise where we can seek the help of God in the name of Jesus, which we often paraphrase as "seek and you shall find, ask and it will be given to you, knock and it will be opened".

 

There is also the great promise of Jesus being constantly present even in the world today where "two or three are gathered in my name". Just as Jesus is present especially in the Eucharist, in the Word in scripture, in the priest when he stands in persona Christi but also in the community gathered together in his name. It is a reminder that when we gather in prayer, in communion with each other, Jesus is there amongst us and that we need to recognise that presence.

 

Some other reflections on this weeks gospel from:

 

Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Sunday Reflections
Deacon Greg Kandra

 

Saints of the Week

 

September 5th - Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
September 6th - St Eugene of Cappadocia
September 7th - St John Maki (martyr) (it is also the date of the foundation of the Legion of Mary)
September 8th - Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
September 9th - St Kieran the Younger (of Clonmacnoise)
September 10th - Blessed Lucy de Freitas

An Act of God

"Politicians are talking about "Acts of God" again. Why do they focus only on disasters? A sunrise and the birth of a child are "Acts of God," too"

H/t to The Ironic Catholic

Terra Sancta Video - At the Tomb of Mary August 15th