27 Apr 2013

28th April 2013 - 5th Sunday of Easter - "Love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another"

On this weeks programme we continue our focus on Vocations. Last weekend was Good Shepherd Sunday, this week we have an interview sharing the story of life's discernment, we have our regular gospel reflection, some liturgical odds and ends as well as some local notices.

As we have mentioned over a few weeks, next week May 5th Br Columba OSB from Glenstal will join us on the programme to discuss the Benedictine life. The following week May 12th, SS102fm is delighted that Bishop Brendán Leahy will join us on the programme to reflect on his own life journey and to share his hopes and vision for the diocese of Limerick as he joins in the journey of the Pilgrim People of God in our diocese.
 
You can listen to this weeks programmes podcast HERE.
 
Discerning a path in life

John Casey receiving his B.Divinity (Hons)
from Archbishop Bernard Longley
As part of our ongoing vocation theme, we welcome back to the programme John Casey, a parish catechist in Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. George, Enfield, London. John was recently on the programme to speak to us about the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), but today he shares with us some of his own vocation story. From an early age John was drawn towards priesthood and spent his later teenage years and early twenties discerning a vocation with missionary orders. Through prayer and reflection John discerned that he needed more life experience before going forward for the priesthood if that was to be his vocation, but the sense of call and vocation never left him. John shares his experience of discernment and how he tries to respond to God's call each day in his life through his work, as a parish catechist and through his studies with Maryvale Institute.
 
You can listen to John's interview excerpted from the programme HERE.


Gospel - John 13:31-35


"When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of man glorified, and in him God is glorified; if God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, `Where I am going you cannot come.' A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."


Judas had hardly left the upper-room and had gone out into the night when Jesus delivers His spiritual testament to his disciples, announcing his departure to the Father as the essential precondition for the glorification of God and of the Son of Man.  Soon after this farewell discourse, Jesus will no longer be with His disciples. Not that He wants to abandon them or leave them to themselves. It is because they will have to change, from being accustomed to His physical presence, to faith in His unseen presence. It is also to bring to life that presence of Jesus through the practice of a new commandment: by loving one another as He has loved us. The love of the disciples of Jesus for one another is the guarantee and the manifestation of that permanent presence of the Risen One among His own (and remember that all the baptised are disciples [followers] of Jesus). It is the mutual love of Christians for one another that characterises the Christian.  

Tertullian reported that Roman used to exclaim of the Christians: “See how they love one another!” Charity, which is the love of God above all else, and the love of one’s neighbour for God’s sake, makes Christian’s Christ’s perfect followers. Charity is one of the theological virtues received at Baptism. When practiced (i.e. when used and developed), it is a gift that brings us closer to God and perfects us.

It is traditional in the Church that on the 5th and 6th Sundays of the Easter season, the gospel readings are taken from the long discourse which St John tells us Jesus had with the apostles at the Last Supper, and which is recounted from chapter 13:31 to the end of chapter 17. This is very deep teaching, so you must make a special effort to experience that it is also down-to-earth, and helps you to understand your own life.
 

Other reflections on this weeks gospel:
 
Blue Eyed Ennis
Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy
Sunday Reflections
 
Liturgical Odds and Ends
 
Liturgy of the Hours - Week 1
 
Saints of the Weeks
 
April 29th - St Catherine of Siena OP (Virgin & Doctor of the Church)
April 30th - St Pius V (Pope). It is also May Eve - a reminder of the tradition of farmers to bless their crops and fields with Holy Water (often Easter Water) as summer begins the day after.
May 1st - St Joseph the Worker (May Day)
May 2nd - St Athanasius of Alexandria (bishop & Doctor of the Church)
May 3rd - St Philip & St James the Lesser (Apostles) - First Friday
May 4th - St Conleth (bishop)
 


Popes Intentions for May
 
General Intention – The Administrators of Justice: That those who administer justice will always act with integrity and upright conscience.

Mission Intention – Seminarians: That seminarians, especially from mission churches, may always be pastors according to the heart of Christ, fully devoted to the proclamation of the Gospel.
 
Notices

Healing of Silent Memories: - is a ceremony for the naming of babies/children who have died as a result of miscarriage, stillbirth or sudden infant death syndrome. The ceremony contains a beautiful ritual of naming which recognises in a fuller way the child’s place in the family and in the community. The family takes home a Certificate of Naming and the community also cherishes the name in a beautiful book created for that purpose and held in a place of reverence. The family also take home a special candle which has been used during the naming service. Those who have taken part in the past have spoken of the healing effect of this on their sense of loss and pain and have experienced some peace. As well as being a naming ceremony it is also a renewal of our remembrance and inclusion of children named in previous years. For this reason we encourage families who have participated in the past to come and participate again. Their presence is also a great support for those who are coming for the first time. The invitation to come and participate is not confined to members of this parish community, but is open to all who wish to come, whatever their faith or wherever they live. The ceremony takes place at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Newcastle West on Wednesday, May 1st at 8.00pm.

Medjugorje 2013: - The West Limerick Medjugorje prayer group is organizing a pilgrimage to Medjugorje for a week from July 27th to August 3rd. We fly out from Dublin airport with Marian Pilgrimages. Spiritual Director: Fr. Richard Keane C.C. The cost for the week B/B and evening dinner is € 659 ex Dublin. While there we will experience three days of the youth festival, joining over 50,000 young people from more than 60 countries in a truly unforgettable celebration. Contact Mary Keating (069-60375) or Paddy Geary (087-6247672).

13-Day Holy Land Pilgrimage 2013: - Walk in the Footsteps of our Lord from October 23rd to November 4th 2013. Spiritual Director: Fr. Damien Ryan. Half board Accommodation and including all Airport Taxes Ex Dublin - €1,500 P.P.S. Early booking is essential as there are only limited places. For further Details contact Tom O’ Dwyer: 087-2701311 or Sile: 086-8590394.

25 Apr 2013

Catholic Ireland: Past, Present and Future - Archbishop Diarmuid Martin

In what could be seen as a wide ranging analysis of the state of the Catholic Church in Ireland, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin gave a wide ranging, thought provoking address at the Fordham Centre of Religion and Culture in New York on 24th April.
 
While it gives some good insights into the position and challenges of the church in Ireland in 2013 and how it got into this situation, Archbishop Martin once again poses many thought provoking questions but fails to proffer a vision or response to some of the questions raised - which could be said to be one of the faults of the man who heads the largest archdiocese in the country.
 
However, the address is well worth a read.
 
 
The Russo Family Lecture   
Speaking Notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin
Archbishop of Dublin
Fordham Centre of Religion and Culture,
New York,
24th April 2013
The Irish Times
Ireland has changed and Ireland is changing. The other evening I was at a lecture in the Italian Embassy in Dublin about Ireland in renaissance times. I was struck by two quotes chosen by the lecturer. The first was from Pope Pius II, Piccolomini, written in 1458 looking at the situation of Europe at the time. He concluded his three sentences on Ireland writing: “since nothing worth remembering took place there during the period we write about, we hurry on to matters Spanish”. I can tell you, much worth remembering and much that we would prefer not to remember has taken place in the Ireland of recent times.


The second quote was from Petrarch who, in the latter part of the 12th century, noted about Ireland: “in one year you will hardly hear it thunder once. No thunderbolts cause terror here, no lightening ever strikes”. That quote should make anyone who still had lingering doubts recognise that climate change is a reality!


I entered the seminary in Dublin in October 1962 just one week before the opening of Vatican II. The winter of 1962/63 was one of the bleakest winters for decades and our seminary was a very cold place in more ways than one. My memory of the seminary is of a building and a routine, a discipline and a way of life which seemed to have been like that for decades. Even to someone who was not a revolutionary, it all seemed so out of touch with the world from which I had just come, and in which my friends were thriving. But you were not supposed to think that way. Things were to be done as they had always been done. The Catholic Church was unchanging, but that was about to change.


For years now people looked to Ireland as a vibrant and sustainable model for strong economic growth. Countries were told to follow the Irish example. Today the economic situation of Ireland is full of uncertainties, precisely at a moment when confidence and trust are urgently needed. On the other hand, for decades Ireland was looked on as one of the world’s most deeply and stably Catholic countries and today Ireland finds itself along with other parts of Europe being classified as “post-Catholic”.


I would issue here my first warning. Everyone has his or her own definition of “post-Catholic”. You can only fully define post-Catholic in terms of the Catholicism that has been displaced. Irish Catholicism has its own unique history and culture. Renewal in the Irish Church will not come simply from imported plans and programmes. Renewal must be home-grown. You must understand where Irish Catholicism is coming from.


Ireland does of course share the same currents of secularization with other counties of the Western world and thus shares many of the same challenges. There are specific challenges within Europe; there are specific challenges which are common to the English-speaking world. There is however a danger that people think that because Ireland is an English-speaking country it can be put into the same category as the United States and Great Britain.

Year of Faith - Irish Dominican Credo Series - II "I believe in one God, the Father almighty"

In this second episode of their series on the Nicene Creed the Irish Dominican students look at the very first article: "I believe in one God, the Father almighty". Dr. Carole Brown joins them this week to give some new insights.


21 Apr 2013

Vocation Stories - Follow me - Diocese of Peoria, Illinois









Vocation Sunday - Ask Jesus what he wants from you - Pope Francis Regina Caeli

From Vatican Radio:



Dear brothers and sisters,

Fourth Sunday of Easter is characterized by the Gospel of the Good Shepherd - in the tenth chapter of St. John – which we read every year. Today’s passage contains these words of Jesus: " My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one"(10.27 to 30).These four verses contain Jesus’ entire message, the core of His Gospel: He calls us to participate in His relationship with the Father, and this is eternal life.

Jesus wants to establish a relationship with his friends that is a reflection of His relationship with the Father, a relationship of mutual belonging in full trust, in intimate communion. To express this deep understanding, this relationship of friendship Jesus uses the image of the shepherd with his sheep: he calls them, and they know his voice, they respond to his call and follow him. How beautiful this parable is! The mystery of the voice is suggestive: from our mother's womb we learn to recognize her voice and that of our father, from the tone of a voice we perceive love or disdain, affection or coldness. The voice of Jesus is unique! If we learn to distinguish it, He guides us on the path of life, a path that goes beyond the abyss of death.

But at a certain point Jesus, referring to his sheep, says: "My Father, who has given them to me..." (Jn 10,29). This is very important, it is a profound mystery, that is not easy to understand: if I feel attracted to Jesus, if his voice warms my heart, it is thanks to God the Father, who has put in me the desire of love, of truth, life, beauty ... and Jesus is all this to the full! This helps us to understand the mystery of vocation, particularly the call to a special consecration. Sometimes Jesus calls us, invites us to follow him, but maybe we don’t realize that it is Him, just like young Samuel. There are many young people today, here in the square. There are many of you! So many of you young people present today in the square!

I would like to ask you: have you sometimes heard the voice of the Lord which through a desire, a certain restlessness, invites you to follow Him more closely? Have you heard it? I can’t hear you…there you are! Have you had any desire to be apostles of Jesus? Youth must spend itself for high ideals. Do you think so? Do you agree? Ask Jesus what he wants from you and be brave! Be brave, ask Him!!! Behind and before every vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life, is always the strong and intense prayer of someone: a grandmother, a grandfather, a mother, a father, a community ... That's why Jesus said, "Pray the Lord of the harvest - that is, God the Father - to send out laborers into his harvest" (Mt 9:38). The vocations are born in prayer and from prayer, and only in prayer can they persevere and bear fruit. I like to underline this today, the "World Day of Prayer for Vocations." We pray especially for the new priests of the Diocese of Rome, whom I had the joy of ordaining this morning. And we invoke the intercession of Mary. Today there were 10 young men who have said "yes" to Jesus and were ordained priests this morning ... This is beautiful! Let us invoke the intercession of Mary who is the woman who said "yes." Mary said "yes," all her life! She has learned to recognize the voice of Jesus since she bore him in her womb. Mary, Our Mother, help us to know better the voice of Jesus and follow it, to walk the path of life!

Thank you so much for your greeting, but let us also proclaim Jesus loudly... Let us all pray together to the Virgin Mary.

20 Apr 2013

21st April 2013 - 4th Sunday of Easter - Day of Prayer for Vocations (Good Shepherd Sunday)


This week we mark Vocation Sunday when the universal church prays for labourers to be sent into the vineyard of the Lord. We have a few thoughts on last weeks celebration for the diocese in the ordination of our new bishop as well as our regular reflection on the gospel of the day as well as some liturgical odds and ends.

This weeks programme podcast is available HERE.

Ordination of Bishop Brendan Leahy


Please check our our various posts, links and photos for the ordination of Limerick's new bishop:

Limerick Diocesan website
Limerick Leader
The Irish Catholic

"I now feel I am a Limerick man! Limerick is beautiful. I’ll have to start wearing the Limerick colours! I am proud to be bishop of this great diocese with such an ancient history. As a diocese we want to do our part to make all of Limerick even greater, as I believe and hope we do, day in, day out, in countless communities of faith and love in parishes, religious orders, communities and movements, schools, hospitals and social initiatives. In so many ways, people are replying positively to Jesus’ question: “do you love me?” Today let’s renew our love of him even more; let’s bridge to make Limerick even more beautiful, so that others will come and see Jesus living among us.”


One of the great things about the celebration was the music and song through out the celebration and it is not for nothing that Shannon-siders have a reputation for music and singing! The recessional hymn was Now Thank We all Our God and while we may not have been up to the standard of the Morman Tabernacle Choir below, it will give you some idea of the celebration.
 





Day of Prayer for Vocations - "Vocations as a sign of hope founded in faith"
 
Today is the day set aside to pray for vocations. On SS102fm that vocation isnt just for priesthood and religious life as we all have a specific vocation arising out of our baptism. but this day is set aside as a particular day of prayer for those vocations. Below are excerpts of the text of the popes message for Vocations Sunday.

 
"....this day of worldwide prayer to God the Father, asking him to continue to send workers for his Church (cf. Mt 9:38).....The problem of having a sufficient number of priests is the precise and inescapable indicator of the vitality of faith and love of individual parish and diocesan communities, and the evidence of the moral health of Christian families. Wherever numerous vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life are to be found, that is where people are living the Gospel with generosity”
Hope is the expectation of something positive in the future, yet at the same time it must sustain our present existence, which is often marked by dissatisfaction and failures. On what is our hope founded?

At every moment, especially the most difficult ones, the Lord’s faithfulness is always the authentic driving force of salvation history....

God never abandons us and he remains true to his word. For that reason, in every situation, whether positive or negative, we can nourish a firm hope and pray with the psalmist: “Only in God can my soul find rest; my hope comes from him” (Ps 62:6)

......what exactly is God’s faithfulness, to which we adhere with unwavering hope? It is his love!....this love, fully manifested in Jesus Christ, engages with our existence and demands a response in terms of what each individual wants to do with his or her life, and what he or she is prepared to offer in order to live it to the full. The love of God sometimes follows paths one could never have imagined, but it always reaches those who are willing to be found.....This deep, demanding love, which penetrates well below the surface, gives us courage; it gives us hope in our life’s journey and in our future; it makes us trust in ourselves, in history and in other people.......so today the risen Jesus walks along the streets of our life and sees us immersed in our activities, with all our desires and our needs. In the midst of our everyday circumstances he continues to speak to us; he calls us to live our life with him, for only he is capable of satisfying our thirst for hope. He lives now among the community of disciples that is the Church, and still today calls people to follow him. The call can come at any moment. Today too, Jesus continues to say, “Come, follow me” (Mk 10:21). Accepting his invitation means no longer choosing our own path. Following him means immersing our own will in the will of Jesus, truly giving him priority, giving him pride of place in every area of our lives: in the family, at work, in our personal interests, in ourselves

Vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life are born out of the experience of a personal encounter with Christ......This process, which enables us to respond positively to God’s call, is possible in Christian communities where the faith is lived intensely, where generous witness is given of adherence to the Gospel, where there is a strong sense of mission which leads people to make the total gift of self for the Kingdom of God.

Dear young people, do not be afraid to follow him and to walk the demanding and courageous paths of charity and generous commitment! In that way you will be happy to serve, you will be witnesses of a joy that the world cannot give, you will be living flames of an infinite and eternal love, you will learn to “give an account of the hope that is within you” (1 Pt 3:15)!"

  • Pope Benedict XVI's text of full message for the Day of Prayer HERE.
  • Resources for Vocation Sunday from the Vocation Directors of Ireland available HERE.
  • Vocations Ireland website
  • Irish Vocation Stories
  • Explore Away - exploreAway: an opportunity for young, single, men and women between the ages of 21-40, who are interested in exploring religious life in a reflective and prayerful environment. If you are discerning your way in life you are invited to join the team over five weekends to experience and explore where God may be calling you.
  • Limerick Diocese Vocation Information available HERE.
  • SS102fm posts and podcasts on Vocations including various priests and religious sharing their stories can be viewed HERE.


God knows me and calls me by my name.…
God has created me to do Him some definite service;
He has committed some work to me
which He has not committed to another.
I have my mission—I never may know it in this life,
but I shall be told it in the next.
Somehow I am necessary for His purposes…
I have a part in this great work;
I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection
between persons.
He has not created me for naught. I shall do good,
I shall do His work;
I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth
in my own place, while not intending it,
if I do but keep His commandments
and serve Him in my calling.
Therefore I will trust Him.
Whatever, wherever I am,
I can never be thrown away.
If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him;
In perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him;
If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him.
My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be
necessary causes of some great end,
which is quite beyond us.
He does nothing in vain; He may prolong my life,
He may shorten it;
He knows what He is about.
He may take away my friends,
He may throw me among strangers,
He may make me feel desolate,
make my spirits sink, hide the future from me—
still He knows what He is about.…
Let me be Thy blind instrument. I ask not to see—
I ask not to know—I ask simply to be used.
 
Cardinal John Henry Newman.
Meditations and Devotions, "Meditations on Christian Doctrine,"
"Hope in God—Creator", March 7, 1848

Gospel - John 10:27-30
 

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."
 
In a season of thanksgiving, in a time of change, what wonderful consoling and healing words:
 
"No one shall snatch you out of Gods hands"
We are in the arms of a shepherd
who cares for us, who holds us, who never forgets us.
Jesus, may we have the confidence
and peace to rest in your love.
May we be witnesses to your love this week,
so that all can know this joy in their lives.
Amen.

Other reflections on this weeks gospel:
 
Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Sunday Reflections
Centre for Liturgy


Liturgical Odds and Ends
 
Divine Office - Psalter Week 4
 
Saints of the Week
 
22nd April - St Abel McAedh
23rd April - St George (martyr) Patron saint of England
24th April - St Fidelis of Sigmaringen
25th April - St Mark the Evangelist

Our Lady of Good Counsel
26th April - Our Lady of Good Counsel
27th April - St Asicus
 
Notices

The notices we called out on this weeks programme are available HERE.

Vocation Stories - Five Paths to Priesthood - Dominican Friars

Regina Caeli - Palestrina Boys Choir


Vocation Stories - Bishop Donal McKeown, auxiiary bishop of Down & Connor

Vocation Voices is a new video series from the Bishops’ Council for Vocations to promote vocations to the priesthood. The videos include priests from around the country reflection on their own personal vocation story and their priestly ministry. The videos will be available to view over the coming weeks on www.catholicbishops.ie.

All the interviewees responded to two questions:
  1. When did you realise you had a vocation and how did you respond?
  2. Would you recommend the life of a priest to others?
The first interviewee is Bishop Donal McKeown, Auxiliary Bishop of Down and Connor.


18 Apr 2013

QoTD - The Church is not a babysitter - Pope Francis


The Church cannot be merely “a babysitter who takes care of the child just to get him to sleep”. If she were this, hers would be a “slumbering church”. Whoever knows Jesus has the strength and the courage to proclaim him. And whoever has received baptism has the strength to walk, to go forward, to evangelize and “when we do this the Church becomes a mother who generates children” capable of bring Christ to the world.

“Let us ask the Lord,” he concluded, “for the grace to become baptized persons who are brave and sure that the Holy Spirit who is in us, received at baptism, always moves us to proclaim Jesus Christ with our life, our testimony and even with our words”.

Year of Faith - Credo Series from the Irish Dominican Students - No I: Credo

A video series on the Creed has been launched by the students of the Irish Dominican friars in Dublin. The thirteen-part series of 30-minute videos was prepared in interview format and features a discussion on all the parts of the Creed which we say at Mass on Sundays and major feastdays.

The interviewees will include both Dominican friars and lay people. The first in the series discusses the first word "Credo" (I believe) and where the Creed itself came from with Fr Joseph Dineen OP.


Vocation Stories - Fr Paddy - A Young Man on a Mission - RTE Documentary on One - 2011



For Fr. Paddy Byrne, life is busy. His ministry is spread across three churches, encompassing masses, funerals, weddings, baptisms and day-to-day pastoral care. On top of that, he is chaplain in four schools, writes a weekly column in the local newspaper, and a blog on the parish website.

As the youngest priest in the diocese of Kildare and Leighlinn, Fr. Paddy sees no real sign of ordinations coming after him. There are only fifteen priests in the diocese under the age of forty-five. In the next five years approximately twenty priests are going to retire, which means that in five years time it's likely that there will only be sixty priests to serve fifty parishes in a population of over 250,000 people.

As clergy numbers continue to diminish, Fr. Paddy shares his vision on how the church will survive into the future. 'The work is increasing and the number of priests on the ground is decreasing. The challenge at all times is to renew and to listen to the mood of the spirit, and the spirit is challenging lay people to take leadership in the church.'

Having been ordained ten years ago, his whole priesthood has been in the milieu of scandal in the Catholic Church. While he feels disconnected from the 'official church', he is happy and fulfilled by his life in the 'local church' and the parish that he serves.

Being a young priest can be lonely, particularly at weddings. "I love celebrating a wedding, but I find it very difficult walking into the hotel on your own, looking around and wondering if there is anyone there I know. After the meal the music starts and you'd love to be able to go out and dance, but not having a woman with you to do that. I think it's a lonely moment walking out of every wedding and it reminds me of the cross of celibacy."

We get an insight into what it's like to be a priest on the ground as we follow Fr. Paddy going about his daily work in the vibrant parish of Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow. He talks about being called to the priesthood, his faith, his frustration with the leadership of the Church, celibacy, and his role as a priest in the community.

Listen to Fr Paddy's story HERE.

17 Apr 2013

Vocation Stories - Pope John Paul II's vocation story


Vocation Stories - Limerick priests reflect on vocation and their vocation stories with SS102fm



The World Day of Prayer for Vocations or Vocations Sunday will be celebrated on Sunday 21 April 2013. The theme chosen for 2013 is: “Vocations as a sign of hope founded in faith”.
This is the 50th World Day of Prayer for Vocations and it also coincides with the Year of Faith, which is marking the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. While the Council was sitting, Pope Paul VI instituted the World Day of Prayer for Vocations which is a worldwide day of prayer to God, asking him to continue to send workers for his Church (cf. Mt 9:38)
 
When he published the message for Vocations Sunday 2013 in October last year, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI said “Vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life are born out of the experience of a personal encounter with Christ, out of sincere and confident dialogue with him, so as to enter into his will. It is necessary, therefore, to grow in the experience of faith, understood as a profound relationship with Jesus, as inner attentiveness to his voice which is heard deep within us. This process, which enables us to respond positively to God’s call, is possible in Christian communities where the faith is lived intensely, where generous witness is given of adherence to the Gospel, where there is a strong sense of mission which leads people to make the total gift of self for the Kingdom of God, nourished by recourse to the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, and by a fervent life of prayer. This latter ‘must on the one hand be something very personal, an encounter between my intimate self and God, the living God. On the other hand it must be constantly guided and enlightened by the great prayers of the Church and of the saints, by liturgical prayer, in which the Lord teaches us again and again how to pray properly.’ (Spe Salvi, 34).”
 

16 Apr 2013

April 16th - St Bernadette Soubirous - the Seer of Lourdes

Wikipedia
Today is the feast day of the Seer of Lourdes, St Bernadette Soubirous. She is best known for her Marian apparitions of "a small young lady" who asked for a chapel to be built at a cave-grotto in Massabielle where the apparitions occurred between 11 February and 16 July 1858. She would later receive recognition when the lady who appeared to her identified herself as the Immaculate Conception.

You can read more about Bernadette here. You can read more about Lourdes HERE and click on the webcam at the Grotto HERE and place your petition HERE.



Limerick has a long tradition of pilgrimage to Lourdes each year in June and already it is one of the dates pencilled in for our new bishop. So today is a good day to reflect on the message of Lourdes and the devotion of people to the Madonna of Lourdes.

Fr James Martin SJ has a short video based around his book "My Lives with the Saints" which gives a lovely reflection for the day.


Address of Bishop Brendán Leahy at the conclusion of his episcopal ordination - 14th April 2013

Limerick Diocese website has some wonderful photos as well as links to the homilies and addresses given on the occasion of  the ordination of our new bishop. Below is the address by Bishop Brendán at the end of the ceremony.




Bishop Brendan Leahy's address at the Conclusion of the Episcopal Ordination Ceremony, St. John’s Cathedral, Limerick

Today has been a wonderful celebration. It is simply impossible to thank adequately everyone who should be thanked. Firstly, I would like to thank each of you for coming. You can only imagine how much work has gone into every little detail of what we have seen, heard, touched and experienced today. I’m sure Jesus will say to all concerned: “you do it to me” and he will respond in the way he knows best to each one. Everything has been done with good cheer and so God must be pleased because he loves a cheerful giver.

I want to express my gratitude for all that has been achieved in this diocese over many years under my predecessor Bishop Donal Murray whom I greet warmly. I want also to say "thanks" for all that has been done in these recent three years by the administrator Fr. Tony Mullins, along with Fr. Paul Finnerty, Fr. Eamonn Fitzgibbon and so many of the diocesan offices, agencies and, especially, the clergy. So now, I and all of us together are beginning again. A new chapter in our diocesan history is opening. I’ll share one or two thoughts on that.

The other day I was eavesdropping on a conversation, one that you too have overheard many times. One person was saying to the other: “I will give you the keys” but then added “I’ll build”.... You might guess the conversation I’m referring to – it was the one between Jesus and Peter that we find in the Gospel. Jesus says to Peter,“on this rock I will build my church” . For me personally as I set out as Bishop of Limerick you can’t imagine what a relief it is to hear Jesus say: “I will build”! He has promised he’ll do his part. If Jesus builds, what have we to do? Our part is to let Jesus build his Church by our love for one another, giving our contribution so that he can work through us renewing the world we live in. Where should we start? I was struck recently by the words of Pope Francis when he says: “start from the outskirts”. Each of us has regions that are “outskirts” – people who are different from us or who we find hard to get on with; groups that we dislike because they have different views than ours; areas that we simply ignore, causes that we know are right but feel lazy about getting involved in. It’s with trust in Jesus who builds, that we can give our reply to the great question put to Peter in the Gospel: “Do you love me?” “Do you love?” It’s the most profound question in life. In today’s Gospel we have heard an invitation to love “more” and in this way build the Church; and that also means to love more those who are on the outskirts, broken and marginalised. I know that many will say “but I am only hanging on in faith by my fingernails”. For some it is really difficult to believe. A fellow Irishman, Bono, wrote a song some years ago now. Its words ran something like this: “I have climbed highest mountains; I have run through the fields; Only to be with you, Only to be with you; I have run, I have crawled, I have scaled these city walls, These city walls, Only to be with you; But I still haven't found what I'm looking for”. I don’t know what Bono had in mind but these words can be applied to the situation many find themselves in with regard to faith. Moments of difficulty are written into the Christian journey of faith. How many saints and exemplary men and women throughout the centuries have told us about shadowy moments they lived through. We can think of the Irish woman and martyr, Margaret Ball, Teresa of Lisieux, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the philosopher, Simon Weil, the young Jewish woman, Etty Hillesum, the recently beatified teenager, Chiara Luce Badano... We can only imagine how much Mary, Jesus’ mother, went through many trials of faith along her journey.

Darkness in our faith journey can affect us individually but also as a group, as a community, as a Church. We know only too well of how many innocent people suffer terrible darkness because of clerical abuse. I want to make their pain my own and seek forgiveness seventy times seven. It is a deep wound also for all of us. I have been greatly consoled in getting to know how much has been done in the diocese in the area of child safeguarding. I am deeply indebted to the high professionalism of the many lay men and women involved in our diocesan structures in this regard as in many areas of the diocese. It was good to read the observation made in the Audit by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland that the diocese of Limerick has robust measures in place in the area of child safeguarding and protection.

We know from the Christian spiritual tradition that trials in the life of faith can be a prelude to a new dawn of light and love. Perhaps we can draw inspiration from another conversation Jesus had, this time with Philip in John’s Gospel. In reply to Philip who asked him to show us God the Father, Jesus says: “to those who love me I will reveal myself” and so we will discover God. In other words, love has eyes. Love gives light. To those of us hanging on by our fingernails, we are invited to hang on in there, and keep on loving, looking around for those “outskirt” people, areas and projects that we can reach out to in love. Jesus said: “Whatever you do to the least you do to me”. If we love those on the outskirts – and these can be people close to us too, like members of our family, or work colleagues, Jesus promises we will have light. He repeated this often - he would give light to those who go outside themselves to love him in the least, in the poor, in the neighbour, in the wounded: “those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them” (Jn 14:20).

I want to thank the whole diocese, parishes and religious communities for the great outpouring of prayer to the Holy Spirit for me and the diocese in recent months. I thank especially the young people and their teachers for their daily prayers. I am greatly humbled by all the encouragement that has surrounded me in these days and weeks.
 
I now feel I am a Limerick man! Limerick is beautiful. I’ll have to start wearing the Limerick colours! I am proud to be bishop of this great diocese with such an ancient history. As a diocese we want to do our part also today to make all of Limerick even greater, as I believe and hope we do, day in, day out, in countless communities of faith and love in parishes, religious orders, communities and movements, schools, hospitals and social initiatives. In so many ways, people are replying positively to Jesus’ question: “do you love me?” Today let’s renew our love of him even more; let’s bridge to make Limerick even more beautiful, so that others will come and see Jesus living among us.”



14 Apr 2013

Habemus Episcopum VI - Limerick Has Its Bishop!!! (And SS102fm has its 1000th blog post!)


The SS102fm team were privileged to attend the ordination today of our new bishop, Brendán Leahy. We will blog and share various photos, thoughts etc over the next few days but to give you a flavour of the day please see the press release below from the Limerick Diocesan Website and to our new bishop Brendán - Ad Multos Annos!!!!!

And to all the team at St John's Cathedral and the entire diocesan team including Fr Tony Mullins and Fr Paul Finnerty, well done on organising a joyous, inclusive, community celebration. Truly, "this day was made by the Lord, let us rejoice and be glad!!"



Fr Brendan Leahy ordained as the 47th Bishop of Limerick at St. John’s Cathedral

Bishop Leahy speaks of great need to connect with marginalised and broken

The Diocese of Limerick was today at one in celebration for the ordination of Brendan Leahy as its 47th bishop and first to be ordained since 1974.

The ordination at St. John’s Cathedral was attended by over 1,200 guests. Chief Celebrant was Archbishop of Cashel & Emly Dermot Clifford and his co-consecrators were Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Charles Brown, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin and Fr Tony Mullins, who has served as Limerick Diocese Administrator since December 2009 and who delivered today’s Homily. Also attending were Cardinal Sean Brady and Cardinal Desmond Connell.

Up to 15 Bishops and over 200 priests were present for the the ordination, along with representatives of parishes across the diocese and friends and family of Bishop Leahy. Pride of place at the celebration was for Fr Brendan’s 91 year-old father Maurice, who taught in Athea, Co. Limerick in the 1940s. Also present were Bishop Leahy’s sisters Máire and Treasa, his brother Tom and sister-in-law Marjorie.

Among the congregation also were were Oireachtas representatives from the Diocese,including cabinet ministers Michael Noonan and Jan O’Sullivan, Mayor of Limerick Gerry McLoughlin, Cathaoirleach of Limerick County Councill Jerome Scanlan and their fellow Limerick councillors. President Michael D. Higgins and An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, TD,were represented by their Aide de Comp Col Brendan McAndrew and Comdt Michael Treacy respectively.

Also present were Church of Ireland Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe Trevor Williams and representatives of other Christian Communities, including Church of Ireland Dean of Limerick and Rector of Limerick City Parish Rev. Sandra Pragnel; Superintendent Minister of the Adare and Ballingrane Methodist Circuit Rev. Liz Hewitt; Rev. Vicki Lynch of the United Methodist Presbyterian Congregation; Rev. Godfrey O'Donnell, Romanian Orthodox Church of Ireland and President of the Irish Council of Churches; and Mrs. Gillian Kingston,Lay Leader of the Methodist Church in Ireland.

The Irish Times - Bishop Brendan Leahy lies prone as he is ordained by Archbishop of Cashel and Emily Dermot Clifford at St John’s Cathedral in Limerick. Photograph: Kieran Clancy
 

Bishop Leahy became the first Bishop in Ireland and eighth in the world to be ordained under the papacy of Pope Francis. He succeeds Bishop Donal Murray, who retired as Bishop in December 2009.

In addition to the 1,200 plus guests in St. John’s for the congregation, hundreds more gathered outside, with many more again packing into the adjacent community centre where the celebration was streamed live on a big screen via a web-link. The ordination was also streamed live across the worldwide web on the diocese’s own website www.limerickdiocese.org, while local radio station Limerick’s Live95FM streamed the entire celebration on its website.

Addressing the congregation at the end of the celebration, the newly ordained Bishop Leahy said that he and all in the Diocese are at the beginning of a new chapter in which there is a great need to reach out to the marginalised and broken in society. “Where should we start? I was struck recently by the words of Pope Francis when he said ‘start from the outskirts’. Each of us has regions that are ‘outskirts’ – people who are different from us or who we find hard to get on with; groups that we dislike because they have different views than ours; areas that we simply ignore, causes that we know are right but feel lazy about getting involved in. “In today’s Gospel we have heard an invitation to love “more” and in this way build the Church; and that also means to love more those who are on the outskirts, broken and marginalised. “I know that many will say ‘but I am only hanging on in faith by my fingernails’. For some it is really difficult to believe. A fellow Irishman, Bono, wrote a song some years ago now. Its words ran something like this: ‘I have climbed highest mountains; I have run through the fields; Only to be with you, Only to be with you; I have run, I have crawled, I have scaled these city walls, These city walls, Only to be with you; But I still haven't found what I'm looking for’. “I don’t know what Bono had in mind but these words can be applied to the situation many find themselves in with regard to faith. Moments of difficulty are written into the Christian journey of faith. How many saints and exemplary men and women throughout the centuries have told us about shadowy moments they lived through.

We can think of the Irish woman and martyr, Margaret Ball, Teresa of Lisieux, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the philosopher, Simon Weil, the young Jewish woman, Etty Hillesum, the recently beatified teenager, Chiara Luce Badano... We can only imagine how much Mary, Jesus’ mother, went through many trials of faith along her journey.”
 
Prayer of consecration over Bishop Brendan
 
Bishop Leahy also spoke of the Church’s need to seek forgiveness for its own sins,particularly in relation to clerical abuse. “Darkness in our faith journey can affect us individually but also as a group, as a community, as a Church. We know only too well of how many innocent people suffer terrible darkness because of clerical abuse. I want to make their pain my own and seek forgiveness seventy times seven. It is a deep wound also for all of us.

“I have been greatly consoled in getting to know how much has been done in the diocese in the area of child safeguarding. I am deeply indebted to the high professionalism of the many lay men and women involved in our diocesan structures in this regard as in many areas of the diocese. It was good to read the observation made in the Audit by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland that the diocese of Limerick has robust measures in place in the area of child safeguarding and protection."

“We know from the Christian spiritual tradition that trials in the life of faith can be a prelude to a new dawn of light and love.”

Bishop Leahy also thanked the people of the diocese, not least the young, for their support in helping him prepare for his ordination. “I want to thank the whole diocese, parishes and religious communities for the great outpouring of prayer to the Holy Spirit for me and the diocese in recent months. I thank especially the young people and their teachers for their daily prayers. I am greatly humbled by all the encouragement that has surrounded me in these days and weeks."

"I now feel I am a Limerick man! Limerick is beautiful. I’ll have to start wearing the Limerick colours! I am proud to be bishop of this great diocese with such an ancient history. As a diocese we want to do our part also today to make all of Limerick even greater, as I believe and hope we do, day in, day out, in countless communities of faith and love in parishes, religious orders, communities and movements, schools, hospitals and social initiatives. In so many ways, people are replying positively to Jesus’ question: ‘do you love me?’ Today let’s renew our love of him even more; let’s bridge to make Limerick even more beautiful, so that others will come and see Jesus living among us.”