1st June - Gifts - The Ascension of the Lord (Year A)

On this morning's programme we reflect on the many great gifts that God has blessed us with.  We have our usual Gospel reflection for the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord and we briefly mention our celestial guides and local notices.  The full programme is available HERE.

Gifts

We began by reflecting on the uniqueness of the human being as the only visible creature on earth able to know and love God (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church 356; cf. Gaudium et Spes 12).  Human beings are not just some thing, but some one (cf. CCC 357), persons created out of love by God.   

As Pope Benedict XVI said during the homily of his inaugural Mass of his pontificate: "We are not some casual and meaningless product of evolution.  Each of us is the result of a thought of God. Each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary".


Sometimes, it can be hard to keep this in mind, but we each have an intrinsic dignity which comes not from what we have achieved or what we own or how we look, but because we are created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Gen 1:27).  As the psalmist prays to God in Psalm 139: "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well" (Ps 139:13-14).

God loves us so much that He would not turn His back on us. As soon as we had turned away from God, He put into place His plan to save us and would not refuse us His only Son: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (Jn 3:16).  Not only does God restore us to His friendship, but He elevates us through Baptism to the status of children of God, where we become 'co-heirs with Christ' (CCC 1256; Rom 8:17).

We reflected on the many God-given gifts that God has given each one of us, the gifts of Baptism, the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the charisms that are given for the building up of the Body of Christ.  You can listen to our reflection on gifts HERE.

Gospel - Matthew 28:16-20

"The eleven disciples set out for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them.  When they saw him they fell down before him, though some hesitated. Jesus came up and spoke to them.  He said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptised them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.'"

On this beautiful solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, we reflect on Jesus' commandment to make disciples of all nations, to baptise and to teach.  In particular, we reflected on two themes: (1) the call to be a disciple of the Lord and (2) how we can preach the Gospel.

The Carmelites have a great reflection on this week's Gospel HERE.  In particular, they distinguish the difference between a disciple and a student:

"To be a disciple is not the same as being a student. A disciple is in relation to the master. A student is in relation to the teacher. The disciple lives with the master 24 hours a day; the student receives lessons from the teacher for a few hours then goes back home. The disciple presupposes a community. The student presupposes being present in a classroom for lessons. The state of discipleship in those days was marked by the expression to follow the master."

We can each ask ourselves this morning, 'Am I a disciple of the Lord? Or do I minimalise my faith to going to Mass on Sunday and saying the odd prayer? Jesus wants to share His whole life with us... will we respond to His call to discipleship?

As baptised Christians, we are all called to evangelise, to spread the Good News, in whatever situation we find ourselves.  Pope Francis explains how each of us can respond to the baptismal call to preach the Gospel in Evangelii Gaudium:

127. Today, as the Church seeks to experience a profound missionary renewal, there is a kind of preaching which falls to each of us as a daily responsibility. It has to do with bringing the Gospel to the people we meet, whether they be our neighbours or complete strangers. This is the informal preaching which takes place in the middle of a conversation, something along the lines of what a missionary does when visiting a home. Being a disciple means being constantly ready to bring the love of Jesus to others, and this can happen unexpectedly and in any place: on the street, in a city square, during work, on a journey.

128. In this preaching, which is always respectful and gentle, the first step is personal dialogue, when the other person speaks and shares his or her joys, hopes and concerns for loved ones, or so many other heartfelt needs. Only afterwards is it possible to bring up God’s word, perhaps by reading a Bible verse or relating a story, but always keeping in mind the fundamental message: the personal love of God who became man, who gave himself up for us, who is living and who offers us his salvation and his friendship. This message has to be shared humbly as a testimony on the part of one who is always willing to learn, in the awareness that the message is so rich and so deep that it always exceeds our grasp. At times the message can be presented directly, at times by way of a personal witness or gesture, or in a way which the Holy Spirit may suggest in that particular situation. If it seems prudent and if the circumstances are right, this fraternal and missionary encounter could end with a brief prayer related to the concerns which the person may have expressed. In this way they will have an experience of being listened to and understood; they will know that their particular situation has been placed before God, and that God’s word really speaks to their lives.

Reflections on this week's Gospel:

Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy
Sunday Reflections

Liturgical odds and ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 3; 7th week of Easter

Saints of the Week

June 2nd - St. Marcellinus and St. Peter, martyrs
June 3rd - St. Kevin
June 4th - St. Charles Lwanga and Companions, martyrs
June 5th - St. Boniface, bishop and martyr
June 6th - St. Jarlath, bishop
June 7th - St. Colman of Dromore, bishop

Notices

The Meaning of Religious Freedom
The Iona Institute and the Irish Catholic are co-hosting a talk on 'The Meaning of Religious Freedom' by Bishop Brendan Leahy (Chair: Professor Eamonn Conway) in The Strand Hotel, Limerick at 8.00pm on Tuesday, June 17th.  Admission is free.  If you would like to attend, please email bconroy@ionainstitute.ie or phone 01-6619204.

25th May 2014 - May - the month of Mary - 6th Sunday of Easter (Year A)

On this weeks programme we reflect on various teachings on Mary in the church and her role in salvation history as set out in catholic theology. We also have our regular reflection on the Sunday gospel as well as some liturgical odds and ends.

You can listen to the podcast of this weeks programme HERE.

May the month of Mary

SS102fm has had programmes on various individual devotions to Mary over the last couple of years. But, as May is traditionally the month of Mary on this week's programme, Lorraine leads us through a reflection on Catholic's understanding of Mary in salvation history and in the church. Using the book 'Introduction to Mary - The Heart of Marian Doctrine and Devotion' by Mark Miravalle we looked at what is devotion to Mary and Mary in Scripture (Old Testament pre-figurements of Mary and Mary in the New Testament). 

We then looked at two key Marian doctrines: (1) Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother; and (2) the Immaculate Conception.  Both of these Marian doctrines (indeed, all Marian doctrines) are centred around Christ and what He has done for us.  If you would like to read the first two chapters of Mark Miravalle's book (and other works on Mary), it is available HERE.  The book is available to buy HERE.



Do Catholics Worship Mary?
Catholic Culture - Mary
Catholic Culture - May the month of Mary
Vatican II on Mary - Lumen Gentium
Mary in Scripture - EWTN 


Gospel - John 14:15-21

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you.

"I will not leave you desolate; I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but you will see me; because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me; and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy
Sunday Reflections

Liturgical odds and ends

Liturgy of the Hours - psalter week 2; 6th week of Easter

Saints of the Week

May 26th - St Philip Neri
May 27th - St Augustine of Canterbury
May 28th - Blessed John Shert
May 29th -  Saint Gerald of Mâcon (in some parts of the world today is Ascension Thursday but in Ireland, Ascension is commemorated on the nearest Sunday which this year is June 1st).
May 30th - Saint Joan of Arc
May 31st - Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Pope Francis apostolic visit to the Holy Land 2014 - "Ut unum sint"

 

Pope Francis is enroute to Jordan and the beginning of a very busy three day visit to the Holy Land, in a visit that will focus on Christian unity. As Catholic News Service put it recently:

The Vatican has emphasized that the pope’s main purpose on the trip is to meet in Jerusalem with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople, considered first among equals by Orthodox bishops. The official logo for the papal visit is an icon of the Apostles Peter and Andrew, patron saints of the churches of Rome and Constantinople, joined in a fraternal embrace.

The pope will be visiting Jordan, Palestine and Israel and celebrate Mass in all three countries. He will meet a wide range of people, from heads of state and royalty to religious and refugees. It promises to be an extraordinary visit — in every sense of the term, a pilgrimage.

• Full schedule of the trip available here (and there will be links to speeches and addresses after the events at the same link)
• Missal of the Papal liturgies

The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land (AOCTS) decided on the motto and logo for the Pope’s upcoming pilgrimage to the Holy Land at the meeting of the Assembly on March 11 and 12, 2014 in Tiberias. The motto for the pilgrimage is “So that they may be one”. The Holy Father has insisted that at the center of his pilgrimage will be the meeting with Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople and the heads of the Churches in Jerusalem. This is to commemorate and renew the commitment to unity expressed by Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras of Constantinople 50 years ago in Jerusalem.

 

This gives expression to the desire of the Lord at the Last Supper: “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:20-23).

 

The logo also expresses this desire for unity, representing the embrace of Saint Peter and Saint Andrew, the first two disciples called by Jesus in Galilee. Saint Peter is the patron of the Church in Rome and Saint Andrew is the patron of the Church in Constantinople. In Jerusalem, in the Mother Church, they embrace. The two apostles are in a boat that represents the Church, whose mast is the Cross of the Lord. The sails of the boat are full of wind, the Holy Spirit, which directs the boat as it sails across the waters of this world.

 

The unity of Christians is a message of unity for all humanity, called to overcome the divisions of the past and march forward together towards a future of justice, peace, reconciliation, pardon and fraternal love.

 

 

 
Pope Francis (in what is becoming a personal tradition of this pontificate) made a private visit to the Roman Basilica of St. Mary Major on Friday morning to pray and entrust his Holy Land pilgrimage to Our Lady. After praying for 15 minutes before the image of the Madonna Salus Populi Romani, the Pope left a bouquet of roses in her honour.
 
Perhaps it would be helpful to join in prayer for the successful and safe conclusion of this pilgrimage:
 

Prayer for the pilgrimage of Pope Francis to the Holy Land

 

Heavenly Father, you never tire of being compassionate and loving. The successor of St. Peter plans to visit the Holy Land sanctified by your Son’s birth, baptism, teaching, death and resurrection. Be with him, sanctify him, and bless him. Spread the mantle of your kindness over every stage of his pilgrimage among us, that one may see in him a believing pilgrim, a wise teacher, and a humble leader.

 

Lord Jesus Christ, who prayed for the unity of your Church, saying: “May they all be one”, make the meeting in Jerusalem between the Holy Father and the Ecumenical Patriarch an incentive to increase our efforts for the unity of your children.

 

Make the encounter of the Pope with the political authorities fruitful for justice and peace. Protect all the residents of this land and the adherents of the religions of the Middle East that they may be in accord, dialogue and cooperation for the achievement of full citizenship.

 

Good Shepherd, whose image Pope Francis carries on his pectoral cross, walking in the spirit of humility with which you have graced him deepen within us the awareness of our Christian identity, that as true disciples, we may bear witness to your Good News and your resurrection in our churches, our society, and all the world, especially by serving the sick, the poor, and the refugees.

 

Bless, Lord Most Holy, this fourth papal visit to our Holy Land, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, all the saints of the Holy Land, and the two new saints, John Paul II and John XXIII. Amen.

 

 

 
 You can follow the Pope's visit on the following sites:
 
Official website of the visit from the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries (Bishops) of the Holy Land - good site with a lot of information and background about the situation of Christians in the Holy Land
 
Official website of the visit by Patriarch Bartholomew

CNEWA (Catholic Near East Welfare Association) - Apostles of Unity in the Holy Land
 
Vatican News
 
Vatican Radio Facebook page
 
Rome Reports
 
Franciscan Media Centre and Terra Sancta News
 
Whispers in the Loggia
 
Catholic News Agency

The Anchoress

18th May 2014 - Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (aka the Monks of Moyross) Part 1 - 5th Sunday of Easter

On last Sunday's programme SS102fm broadcast the first in a three part series of interviews with memebers of the community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Limerick city. Br Thomas tells us about the friars affectionatly known as the "monks of Moyross" and their apostolate in Limerick city.

You can listen back to the full programme podcast HERE.

Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (aka the monks of Moyross)

Lorraine and John visited the friars in Moyross a couple of weeks back and we are delighted to broadcast the first of three part series on this unusual community working and living in our diocese.

The Community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal was begun in 1987 by eight Capuchin Franciscan friars under the leadership and initiative of Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, CFR. From these eight members and their first friary of St. Crispin’s in the South Bronx, the Friars of the Renewal have grown to about 120 men in number from at least 12 countries. Their houses have expanded to include six in the metropolitan New York area, a Friary in New Mexico and missions in England and Honduras and two in Ireland.

"A new breed of monk is making waves in the heart of the Bronx in New York, and is beginning to have an impact here too. They opened their first house in Ireland in Moyross, Co Limerick. In the Bronx they ran soup kitchens, shelters for the homeless but they are somewhat baffled by Moyross: "There's a different kind of need here. It's a social need and a spiritual need. but it is not so tangible in a lot of ways and it's not easy to find out a way in which we are going to bring this to the people other that just being here.," says Brother Shawn. And that's exactly what they are doing - just being, living in two attached council houses in one of the streets in Moyross."

You can listen to Br Thomas interview excerpted from the main programme HERE where he reflects on his vocation journey and the work of the friars in Limerick as an apostolate of presence.

You can watch an episode of Would You Believe HERE.

From Catholic Charismatic Renewal you can read article HERE.

Christian Science Monitor article HERE.

An episode from EWTN's Sunday Night Prime in August 2013

Gospel - John 14:1-12 (5th Sunday of Easter)
 

"Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him."

 

Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father; how can you say, `Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me; or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves.
 
"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I go to the Father.

 

 

Reflections on the gospel reading of the day:

Sunday Reflections
Word on Fire
English Dominicans

Centre for Litugy

 

Liturgical odds and ends

 

Liturgy of the Hours - psalter week 1; 5th week of Easter

 

Saints of the Week

 

May 19th - St. Theophilus of Corte

May 20th - St Bernadine of Siena

May 21st - St. Cristóbal Magallanes and Companions

May 22nd -St. Rita of Cascia

May 23rd - St. Gregory VII

May 24th - St. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi

 

 



18th May 2014 - Interview with Br Thomas of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (Monks of Moyross) - 5th Sunday of Easter

Apologies for the delay in getting this weeks blog post up. However you can listen to the programme podcast of this weeks programme including and interview with Br Thomas of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal aka the "monks of Moyross" HERE and we will update the blog post as soon as we can.

Vocation Sunday - reminding all Christians of the "joy of the priesthood"

iBenedictines have a reflection today on "Praying for Vocations" and in it she suggests that we should all read Pope Francis homily at the Chrism Mass in Rome during Holy Week 2014. It is an excellent suggestion as it is a reflection of the "joy of the priesthood" and should be reflected on by everyone - perhaps as a lectio this Vocation Sunday.

**********

"Anointed with the oil of gladness"

Dear Brother Priests,

 

In the eternal “today” of Holy Thursday, when Christ showed his love for us to the end (cf. Jn 13:1), we recall the happy day of the institution of the priesthood, as well as the day of our own priestly ordination. The Lord anointed us in Christ with the oil of gladness, and this anointing invites us to accept and appreciate this great gift: the gladness, the joy of being a priest. Priestly joy is a priceless treasure, not only for the priest himself but for the entire faithful people of God: that faithful people from which he is called to be anointed and which he, in turn, is sent to anoint.

 

Anointed with the oil of gladness so as to anoint others with the oil of gladness. Priestly joy has its source in the Father’s love, and the Lord wishes the joy of this Love to be “ours” and to be “complete” (Jn 15:11). I like to reflect on joy by contemplating Our Lady, for Mary, the “Mother of the living Gospel, is a wellspring of joy for God’s little ones” (Evangelii Gaudium, 288). I do not think it is an exaggeration to say that priest is very little indeed: the incomparable grandeur of the gift granted us for the ministry sets us among the least of men. The priest is the poorest of men unless Jesus enriches him by his poverty, the most useless of servants unless Jesus calls him his friend, the most ignorant of men unless Jesus patiently teaches him as he did Peter, the frailest of Christians unless the Good Shepherd strengthens him in the midst of the flock. No one is more “little” than a priest left to his own devices; and so our prayer of protection against every snare of the Evil One is the prayer of our Mother: I am a priest because he has regarded my littleness (cf. Lk 1:48). And in that littleness we find our joy.

 

For me, there are three significant features of our priestly joy. It is a joy which anoints us (not one which “greases” us, making us unctuous, sumptuous and presumptuous), it is a joy which is imperishable and it is a missionary joy which spreads and attracts, starting backwards – with those farthest away from us.

11th May 2014 - Vocation Sunday - 4th Sunday of Easter (Year A)

On this weeks programme the SS102fm team are joined by Fr Noel Kirwin, Vocations Director for Limerick diocese who reflects on Vocation Sunday but also on opening up space in our lives to listen to what God is calling each of us to do. We have our regular Sunday gospel reflection and some other liturgical odds and ends.

You can listen to the full programme podcast HERE.

Vocation Sunday - "Diocesan priesthood is a call, not a career; a way of life, not a job; an identity, not just a role”

The World Day of Prayer for Vocations is celebrated on Sunday 11 May this year, the Fourth Sunday of Easter. The World Day of Prayer for Vocations is also known as Vocations Sunday or Good Shepherd Sunday and will be celebrated this year on the theme ‘Vocations: Witness to the Truth’.

In his message for Vocations Sunday the Holy Father Pope Francis encourages all in the Church to expect great things from God, and from ourselves in His service. Joy for that sort of disciple enables us to venture beyond the narrow limits of our comfort zones. That means taking risks, being prepared to journey, allowing God to be God in our lives. Pope Francis says, “A vocation is a fruit that ripens in a well cultivated field of mutual love that becomes mutual service, in the context of an authentic ecclesial life. No vocation is born of itself or lives for itself. A vocation flows from the heart of God and blossoms in the good soil of faithful people”.

You can read Pope Francis message HERE.

On this weeks programme we are joined by Fr Noel Kirwin to reflect on vocation as Vocations Director for the diocese of Limerick. He explores what vocation means for everyone no matter what path in life a person takes.

You can listen to Fr Noel's interview excerpted from the programme HERE.

Previous exploration of vocation on SS102fm:

• Vocations Sunday - Fr Chris O'Donnell - 29th April 2012 - podcast
• My Vocation Story - Fr Frank Duhig, PP Newcastle West - 21 February 2010
• My Vocation Story - Fr Noel Kirwin - Limerick Diocese Vocations Director, Director of Limerick Diocesan Pastoral Centre, PP St Michael's Parish - 22 Nov 2009
• My Vocation Story - Fr John O'Shea PP Abbeyfeale- 28 March 2009
• All blog posts dealing with vocation HERE.

Bishop Brendan Leahy has a message for Vocations Sunday which you can read HERE.

We need priests in the Diocese of Limerick so I ask you to pray that young men will hear and respond to the calling to priesthood. Don Bosco used to say that many boys at some point have felt the calling to priesthood. I am grateful to my own late father because when I was a teenager, wondering what I would do after school, he said: “don’t forget the possibility of priesthood”. I didn’t jump at the idea but at least he had planted the seed of the idea in my soul.

Responding to our calling is never the conclusion of a mathematical formula. It’s more a case of what’s called moral certainty. In other words, the circumstances are converging to point in this or that direction. At that point, it’s worth giving it a go, trusting that God will help us make the right decision. I have met young men who have said to me the idea of becoming a priest never occurred to them because no one ever said it to them. Once it was mentioned to them, they realised it could be for them.


Vocations Ireland has a series of stories of "A Day in the Life" of different men and women in religious life. You can also follow their Facebook page.

Bishop Denis Nulty, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin has issued his first pastoral letter to the people of the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin on the theme of vocations. Commenting on the release of the pastoral letter Bishop Nulty said: “On the day of my episcopal ordination I spoke about the importance of every priest being a director and promoter of vocations. I said then, and repeat now that: “diocesan priesthood is a call, not a career; a way of life, not a job; an identity, not just a role" 

“With this pastoral I want to continue that conversation and I am inviting parishes to reflect on when was the last time someone was ordained from their parish and asking all parishes to think about how they can actively promote vocations......I am also asking parents and friends to encourage, not discourage young people who need permission and reassurance to talk about and consider priesthood – my prayer is that this conversation will now begin.”

Bishop Donal McKeown, Bishop of Derry reflects on Pope Francis' message for Vocations Sunday 2014 on the theme 'Vocations, Witness to the Truth'.

Gospel - John 10:1-10

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

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

Liturgical odds and ends

Liturgy of the Hours - psalter week 4, 4th week of Easter

Saints of the Week

May 12th - St Nereus & St Achilleus
May 13th - Our Lady of Fatima
May 14th - St Matthias (apostle)
May 15th - St Carthage
May 16th - St Brendan the Navigator (abbot and patron of the diocese of Kerry)
May 17th - St Pascal Baylon

The Emmaus Moment - Reflection for 3rd Sunday of Easter - iCatholic

4th May 2014 - Third Sunday of Easter - John Pridmore and Rathkeale Parish Mission

On this week's programme, we have our usual Gospel reflection and a short interview with John Pridmore regarding the Rathkeale Parish Mission.  Ann begins our programme with a Prayer for Hope, reminding us all that we are Easter People and Alleluia is our song!  The full programme is available HERE.

Rathkeale Parish Mission

 John Pridmore joined us on our programme to invite our listeners to attend the Parish Mission in Rathkeale which he is conducting with fellow members of St. Patrick's Community.  John shared some of his story with us, telling us how he became involved in organised crime in the east end of London and how he was touched by God's love when he almost killed someone.  More about John's story is available HERE.  John's mission now is to spread the Good News of God's love and mercy.  He will share his story at the Rathkeale Parish Mission on Monday evening at 7.30pm.  You are invited to attend any or all of the mission sessions.  Mass will be celebrated at 11.00am on Bank Holiday Monday and at 7.30am on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. 

The Evening Sessions take place at 7.30pm on the following topics:

Monday: God's Love (the amazing story of John Pridmore)

Tuesday: God's Mercy (a chance to meet Jesus personally)

Wednesday: God's Healing (healing service)

Thursday: God's Gift of Mary

The mission concludes on Friday evening with Mass of the Holy Spirit which will be celebrated at 7.30pm.

John's full interview is available HERE.  

Gospel - Luke 24:13-35

The Emmaus Disciples by Abraham Bloemaert

 There is a danger with any of the more familiar passages of scripture that we can almost say to ourselves that we know this passage and so we may be tempted to glance over the passage without engaging with the depth and beauty of what it is saying to us.  This is one such passage. The account of the two disciples journey towards Emmaus may indeed be one that we find ourselves on at the moment... perhaps we had a great dream or plan and it has fallen through... perhaps we have been disappointed and let down by people or circumstances... perhaps we too are grieving a loss (through death, unemployment, relationship breakdown etc.) and don't know where to turn... perhaps it is not who is on the journey but a family member or friend.  What does today's passage say to those on this journey?

In today's Gospel, Jesus models for us how we can apply the Scriptures to whatever circumstances we may find ourselves in.  The Carmelites outline how this passage shows us the way Jesus himself interprets Scripture in the light of our lived reality.  (1) We must start from the facts - from our own reality - Jesus listens to the disciples and asks questions where necessary.  (2) Jesus used the Bible to interpret reality in the light of God's plan for our lives. (3) God created us as a People a community drawn together around Jesus. Wherever we find ourselves, in moments of joy or disappointment, we gather together as a family at the table of the Word and the table of the Eucharist.  The purpose of these three steps is so that we can start again anew... to take up our journey once more... to rise and go to Jerusalem.  The Carmelites explain each of these steps in more detail HERE. 

Today's Gospel reflection is available HERE.

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy
Sunday Reflections

Liturgical odds and ends

Divine Office - Psalter week 3; 3rd week of Easter

Saints of the Week

May 5th - Blessed Edmund Rice
May 6th - Blessed Edward Jones
May 7th - St. Rose Venerini
May 8th - St. Peter of Tarentaise
May 9th - St. Pachomius
May 10th - St. Comgall

Notices

Vigil for Vocations: - St. Joseph’s Young Priests Society is holding a special 3 hour vigil of prayer for vocations on Saturday, May 10^th commencing with concelebrated Mass at 6.00pm in Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Ennis Road and concluding with Benediction at 9.00pm.