29th April 2018 - SS102fm gets to know L'Arche Community Ireland

On this weeks programme John is joined by members of L'Arche Ireland community and in particular members of the community from Callan in Co Kilkenny. We have our regular reflection on this weeks Sunday gospel as well as other liturgical odds & ends.

You can listen to this weeks full programme HERE.


L'Arche Ireland

L'Arche is a group of over 149 worldwide communities where people with and without intellectual disabilities share life together in community and on this weeks programme Diana Walsh, Helen O'Shea, Madeline Regan and Peter Brabazon join John to share the story of L'Arche and what it means to each of them to be part of this community.

L'Arche was founded in 1964 when Jean Vanier, welcomed two men with disabilities into his home in the town of Trosly-Breuil, France. Vanier became aware of the plight of thousands of people institutionalized with developmental disabilities. Vanier felt led by God to invite two men, Raphael Simi and Philippe Seux, to leave the institutions where they resided and share their lives with him in a household in Trosly-Breuil, France. He named their home "L'Arche", which is French for "The Ark", as in Noah's Ark.

The first community in Ireland was founded in 1978 in Kilmoganny, County Kilkenny. Since then, communities have been established in Belfast, Cork and Dublin. L'Arche in Ireland is currently home to over fifty people with intellectual disabilities and the assistants with whom they share life. The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, in her remarks at the Millennium celebration of L'Arche, Faith and Light, Faith and Friendship and Faith and Sharing, said:". . . If you want to see Ireland at its best. If you want to see God's people at their best. If you want to see His work done well - Yes, this is the place to be". You can find out about each community HERE.

L'Arche fosters an environment to celebrate the unique value of each and every person in those communities and recognizes our need of one another.

You can listen to the interview excerpted from the main programme HERE.

L'Arche Ireland website
L'Arche Ireland Facebook

Gospel -  John 15:1-8

‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

Reflections on this weeks gospel

Word on Fire
Centre for Liturgy
English Dominicans
Sunday Reflections

Liturgical odds & ends

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

Saints of the Week
April 30th - St Pius V
May 1st - St Joseph the Worker 
May 2nd - St Athanasius of Alexandria
May 3rd - St Philip and St James
May 4th - St Conleth (First Friday)
May 5th - Bl Edmund Rice (First Saturday)

May as Mary's month
All months of the year are devoted to God. Some months have additional themes to help deepen our faith and trust in our God. In May we give thanks for Mary, Mother of God. 

Invite parishioners (or your family!) to create a May altar in your homes this month - HERE  and HERE are two nice articles from mothers about creating a family May altar at home.

HERE are a series of May reflections that you might adapt

Pope's Prayer Intentions for May
Evangelization – The Mission of Laity
That the lay faithful may fulfill their specific mission, by responding with creativity to the challenges that face the world today.