14th April 2019 - Reflecting on Holy Week with Fr. Frank Duhig

On this week's programme we are joined by a friend of the programme, Fr. Frank Duhig, the parish priest of Newcastle West who leads us on a reflection on Holy Week and the Easter Triduum. We also have our usual reflection on the Sunday Gospel.

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

Reflecting on Holy Week with Fr. Frank Duhig

This week's programme welcomes Fr. Frank Duhig back again. Fr. Frank leads us through the daily liturgical ceremonies of Holy Week and the importance of taking a full part each day. Each day includes Scripture readings that remind us of God's journey with us at all times and situations and of his great love for each of us.

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

An infographic Guide to Holy Week is available HERE.

Gospel - Luke 19:28-40

Jesus went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount that is called Olivet, he sent two disciples, saying, ‘Go into the village opposite, where on entering you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever yet sat; untie it and bring it here. If any one asks you, 
“Why are you untying it?” you shall say this, “The Lord has need of it.”’

So those who were sent went away and found it as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ And they said, ‘The Lord has need of it.’ And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their garments on the colt they set Jesus upon it.

And as he rode along, they spread their garments on the road. As he was drawing near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’ 

And some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to him, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples.’ He answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.’

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy
Sunday Reflections

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter Week 2

Holy Week and the Sacred Easter Triduum out rank all saints memorials and commemorations this week so we wont be posting any saints of the week list. The Easter Triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil and closes with evening prayer on Easter Sunday.

The Mass of Chrism will be celebrated on Wednesday, 17th April at 7.30pm in St. John's Cathedral. This is a special gathering to which all are warmly invited. We especially invite families of those who will be baptised or confirmed this year - as the sacred oils for these sacraments will be blessed by 

Lent ends at sunset on Holy Thursday before the Mass of the Lord's Supper. Reminder to people to bring your Trocaire box to church for collection.

Good Friday the traditional collection is taken up for the support of the Holy Places in the Holy Land.

Good Friday is a day of fast and abstinence for Catholics in Ireland.

Previous Reflections on Palm Sunday and Holy Week are available HERE.

7th April 2019 - Mary's Way of the Cross

On this week's programme the SS102fm team, with the help of some volunteers, reflect on the Stations of the Cross, in particular through the eyes and heart and mind of Our Blessed Mother - Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother too. We also have our usual reflection on the Sunday Gospel.

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

Mary's Way of the Cross by Richard G. Furey C.Ss.R.

It is part of Catholic tradition to pray the Stations of the Cross, particularly during Lent. As part of our Lenten observances this year the SS102fm team decided to reflect on the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus through Mary's Way of the Cross written by Richard G. Furey C.Ss.R.

Each station begins with an imagined reflection from Our Lady and ends with variations on the refrain "but I knew this had to be so I.... silently." 

Mary's fiat, her yes to God, was not offered just once to the Angel Gabriel when he invited her to become the Mother of God. Mary's yes to God had to be offered over and over and over again. She is the supreme model of faith for us, because she knows what it means to suffer, she knows the mother's pain of losing an only child, she knows poverty and struggle and pain and yet she trusted God completely. She invites us to do the same.

As Richard says "Mary stood by her Son throughout His passion, and in her faith, experienced the joy of His resurrection. This booklet allows the 20th century Christian to do the same in hope that he or she will, with Mary's assistance, deepen his or her faith and allow Jesus to rise once more in his or her life." 

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

If you wish to read Mary's Way of the Cross, the text is available online HERE. 

Gospel - John 8:1-11

Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At daybreak he appeared in the Temple again; and as all the people came to him, he sat down and began to teach them.

The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught committing adultery; and making her stand there in full view of everybody, they said to Jesus, ‘Master, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery, and Moses has ordered us in the Law to condemn women like this to death by stoning. What have you to say?’ They asked him this as a test, looking for something to use against him. But Jesus bent down and started writing on the ground with his finger. As they persisted with their question, he looked up and said, ‘If there is one of you who has not sinned, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Then he bent down and wrote on the ground again. When they heard this they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained standing there. He looked up and said, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir’ she replied. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus ‘go away, and do not sin any more.’

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy
Sunday Reflections

Liturgical odds & ends

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

Saints of the Week

April 8th - St. Julie Billiart
April 9th - St. Waldetrudis
April 10th - St. Michael de Sanctis
April 11th - St. Marguerite d'Youville
April 12th - St. Julius
April 13th - Pope Saint Martin I

Notices

'Journey towards Transformation' - will be held in St. Mary of the Rosary Church, Nenagh on April 7th, 8th and 9th from 7.30pm. Each night will have input, reflection, meditation and live music and is facilitated by Martina Lehane Sheehan and her husband, Pat. All are welcome to this unique three night journey of meditation, scripture and healing.

31st March 2019 - Trócaire Lenten Campaign 2019 - Colm Hogan

On this week's programme Colm Hogan from Trócaire speaks with the team about the Trócaire Lenten Campaign for 2019 which focuses on land rights, especially in relation to Maria, Maya and Patricia, the girls on the 2019 Trócaire boxes. Colm also tells us about the different projects Trócaire are involved in throughout the world and ways in which we at home can get involved. In our programme we also continue our reflection from Bishop Brendan's Lenten Pastoral Letter and we have our usual Gospel reflection, saints of the week and notices.

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

Trócaire Lenten Campaign 2019 - Colm Hogan

Colm Hogan from Trócaire came on the programme to speak about their  Lenten Campaign for 2019 which focuses on land rights this year. Land is a human rights and justice issue.  In our world today, one quarter of families are landless. Colm spoke especially about Maria, Maya and Patricia, the girls on the 2019 Trócaire boxes, and how each were made homeless and/or landless due to injustice, greed and war.

Colm also spoke about the different initiatives and projects Trócaire are involved with throughout the world and how we at home can get involved through volunteer outreach, the Lenten Campaign, giving directly via the Trócaire website or through their Gifts of Love (which is a range of sustainable and ethical gifts). 

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

Gospel - Luke 15:1-3,11-32

The tax collectors and the sinners were all seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say, and the Pharisees and the scribes complained. ‘This man’ they said ‘welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So he spoke this parable to them:

‘A man had two sons. The younger said to his father, “Father, let me have the share of the estate that would come to me.” So the father divided the property between them. A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery.

‘When he had spent it all, that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel the pinch, so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs. And he would willingly have filled his belly with the husks the pigs were eating but no one offered him anything. Then he came to his senses and said, “How many of my father’s paid servants have more food than they want, and here am I dying of hunger! I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your paid servants.” So he left the place and went back to his father.

‘While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him tenderly. Then his son said, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son.” But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we are going to have a feast, a celebration, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found.” And they began to celebrate.

‘Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing. Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about. “Your brother has come” replied the servant “and your father has killed the calf we had fattened because he has got him back safe and sound.” He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out to plead with him; but he answered his father, “Look, all these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed your orders, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends. But, for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property – he and his women – you kill the calf we had been fattening.”

‘The father said, “My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found.”’

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy
Sunday Reflections

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 4; 4th week of Lent

Saints of the Week

April 1st - St. Ceallach (Celsus)
April 2nd - St. Francis of Paola
April 3rd - St. Agape
April 4th - St. Isidore of Seville
April 5th - St. Vincent Ferrer
April 6th - St. William of Eskilsoe

Notices

'Journey towards Transformation' - will be held in St. Mary of the Rosary Church, Nenagh on April 7th, 8th and 9th from 7.30pm. Each night will have input, reflection, meditation and live music and is facilitated by Martina Lehane Sheehan and her husband, Pat. All are welcome to this unique three night journey of meditation, scripture and healing.

#LiveLent2019 - 27th May 2019

24th March 2019 - Journeying through Lent with Don Devaney

On this weeks programme we continue sharing reflections on journeying through Lent this week with Don Devaney. Lorraine continues the weekly catechesis section where we took the first two parts from Bishop Brendan’s Lenten 2019 pastoral letter. We will be reflecting on the pastoral letter over the remaining weeks of Lent  We have our regular reflection on the Sunday gospel as well as other bits and pieces.

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

Journey through Lent

Don Devaney - a deacon from the Dublin archdiocese - shared some thoughts about lent with us on this week's programme. 

He reflected on how Lent is a time to take an honest look at our lives and see what and where we need to change in order be the people God wants us to be. Don suggested we could ask our friends to help us identify areas where we annoy and upset others with our behavior, assuring them that what is shared is done in a safe place and will be taken in the spirit of continued friendship. Total honesty with ourselves as we journey in Lent will ensure we learn and grow as we need. Forgiving ourselves for the times we have messed up and starting again to gradually accept God's mercy will help us to come closer to living our lives in the presence the Lord. If we do struggle with our Lenten commitments, then we need only ask the Holy Spirit to give us the grace to start again. Prayer and making space to be with the Lord is necessary as continue our Journey in Lent and and for the rest of our lives.

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

Gospel - Luke 13:1-9

At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, ‘Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.’

Then he told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, “See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” He replied, “Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” 

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy
Sunday Reflections

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 3; 3rd week of Lent

Saints of the Week

March 25th - The Annunciation of the Lord
March 26th - St Basil the Younger
March 27th - St Gelasius of Armagh
March 28th - Blessed Donal O’Neylan
March 29th - Blessed Bertold of Mount Carmel
March 30th - St Cronan Mochua

#LiveLent2019 - 22nd March 2019

#LiveLent2019 - 21st March 2019

#LiveLent2019 - 20th March 2019

Pilgrims and religious live the first Lent weekend in Jerusalem - Christian Media Centre

#LiveLent2019 - 19th March 2019

#LiveLent2019 - 16th March 2019

#LiveLent2019 - 15th March 2019

Trocaire - At the Service of Justice & Peace

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin and Vice-President of the Bishops’ Conference, delivered the 2019 Trócaire/Saint Patrick’s College Lenten Lecture on 12 March.  

Archbishop Martin spoke of his experiences working for justice and peace in the service of the Universal Church.

Trócaire Lecture 2019

AT THE SERVICE OF JUSTICE AND PEACE

Speaking notes of Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin Archbishop of Dublin

Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth

“I want to present some personal reflections, arising from my own experience, on the nature of Catholic Social Teaching, on its evolution in recent times and on how it can and should engage with the overall societal reflection on issues of justice and peace in an ever-changing world.  I want to reflect on what we as citizens and as believing Christians can do in the face of structural injustices and violence around the world that constitute the opposite poles to a culture of justice and peace.

The social teaching of the Church must be in touch with reality.  It is, however, not an ideology.  Neither is it a political or economic platform.

The Gospels do not provide readymade answers to the ongoing challenges of a complex world.  To affirm otherwise would be fundamentalism.  The Gospel message must be mediated within an ethical framework and become a challenge to people of good will to respond. Pope Benedict in his Encyclical Deus Caritas Est reminded us that “formation of just structures is not directly the duty of the Church, but belongs to the world of politics, the sphere of the autonomous use of reason”.

In 1987, I found myself unprepared in a leadership position in the then Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.  I was unprepared but not unhappy.  I realised that it was one of the most interesting offices of the Holy See and I was especially happy to work with Cardinal Roger Etchegaray,  from whom I learned so much not just about the work of the Pontifical Council but also about being a priest and bishop involved in  animating an important sector of the Church’s life.

#LiveLent2019 - 13th March 2019

#LiveLent2019 - 12th March 2019

#LiveLent2019 - 11th March 2019

10th March 2019 - Reflecting on the journey of Lent with Dr Jessie Rogers

On this weeks programme the SS102fm team are joined by Dr Jessie Rogers to reflect on the journey of Lent and how it present us with an opportunity to make space to encounter the Lord. We have our regular reflection on this weeks Sunday gospel as well as other liturgical odds & ends.

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

Reflecting on the journey of Lent with Dr Jessie Rogers

On this weeks programme we are joined by Dr Jessie Rogers who lectures in scriptures at the Pontifical University St Patrick's College Maynooth. Jessie would be familiar to many people across the diocese of Limerick as she often gives retreats and reflections around scripture and was also involved with Synod2016.

During our time on this weeks programme Jessie reflects on the journey of lent and opening the space of Lent. She reflects on how Lent is a preparation/journey to a mystery - the mystery and wonder of Easter. We reflect on how Lent is a journey where we try to get rid of things to allow us to listen for and meet Jesus. It is a time to pray and listen carefully about our lives and where we go in our lives.

Sometimes we are familiar with the rituals and the practices but not 100% sure why we do it. So this year maybe we can go into the meanings behind what we do. After all the invitation that lent gives us is to slow down, to de-clutter, to make space for God by giving up something, not to give up something for the sake of it but rather to make space to meet the Lord.

You can listen to the reflection from Jessie excerpted from the main programme podcast HERE.

Gospel - Luke 4:1-13

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’” Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.

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; week 1 of Lent

Saints of the Week

March 11th - St Aengus
March 12th - St Mura McFeredach
March 13th - St Gerald of Mayo
March 14th - Bl Philip of Turin
March 15th - Bl Anthony of Milan
March 16th - St Abbab of Kil Abban

#LiveLent - 9th March 2019

#LiveLent2019 - 8th March 2019

This Is What God Wants Of Us – Our Holiness

Bishop Brendan Leahy has issued his Lenten Pastoral letter - This Is What God Wants Of Us – Our Holiness.

Lent is the season when the whole Church goes on a forty-day retreat. I would like to suggest that we take holiness as a theme for Lent this year. I do so because Pope Francis has recently written a wonderful letter on holiness reminding us of its importance. At a time when we are getting used to pastoral units and new pastoral arrangements in our Diocese, it is good to keep our eye on what ultimately matters – our holiness.

I would recommend you read Pope Francis’ letter entitled, “Rejoice and Be Glad” (Gaudete et Exsultate). It’s available on the internet or in religious book shops. I will draw on it for this Pastoral Letter. The Pope has felt prompted by the Holy Spirit to re-propose to all of us the call to holiness in a practical way for our time. The voice of the Holy Spirit speaking through the Pope is saying to each one of us: “be holy, for I am holy” (Lev 11: 44; cf 1 Pet 1:16).

You can access the pastoral letter HERE.