9th June 2019 - Fr. Seamus Enright - Limerick’s Novena in Honour of Our Mother of Perpetual Help 2019

On this week's programme Fr. Seamus Enright C.Ss.R., Rector of the Redemptorist Community, Mount St. Alphonsus, Limerick joins John to speak about their upcoming Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help which takes place from June 14th - 22nd. We also have our regular celestial guides and reflection on the Sunday Gospel.

You can listen to the podcast of this week's full programme HERE.

The Saint Next Door: Living the Beatitudes
Fr. Seamus Enright C.Ss.R., Rector of the Redemptorist Community, Mount St. Alphonsus, Limerick shared with John a little about the history of the devotion to Our Lady under the title of Our Mother of Perpetual Help and where the original icon came from. He also explained that the Redemptorists have a papal mandate to promote devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help and how and when the Limerick Novena came about. 

The theme for this year's Novena is The Saint Next Door: Living the Beatitudes which is based on Pope Francis's Apostolic Exhortation on the call to holiness in today's world which is entitled Gaudete et Exsultate (Rejoice and Exult) available HERE. Holiness is not the reserve of clergy and religious. It is, in fact, the baptismal calling of each and every Christian. This theme will be unpacked by looking at holiness in the context of the beatitudes which are a portrait of Jesus and a depiction of a true disciple. 

You can listen to a podcast of this reflection excerpted from the programme HERE.

You can find out more details about the Novena and watch the Novena online on their website HERE.

Gospel - John 14:15-16,23-26

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘If you love me you will keep my commandments.
I shall ask the Father,
and he will give you another Advocate
to be with you for ever.

‘If anyone loves me he will keep my word,
and my Father will love him,
and we shall come to him and make our home with him.
Those who do not love me do not keep my words.
And my word is not my own:
it is the word of the one who sent me.
I have said these things to you while still with you;
but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all I have said to you.

Reflections on this week's gospel:

Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy
Sunday Reflections

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter Week 2

Saints of the Week
June 10th – Mary, Mother of the Church
June 11th – St. Barnabas, Apostle
June 12th – 108 Blessed Polish Martyrs
June 13th – St. Anthony of Padua
June 14th – St. Davnet
June 15th – St. Abraham

28th October 2018 - Margie Kennedy: From Nurse to Lay Minister

Sincere apologies to our blog audience this weekend. Due to unforeseen circumstances we were unable to publish the blog as usual on Sunday, but it was worth the wait! On this week's programme Margie Kennedy, a lay missionary with the Redemptorists, shares some of her life story, in particular how God led her from nursing to lay ministry. Margie reflects on her life and outlines certain moments when her faith grew and was nurtured through the movement of God and the witness of others. We also have our usual reflection on the Sunday Gospel, saints for the week, liturgical odds and ends and notices.

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

Margie Kennedy: From Nurse to Lay Minister
After over 20 years nursing Margie Kennedy changed track completely. After taking early retirement she entered 3rd level to complete a four year degree course in Theology and Philosophy and studied for a further year to gain a Masters degree in Applied Theology. Margie is now working part-time with the Redemptorists helping with parish missions and also works two days a week as a Catechist working closely with an inner city school in Dublin.

Margie's story encourages us to look back on our own lives and see how God was working and leading us. Perhaps we could ask ourselves the question of when our faith in Jesus Christ was ignited? When were our hearts set on fire for love of God? Margie highlights the importance of witness in living the faith, telling people about the love of God. Our mission as members of a family of faith is sharing that faith with others. Faith is passed on from our hearts, not from our heads. As Blessed John Newman said: "Heart speaks to heart."

How do we cultivate belief? We practice, practice, practice! We celebrate our faith through Mass and the sacraments, through reading Scripture, prayer and devotions, by taking responsibility for our own education in the faith. As Margie says, "Faith in Jesus Christ compels us to make choices. We are either for Him or against Him." Margie encourages us to never give up hope - keep witnessing to God as we are meant to and He will work on people's hearts. 

You can listen to Margie's interview excerpted from this weeks programme HERE.

Gospel - Mark 10:46-52

As Jesus left Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (that is, the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting at the side of the road. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout and to say, ‘Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.’ And many of them scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he only shouted all the louder, ‘Son of David, have pity on me.’ Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him here.’ So they called the blind man. ‘Courage,’ they said ‘get up; he is calling you.’ So throwing off his cloak, he jumped up and went to Jesus. Then Jesus spoke, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Rabbuni,’ the blind man said to him ‘Master, let me see again.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has saved you.’ And immediately his sight returned and he followed him along the road.

Reflections on this weeks Sunday gospel:

Word on Fire
Sunday Reflections
Centre for Liturgy
English Dominicans

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 2

Saints of the Week

October 29th - St. Colman Mac Duagh
October 30th - Blessed Terence Albert O'Brien
October 31st - Blessed Dominic Collins
November 1st - Solemnity of All Saints
November 2nd - All Souls
November 3rd - St Malachy (Maol M’Aedhóg Ua Morgair)

Norms for Indulgences at the Commemoration of All Souls (November 2nd) 

1. From 12 o’clock noon on 1st November until midnight on 2nd November, all who have confessed, received Holy Communion, and prayed for the Pope’s intentions (one Our Father and Hail Mary, or any other prayer of one’s choice) can gain one plenary indulgence by visiting a church or oratory, and there reciting one Our Father and the Apostle’s Creed.  This indulgence is applicable only to the souls of the departed.  Confession may be made at any time within the week preceding or the week following 1st November.  Holy Communion may be received on any day from 1st to 8th November.
2. The faithful who visit a cemetery and pray for the dead may gain a plenary indulgence applicable only to the Holy Souls on the usual conditions once per day from 1st to 8th November.  The conditions mentioned above apply also for this.

8th July 2018 - Reflections from Limerick's Novena 2018

This weeks programme has some of the reflections from the 2018 novena at Mt St Alphonsus in June during the Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. John and Shane have our regular run through local notices and our celestial guides for week and we have our reflection on this weeks Sunday gospel.

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

Reflections from Limericks 2018 Novena

From June 15th - 23rd, Limerick celebrated its solemn novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Again this year family was a focus of the novena with the theme of this year’s Novena being “Celebrating Family”. 

On this weeks radio programme we share two of the reflections recorded from the novena:

• Fr Peter Hill gives us his reflection on a just household
• Ann Walsh gave us her reflection on family and understanding family.

You can listen to these reflections excerpted from the main SS102fm programme podcast HERE.

Gospel - Mark 9:18-26

He left that place and came to his home town, and his disciples followed him. On the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astounded. They said, ‘Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took offence at him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honour, except in their home town, and among their own kin, and in their own house.’ And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went about among the villages teaching.

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire

Sunday Reflections

English Dominicans

Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 2

Saints of the Week

July 9th - St Augustine Zhao Rong and the Chinese Martyrs

July 10th - St Cuan

July 11th - St Benedict

July 12th - St Louis & Zelie Martin

July 13th - St Henry 

July 14th - St Camillus de Lellis

10 June 2018 - Limerick's 2018 Solemn Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

On this weeks programme, John and Shane are joined by Fr Seamus Enright from Mt St Alphonsus in Limerick to talk about the 2018 Limerick Solemn Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help which runs from from June 15th to 23rd 2018 and marks 150 years of veneration of Our Lady under this title in Limerick. We have our regular run through the celestial guides for the week, other liturgical odds and ends plus notices and up coming events.

For many of the events highlighted on this weeks programme you can get further information from the weekly diocesan newsletter HERE.

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

Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Fr Seamus Enright talks to us this week about Limerick’s Novena in honour of Our Mother of Perpetual Help which takes place from June 15th to 23rd with 10 sessions each day. The theme of this year’s Novena is “Celebrating Family”. The focus will be on Family Life.

Through out the novena the times of the various sessions are 7am, 8am, 10am, 11.30pm, 1.10pm, 4.30pm, 6pm, 7.30pm, 9pm and 10.30pm. On Saturday June 23rd, to allow for the Mass for the Elderly, Sick and Infirm, there will be no 10am or 1.10pm Novena; instead we will have a 9.30am and 1.30pm Novena.

There will also be a number of special celebrations during the Novena:

• On Sunday June 17th at 4.30pm we will have a special Children’s Novena, a short session without Mass, where each child will receive an individual blessing.
• On Monday June 18th at 11.30am we welcome children who have made their First Communion this year. Schools from the city and counties of Limerick, Clare and Tipperary are welcome to attend. It is also an opportunity to give thanks for teachers and those who help to educate children today.
• On Tuesday June 19th we celebrate God’s mercy for us with a Day of Reconciliation. Masses will be celebrated at 7am, 10am, 1.10pm, 6pm and 10.30pm. Reconciliation Liturgies will take place at 8am, 11.30am, 4.30pm, 7.30pm and 9pm.
• On Saturday June 23rd at 11.30 am we will have a Mass including the Sacrament of the Anointing, for the Elderly, Sick and Infirm.

You can follow the novena online HERE including pdf booklet of the scripture and reflections for the nine days.

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

Gospel - Mark 3: 20-35

Jesus came home with his disciples.
Again the crowd gathered,
making it impossible for them even to eat.
When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him,
for they said, "He is out of his mind."
The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said,
"He is possessed by Beelzebul,"
and "By the prince of demons he drives out demons."

Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables,
"How can Satan drive out Satan?
If a kingdom is divided against itself,
that kingdom cannot stand.
And if a house is divided against itself,
that house will not be able to stand.
And if Satan has risen up against himself
and is divided, he cannot stand;
that is the end of him.
But no one can enter a strong man's house to plunder his property
unless he first ties up the strong man.
Then he can plunder the house.
Amen, I say to you,
all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be
forgiven them.
But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit
will never have forgiveness,
but is guilty of an everlasting sin."
For they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."

His mother and his brothers arrived.
Standing outside they sent word to him and called him.
A crowd seated around him told him,
"Your mother and your brothers and your sisters
are outside asking for you."
But he said to them in reply,
"Who are my mother and my brothers?"
And looking around at those seated in the circle he said,
"Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does the will of God
is my brother and sister and mother."

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

Saints of the Week

June 11 - St Barnabas (Apostle)
June 12 - St Lochinia of Ireland
June 13 - St Anthony of Padua (or St Anthony of Lisbon) - the "finder" of lost things
June 14 - St Davnet
June 15 - St Bernard of Menthon
June 16 - St Colman McRhoi

17th September 2017 - Sharing Vocation Stories: Fr JJ O'Riordan CSSp

On this weeks programme, John and Shane are joined by Fr JJ O'Riordan from the Redemptorist's in Limerick city who shares with us his vocation story. We have our regular run through of the celestial guides for the coming week, some local notices and a rather short reflection on this weeks Sunday gospel!

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

Sharing Vocation Stories: Fr JJ O'Riordan CSSp

On this weeks programme we have another interview in our multi-annual series of sharing vocations stories. This week Fr JJ O'Riordan who is a Redemptorist currently in ministry at Mt St Alphonsus in Limerick shares with us his vocation story. 

You can listen to Fr O'Riordan's interview excerpted from the main programme HERE.

Gospel - Matthew 18:21-35

Peter approached Jesus and asked him,"Lord, if my brother sins against me,how often must I forgive?As many as seven times?" Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a kingwho decided to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the accounting,a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back,his master ordered him to be sold,along with his wife, his children, and all his property,in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.'Moved with compassion the master of that servantlet him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servantswho owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,'Pay back what you owe.'Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'But he refused. Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prisonuntil he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,they were deeply disturbed, and went to their masterand reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,as I had pity on you?'Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturersuntil he should pay back the whole debt. So will my heavenly Father do to you,unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart."

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
Sunday Reflections
English Dominicans
Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours: Psalter week IV, twenty-fourth week in ordinary time

Saints of the Week

September 18th - St Joseph of Cupertino
September 19th - St Januarius
September 20th - St Andew Kim Teagon & Companions
September 21st - St Matthew
September 22nd - St Maurice
September 23rd - St Padre Pio

11th June 2017 - Solemnity of Holy Trinity

As our radio listeners will have realised, last weeks programme did not go out on air at our usual time on Sunday morning due to lack of due care and attention at WL102fm which is beyond the control of the team on SS102fm. 

As our regular listeners will appreciate unlike many other programmes on the station, SS102fm can't easily be replayed or aired the following week when such mistakes happen as our programmes each week work around the gospel for the week, the liturgical calendar and often up coming events which can't be replayed. We apologies to our radio listeners for the inconvenience caused.

On this weeks programme, we are joined by Fr Seamus Enright to speak about the upcoming annual novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Limerick. We also reprise Fr Frank Duhig's reflection from last Sunday's programme about the Holy Spirit in part two. We have a short reflection on this weeks gospel and the solemnity being celebrated today of Holy Trinity as well as other liturgical odds and ends.

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




Novena 2017 to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

On this weeks programme we are joined by Fr Seamus Enright to tell us about the 2017 novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. 

Indirectly linking in with the national preparation for WMoF2018 next year in Dublin, this year's novena theme focuses on the family. 

At the same time the Redemptorist community in Limerick is celebrating the centenary of the arrival of the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the city.

You can listen to Fr Seamus being interviewed HERE.

Further information is available online including webcam of the sessions HERE.

Over 100,000 people expected to attend Limerick Novena

Limerick City Corpus Christi Procession

During his interview about the novena, Fr Seamus mentioned about the Children's Novena on 18th June.  At the same time we would like to remind people about the Limerick city Corpus Christi procession which takes place on the Feast of the Most Blessed Sacrament (Corpus Christi)  - Sunday 18th June 2017.  

The event begins with participation in the 6.00pm session of the Novena in the Redemptorist Church.  Others will join at 6.40 pm and everyone will proceed to St Joseph’s church, O Connell Avenue for the veneration of the Most Blessed Sacrament.

All are warmly welcome especially families, and this year there will be a special emphasis on Grandparents and Grandchildren as well as all those who have received the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Marriage.


Children who have celebrated their First Holy communion are invited to attend in their First Communion attire to mark their and their families special year.


Reflecting on the Holy Spirit & our need for an internal Pentecost

We repeat last weeks reflection from Fr Frank Duhig who leads us in a reflection on the forgotten person of the Trinity  - the Holy Spirit on this weeks programme.

We reflect on how the Holy Spirit is an the Agent of God present in us to fulfill Jesus' promise. The question for us this week is where do allow ourselves to create space for the "gentle one of the Trinity"; where do we allow ourselves to discover the beautiful thing called silence.

The Holy Spirit is being crowded out by the voices and noises of the modern world - we are interconnected but are we truly communicating both with each other and with God?

You can listen to Fr Frank's reflection on the Holy Spirit excerpted from the main programme HERE.

Previous posts from SS102fm on Pentecost including a reflection from Dom Patrick Hederman OSB and from Fr Michael Liston.


Gospel - John 3:16-18

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 

‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Sunday Reflections
Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 2 - 10th week in ordinary time

Saints of the Week

June 12th - St John of Sahagun
June 13th - St Anthony of Padua (of Lisbon)
June 14th - St Davnet
June 15th - St Pierre de Cervis
June 16th - Bl Antoine Auriel
June 17th - St Molling of Wexford

12th June 2016 - Exploring the Cistercian Life: Interview with Br Malachy Thompson OCSO

This weeks programme on SS102fm is a rather busy one. Initially John has a short interview with Fr Seamus Enright from Mount St Alphonsus on the upcoming novena. And then John and Shane are joined in studio by Br Malachy Thompson from Mt St Joseph Abbey in Roscrea who shares with us about the Cistercian life.

We have our regular review of the weekly celestial guides as well as some notices and other bits and pieces.

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

Annual Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help

Like the arrival of the swallows, the erection of the roadside signs reminding Limerick that the annual novena is coming is a sure sign of the summer. On this weeks programme Fr Seamus Enright has a chat with John about the up coming novena - in this special 150th anniversary year - and extends an invitation to all to come and participate in one of the daily sessions between 17th and 25th June.

There will be 10 celebrations each day – the first at 7am, the final one at 10.30pm. The blessing of babies and young children will take place on Sunday, June 19th at 4.30pm. Mass will not be celebrated at this session.

The interview with Fr Seamus Enright about this years solemn Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help is excerpted from the main programme and can be listened to HERE.

You can find out about the novena and the times and themes of the sessions on the website HERE.

Exploring the Monastic Life - Mt St Joseph Abbey Roscrea

We are joined in studio this week by Br Malachy Thompson OCSO who is a member of the Cistercian community of Mount St Joseph's Abbey at Roscrea in Co Tipperary.

He joins us this week to tell us about the monastic life and in particular how that is lived as a Cistercian monk as well as sharing his own journey to the monastic life.

Br Malachy also extends an invitation to young men to attend a weekend 1st - 3rd July 2016 to take time aside and make space to discern where their life journey is taking them and to explore and share the rhythm of monastic daily prayer life.

The interview with Br Malachy Thompson about Cistercian life and the upcoming discernment weekend is excerpted from the main programme and can be listened to HERE.

You can find out more about Mount St Joseph Abbey and the Cistercian way of life by checking out their website HERE.

Gospel - Luke 7:36 - 8:3

A Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him,
and he entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at table.
Now there was a sinful woman in the city
who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee.
Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,
she stood behind him at his feet weeping
and began to bathe his feet with her tears.
Then she wiped them with her hair,
kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself,
"If this man were a prophet,
he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him,
that she is a sinner."
Jesus said to him in reply,
"Simon, I have something to say to you."
"Tell me, teacher," he said.
"Two people were in debt to a certain creditor;
one owed five hundred days' wages and the other owed fifty.
Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both.
Which of them will love him more?"
Simon said in reply,
"The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven."
He said to him, "You have judged rightly."

Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon,
"Do you see this woman?
When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet,
but she has bathed them with her tears
and wiped them with her hair.
You did not give me a kiss,
but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.
You did not anoint my head with oil,
but she anointed my feet with ointment.
So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven
because she has shown great love.
But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little."
He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
The others at table said to themselves,
"Who is this who even forgives sins?"
But he said to the woman,
"Your faith has saved you; go in peace."

Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another,
preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God.
Accompanying him were the Twelve
and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities,
Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza,
Susanna, and many others who provided for them
out of their resources.

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
Centre for Liturgy
English Dominicans
Sunday Reflections

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours: psalter week 3; 11th week in Ordinary time

Saints of the Week

June 13th - St Anthony of Padua
June 14th - St Davnet
June 15th - Bl Helen of Poland
June 16th - St Colman McRhoi
June 17th - St. Albert Chmielowski
June 18th - Saint Colman mac Mici

150th jubilee of ‘Mother of Perpetual Help’ begins - CatholicIreland.net

Jubilee pilgrimage will begin in Limerick on the evening of 4 April 2016 and the icon will then travel to every cathedral in the Irish Church's 26 dioceses.

 
As part of the celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the veneration to the icon of ‘Mother of Perpetual Help’ Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin on Monday 19th January launched a jubilee pilgrimage which will see the popular icon visit every cathedral in the country between April and May.

Speaking at today’s launch, Archbishop Martin said, “The pilgrimage of this icon will certainly bring help to many who are troubled, and will hopefully lead those of us tempted to be closed in our own security to open our hearts more fully to those in need and to change our Church for it to be more fully a true icon of God’s mercy.”

He commended the Redemptorists for organising the jubilee pilgrimage, which he said would undoubtedly have the support of people on all parts of the island.

Fr Seamus Enright CSsR, Rector of Mount St Alphonsus in Limerick and Chair of the 150th Jubilee celebrations, explains in a recent article in Reality magazine that Blessed Pope Pius IX presented the Icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help to the Redemptorists for veneration in their newly-built Church of Sant’Alfonso in December 1865.

“It was much in need of restoration so it was April 26th 1866 before it was solemnly installed there.The Holy Father gave the Redemptorists a mandate: they were to promote devotion to Our Lady of Perpetual Help throughout the world. Just over a year later, the first copy arrived in Ireland.”

13th December 2015 - Trocaire Christmas Gifts - 3rd Sunday of Advent (Gaudate Sunday) - UPDATED

On this weeks programme we joined by David O'Hare from Trócaire to speak to us about their Christmas Gifts campaign. We have our regular reflection on the gospel, liturgical odds & ends and other notices including a discussion with Fr Seamus Enright about some of the Redemptorist Food Appeal and Christmas Mission.

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

Trócaire Christmas Gifts 

When you buy a Trócaire Gift, you're not just giving. You're joining the fight for justice.

We are joined by David O'Hare on this weeks programme to promote Trócaire's Christmas Gift Campaign. Last year people in Limerick contributed close to €14,000 in the Trócaire Christmas Gift campaign.

So how does it work?

You can listen to David's interview on the programme HERE.

To find out more or to purchase the Trócaire Christmas gifts please go to their website HERE or call them on 1850408408. Trócaire Christmas Gifts can also be purchased at Easons and Veritas shops around the country.


Gospel - Luke 3:10-18

“Preaching of John the Baptist.” Mattia Preti, 1665.

The people were asking John the Baptist, 'What must we do, then?'. He was  clear and direct in reply - Share your possessions, feed the hungry, charge fair prices for your work, '‘No intimidation! No extortion! Be content with your pay!’.

Advent insists we stop and check our integrity! At this point, maybe we too need to ask 'what must we do, now?' ...W hat are we really preparing for? Where is Jesus and our relationship with Jesus in the midst of all this busy time? Do our words and actions match, or do we need to slow down and change paths a little now?

Again, this is not a call to beat ourselves up, but to healing and integrity. The second reading this Sunday reminds us that living this way is a joful thing

I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord; I repeat, what I want is your happiness. Let your tolerance be evident to everyone: the Lord is very near. There is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus.    Philippians 4: 4-7

As we prepare for a celebration, lets be aware of the path we are walking. Lets choose kindness, care and justice as often as we can, so that when we come to Christmas we can truly recognise the King of Kindness, the Lord of Mercy - Iosa Chriost, the baby Jesus. 

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

UPDATE:

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - psalter week 3; 3rd week of Advent

Saints of the Week

December 14th - St John of the Cross
December 15th - Blessed Ramón Eirin Mayo
December 16th - Blessed James of Tunis
December 17th - Saint Lazarus of Bethany
December 18th - St Flannan of Killaloe
December 19th - Blessed Kazimiera Wolowska


Notices - Redemptorist Christmas Food Appeal and Christmas Mission


On this weeks programme, Fr Seamus Enright from the Redemptorist community in Limerick joined us to promote the various different ways which the Redemptorist community is facilitating as preparation for Christmas. You can listen to Fr Seamus HERE.


1. A Christmas Mission - A Time to Prepare for Christmas, December 14th – 18th
Daily Mass at 8am, 10am and 7.15pm.
Lectio Divina: Praying with the Christmas Gospels after the 10am each morning.
Late Night Mission: Waiting at the Crib at 9pm: Scripture, Silence, Chants
Sunday, December 20th - Candlelight Mass at 7.15pm, followed by A Christmas Concert.

2. Christmas Confessions
Saturday, December 19th, 10.30am-7.15pm
Tue. Dec. 22nd – Thurs. Dec. 24th - Confessions in Church from 10.30am-7.15pm