Consecrated Life: Religious Men and Women tell their Story

‘Are you weak enough to be a priest? Are you broken enough to be priests? Are you afraid enough to be part of the priesthood?

(H/t Epic Pew):
It’s no secret that the Catholic Church is hurting. Breaking news and seemingly constant stories about scandal and abuse within the priesthood and clergy are daily reminders of this brokenness.

But if you’re looking for a ray of hope in the midst of the suffering, especially as it relates to the priesthood, you need to watch a brand new short film by Sabins Studio, “It is the Lord.”

The film documents the ordination day of four priests in the Philippines, and their Archbishop’s rallying call to a sacrificial life of priesthood.

During the homily, Archbishop Socrates Villegas asked the future priests three questions: Are you weak enough to be priests? Are you broken enough to be priests? Are you afraid enough to be part of the priesthood?

When we are on our knees, when we are clinging to faith by our finger tips, when we feel like we are lost sheep betrayed by our shepherds the reading from Sirach might be a source of inspiration.

(From Facebook post today:)

Sirach 2:1-11 - the first reading at Mass today - has been so important to me, ever since I was a teenager. Again and again it has given me life in challenging circumstances. If you're struggling on your journey, or worried at the state of the Church, why not ponder this word?:

My son, if you aspire to serve the Lord,prepare yourself for an ordeal.Be sincere of heart, be steadfast,and do not be alarmed when disaster comes.Cling to him and do not leave him,so that you may be honoured at the end of your days.Whatever happens to you, accept it,and in the uncertainties of your humble state, be patient,since gold is tested in the fire,and chosen men in the furnace of humiliation.Trust him and he will uphold you,follow a straight path and hope in him.You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy;do not turn aside in case you fall.You who fear the Lord, trust him,and you will not be baulked of your reward.You who fear the Lord hope for good things,for everlasting happiness and mercy.Look at the generations of old and see:who ever trusted in the Lord and was put to shame?Or who ever feared him steadfastly and was left forsaken?Or who ever called out to him, and was ignored?For the Lord is compassionate and merciful,he forgives sins, and saves in days of distress.

All or Nothing - Sr Clare Crockett (Film)

A budding actress leaves her career and the open doors to fame behind to give her life to God. Some might see this as a total failure. But was it? Those who knew Sr. Clare speak in this film. After her tragic death in the 2016 earthquake in Ecuador, the failure might be seen as having reached its devastating end. Yet, many think that the story doesn’t end there . 

Thanks to the Servant Sisters’ archives with over 15 years of photos and videos of Sr. Clare’s life, HM Television presents this documentary to show you the real-life story of this Sister who gave her ALL to God, keeping NOTHING back.

Living Stones: The Abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren

22 April 2018 - Good Shepherd Sunday (Vocation Sunday)

On this weeks programme John and Shane take a dive into the archive to one of our more popular interviews with Fr Chris O'Donnell about vocations which was originally broadcast back in 2012. We have our regular reflection on this Sundays gospel from St John which has the great discourse of Jesus as the Good Shepherd as well as a run through the liturgical odds & ends for this week and some notices.

You can listen to the full programme podcast HERE.

Vocations Sunday - A Reflection with Fr Chris O'Donnell

“What will you do with your life? What are your plans? Have you ever thought of committing your existence totally to Christ? Do you think that there can be anything greater than to bring Jesus to people and people to Jesus?” -Pope John Paul II

22nd April 2018 is Vocations Sunday. Pope Paul VI instituted the World Day of Prayer for Vocations on the 11 April 1964 by saying: “O Jesus, divine Shepherd of the spirit, you have called the Apostles in order to make them fishermen of men, you still attract to you burning spirits and generous young people, in order to render them your followers and ministers to us” (Pope Paul VI )

Pope Francis reminds us:'Vocation is today. The Christian mission is now. We should not wait to be perfect in order to respond with our generous 'yes', nor be fearful of our limitations and sin but instead open our hearts to the voice of the Lord. It is a beautiful and a great grace yo be completely and forever consecrated to the Lord.'


In the years since, successive pontiffs have called on the Church to focus and pray for vocations. Prayer and promotion of vocations takes place on a daily basis here in Ireland but in a particular way on Vocations Sunday which this year falls on Sunday 22 April, the Fourth Sunday of Easter.

On this weeks programme we go back into the archive and dig out a reflection on vocation from Fr Chris O'Donnell which was originally broadcast in 2012 where Fr Chris reminds us of the need to find space to be able to figure out what it is we are all individually being called to.

You can listen to the interview with Fr Chris HERE.

• The Lord is still calling men to the priesthood, says Bishop Cullinan ahead of Vocations Sunday We are not victims of chance or swept up in a series of unconnected events. On the contrary, our life and our presence in this world is the fruit of a divine vocation, says Pope Francis.
• Pope Francis message for Vocation Sunday

Gospel - John 10: 11-18

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Sunday Reflections
Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical odds & ends

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

Saints of the Week

April 23rd - St George
April 24th - St Fidelis of Sigmaringen
April 25th - St Mark the Evangelist
April 26th - Our Lady of Good Counsel
April 27th - St Asicus of Elphin
April 28th - St Louise de Montefort

Mt St Joseph Abbey - Come & See Weekend

“Come and See” John 1:39

Seeking God in Prayer and Community

Mount Saint Joseph Abbey are hosting a Monastic Experience Weekend from Friday 9th - Sunday 11th March 2018. It is an opportunity for men between the ages of 20 and 40 who may be discerning a monastic vocation to find out more about monastic life and to listen to God’s call by sharing the rhythm of the monastic daily prayer schedule. There will be an opportunity to speak one-to-one with a monk and reflect together on the monastic vocation.

This might be for you: 

• If you feel attracted to monastic life and wonder whether it might be for you.
• If you have thought sometimes that God might be calling you to religious life, but have hesitated to take the first step. 

To make an enquiry or to arrange a meeting to talk about your vocation discernment, please contact our Vocations Director, Br Malachy Thompson, by email to malachy@msjroscrea.ie or text ‘INFO’ to 085 8338503.

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

Present to God

A glimpse into the life of modern Cistercian Trappist monks at Our Lady of Sept-Fons, France.

For English subtitles, press the CC button.

“You look very mystified. Don’t you love God?”

From Aleteia:

If you liked the film “Into Great Silence” you might like this short piece filmed at the Carmel of Wolverhampton in the UK. Just under a half hour long, it is a beautifully shot peek into the lives of these very private nuns as they go about their day, praying the office, working, eating, laughing quite loudly during their recreation, and so forth. There are a few sisters answering questions of the filmmakers, Miranda Tasker and Marcus Nield. 

If you don’t have time to watch it all, I recommend you forwarding to 16:10, when we see a younger sister writing questions to an elderly sister who has lost her hearing but is delightfully in her wits. She answers the questions with clarity and humor, and throws a few questions back at her guests, as well. After extolling the love of God for all creation, she says to them, “You look very mystified. Don’t you love God?” 

The younger sister explains that the filmmakers have “A different understanding of God,” and, after again pronouncing on God’s love, the elder sister asks them, “Do you read the Gospel?” When apparently both say they do not she takes it well but says in an aside to the younger, “What the’re missing, aren’t they, sister?” 

And then she talks more about love. 

A wonderful, refreshing half hour.

Monastic Experience Weekend - Mt St Joseph Abbey

“Commit your life to the Lord, trust in him and he will act” Ps 36:5

Mount Saint Joseph Abbey are hosting a Monastic Experience Weekend from Friday 19th - Sunday 21st May 2017. It is an opportunity for men between the ages of 20 and 40 who may be discerning a monastic vocation to find out more about monastic life and to listen to God’s call by sharing the rhythm of the monastic daily prayer schedule. There will be an opportunity to speak one-to-one with a monk and reflect together on the monastic vocation.

This might be for you: 

• If you feel attracted to monastic life and wonder whether it might be for you.
• If you have thought sometimes that God might be calling you to religious life, but have hesitated to take the first step. 

To make an enquiry or to arrange a meeting to talk about your vocation discernment, please contact our Vocations Director, Br Malachy Thompson, by email to malachy@msjroscrea.ie or text ‘INFO’ to 085 8338503.

Feast of the Epiphany - Homily of Abbot Brendan, Glenstal Abbey (and an Oak Anniversary of monastic profession)

From Glenstal Abbey's website:

Glenstal’s most senior monk, Fr Placid Murray, celebrated his Oak Jubilee – the 80th anniversary of his monastic profession – on Friday 6th January 2017.

Fr Placid made his first profession on the Feast of the Epiphany 1937, in the hands of the then Prior of Glenstal, the Belgian Fr Bede Lebbe. Fr Placid, who is 98 years old, is currently resident at a nursing home in nearby Newport, Co. Tipperary, but he returned to Glenstal on Friday to celebrate his jubilee.

He and the monastic community were joined by many of Fr Placid’s relatives and friends for Mass and lunch. During Mass, Fr Placid renewed his vows:

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Eighty years ago, I, Brother Placid Murray, promised stability, monastic life and obedience in the monastery of Saints Joseph and Columba at Glenstal, in the presence of Dom Bede Lebbe, Prior of Glenstal. With gratitude, and trusting in the mercy of God, I renew my profession, and  promise stability, monastic life and obedience in the aforesaid monastery of Saints Joseph and Columba at Glenstal, in the presence of God and his saints and of you, Brendan, Abbot of this monastery, and of its monks.

He then sang the Suscipe chant, which is sung by all monks on the day of their profession, and which is sung by the brethren at monks’ funerals. Just before the final blessing, Fr Placid addressed the congregation, reflecting on the meaning of the Suscipe.

You can read Abbot Brendan’s homily below.

Today, we celebrate a festival more ancient in its origins than Christmas. This is the feast of the Manifestation of the Lord to the Nations, the Epiphany. Traditionally three great wonders mark this day; the arrival of the Magi from the east with their gifts, the baptism of Christ in the Jordan river and the miracle of the wedding at Cana in Galilee. These events reveal Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God, the beloved.

Today’s feast is also a feast of time itself, because Jesus is revealed in time and the liturgy we celebrate continues to reveal him in time, our time. For this reason the Church has traditionally announced on this day the date of Easter and the dates of all the movable feasts for the coming year. For a Christian the year begins and ends with Easter and so does our calculation of time.

Today, in this monastery we mark another event in time. Not only do we celebrate the Manifestation of the Lord to the Nations, but we give thanks for eighty years of monastic life with our confrère Fr Placid. I’m told that this is called an Oak Jubilee, we don’t get to celebrate too many of those! I would have to be one hundred and nine before I could celebrate my oak jubilee of profession, so that’s not too likely to happen.

On the great feast of the Epiphany, in 1937, Fr Placid made his first monastic profession here in Glenstal Priory, before Fr Bede Lebbe, Prior of Glenstal. To get some context around this event; this was the year when J.R.R. Tolkien published The Hobbit, the year Walt Disney produced Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; it was in the 678th Olympiad; the 2,690th year from the foundation of the city of Rome, the year Franklin D. Roosevelt was sworn into office for the second time, the year San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge was opened to the public. The monastery itself was only ten years old at that stage and the fledgling community had started to grow.

Let me ask you, what do all these things have in common? They happened. In fact our lives as monks are lived in a constant relationship with all the varied events of the world around us, from the sublime to the ridiculous. One unique Spirit, that of the Father and of the Son animates everything. Our multiple charisms are a reflection of the seamless robe of Christ the Saviour who is made manifest this day, in Jordan water, at the miracle of the wedding at Cana and in kingly gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Each one of us is given a fixed span of days to allow the Lord become manifest in our own lives. For a monk that manifestation comes primarily through the Work of God in choir, to which you Fr Placid have been most faithful. It is a tremendous testimony to fidelity, all too seldom seen today in any walk of life, that someone faithfully carries out their work for eighty years. As the psalm puts it – eighty for those who are strong.

The vespers hymn for today’s feast has this beautiful line sung in reference to the Magi, “Lumen requirunt lumine” “following a light they were searching for the light. Fr Placid, for eighty years you have faithfully followed the light of the Holy Rule of St Benedict, but you have been seeking the true light, the Lumen ad Revelationem Gentium, Christ the Saviour. The destiny of every human person can be seen in this journey of the Magi from the East: for our life is a journey, illuminated by the lights which brighten our way, so that we might find the fullness of truth and love in Jesus, the Light of the World. A jubilee is only a marker on the journey, it is the journey itself that is important and the roots we put down at the start support us all the way to the finish. Fr Placid, on this great feast of the Lord’s Epiphany, the day we announce with joy the date of Easter and the day eighty years ago you promised stability, monastic conversion and obedience, my wish for you comes from the letter to the Ephesians “May Christ live in your heart by faith and may you be planted in love and built on love.”

Ad multos annos!

Why Do Young Women Choose To Become Nuns?

“Breaking Silence”: New Zealand Carmelite nuns talk about their lives - Giving witness that God can call anyone at any time, even atheists.

Enjoy this informative and lovely video about these Kiwi Carmelites.

School of Love - RTE WYB - Glencairn Abbey

The Cistercian Sisters of St Mary's Abbey, Glencairn, Co Waterford, in Ireland live an austere life based on the Rule of St Benedict, which has barely changed in over 1000 years. Rooted in community, work, prayer and silence, some may see it as a retreat from the world, but the nuns themselves believe this is the best contribution they can make to that world, and the best way for them to get close to God. Over the course of a year, they gave RTÉ's religious documentary series Would You Believe? unique access to film their way of life. This is the resulting film.

What advice would you have for someone considering religious life?

There are a series of interesting and reflective videos from UKReligious Life about vocations and discernment available on their Youtube channel

11th September - Vocations Stories - Family of Mary Interview (Part 2) - 24th Sunday in Ordinary time

On this weeks programme, John continues a series of interviews with various volunteers and helpers who lead the Abbeyfeale Faith Summer Camp during the summer of 2016. It includes interviews conducted Mariah our roving reported who spoke with young volunteers from around the country who help run the faith camp. Also there are three more interviews with members of the family of Mary community, Sister Bridget, Br Gabriel and Fr Patrick Cahill.

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

Gospel - Luke 15:1-32

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. ²And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” ³So he told them this parable: ⁴“Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? ⁵When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. ⁶And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ ⁷Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. ⁸“Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? ⁹When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ ¹⁰Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

¹¹Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. ¹²The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. ¹³A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. ¹⁴When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. ¹⁶He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. ¹⁷But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! ¹⁸I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; ¹⁹I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ ²⁰So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. ²¹Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ²²But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; ²⁴for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate. ²⁵“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. ²⁷He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ ²⁸Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. ²⁹But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. ³⁰But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ ³¹Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. ³²But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
English Dominicans
Sunday Reflections
Centre for Liturgy

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - psalter week 4, 24th week in Ordinary time

Saints of the Week

Sept 12th - Blessed Pierre-Sulpice-Christophe Faverge
Sept 13th - Saint John Chrysostom
Sept 14th - The Exaltation of the Cross
Sept 15th - Our Lady of Sorrows
Sept 16th - Saint Cunibert of Maroilles 
Sept 17th - Robert Bellarmine SJ also Saint Hildegard von Bingen

Sept 4th 2016 - Interviews with Family of Mary (Part 1) - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary time

On this weeks programme John is joined by Shane for reflection on the gospel as well as our regular review of this weeks celestial guides. In part two of the programme we have a some vocations interviews with people who were involved with the Abbeyfeale Summer Youth Camp.

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

Vocations Stories (Part 1)

On this weeks programme, John begins a series of interviews with various volunteers and helpers who lead the Abbeyfeale Faith Summer Camp during the summer of 2016.

On this weeks programme John shares with Br Simon and Sr Marietta about their respective vocation journeys and how to came to answer the call being made to each of them by God

Next week's programme includes interviews conducted Mariah our roving reported who spoke with young volunteers from around the country who help run the faith camp. Also there are three more interviews with members of the family of Mary community, Sister Bridget, Br Gabriel and Fr Patrick Cahill.

You can listen to these stories extracted from the main programme podcast HERE.


Gospel - Luke 14:25-33

Now large crowds were travelling with him; and he turned and said to them, 'Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and even life itself, cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry the cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, "This fellow began to build and was not able to finish." Or what king, going out to wage war against another king, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to oppose the one who comes against him with twenty thousand? If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace. So therefore, none of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Word on Fire
Centre for Liturgy
English Dominicans

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - psalter week 3, 23rd week in ordinary time

Saints of the Week

Sept 5th - St Teresa of Calcutta
Sept 6th - Blessed Bertrand of Garrigue
Sept 7th - Blessed Félix Gómez-Pinto Piñero
Sept 8th - Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary
Sept 9th - St Ciaran
Sept 10th - Saint Finnian of Moville

Padre Pio Triduum in NCW

21st - 23rd September 2016; 7-9pm each day including veneration and blessing with relic of St Pio lead by Fr John Mockler CC.

17th July 2016 - Creating a Culture of Vocations - 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

This week's programme was the second of a two-part reflection on vocations. Last week we chatted about the universal call to holiness to which we are all called. This week we reflected on the particular vocations through which we can live out this universal call to holiness: marriage, priesthood, religious life and consecrated virginity (the dedicated single life). In particular we had a chat about the different ways in which we can all help to create a culture of vocations where each person is encouraged to listen to and respond generously to God's voice. You can listen to the full programme HERE.

Creating a Culture of Vocations
Our good friend of the programme Sr. Louise O'Rourke PDDM (you can follow Sr. Louise on Twitter HERE, friend her on Facebook HERE and read her blog Pilgrim Progress HERE) is doing great work in promoting a culture of vocations. You may remember reading a cross-post from Sr. Louise on whether it is too late to create a culture of vocations in Ireland today (HERE). The short answer is no! But it does require the concerted effort of each one of us.

We looked at the different personal vocations that each person is called to: married and family life, priesthood, religious life and consecrated virginity (dedicated single life) and spoke briefly about how there is a vocations crisis, not so much in numbers, but in the culture that surrounds us. There seems to be a fear of commitment, not just to priesthood and religious life, but to married life and consecrated virginity too. As a society, we are almost afraid to commit to anything or anyone. As one person put it to us recently: 'we have lost the love for the long-haul.'

So how do we go about creating a culture of vocations. Well its as easy as ABC... Okay maybe not 'easy,' but there are certainly many many ways we can all encourage vocations at home, in our communities and in our dioceses, especially in our families as Sr. Louise shares with us HERE. Do you pray for vocations from your own family, parish or diocese? Do you encourage those with particular God-given gifts and talents to consider married life or priesthood or religious life or consecrated virginity. The seeds we plant today will bear fruit tomorrow.  You can listen to our discussion on vocations excerpted from the programme HERE.

Gospel - Luke 10:38-42 - Mary and Martha

Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha who was distracted with all the serving said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.’

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Sunday Reflections
Word on Fire
Centre for Liturgy
English Dominicans

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - Psalter week 4; 16th week in ordinary time

Saints of the Week

20 July – St. Apollinaris
21 July – St. Laurence of Brindisi
22 July – St. Mary Magdalene
23 July – St. Bridget of Sweden

10th July 2016 - Vocation: the Universal Call to Holiness - 15th Sunday in Ordinary times

On this weeks programme the SS102fm team reflect on the universal call to holiness which is the first of a two part series. We have our reflections on the Sunday gospel as well as regular liturgical odds and ends.

You can listen to the programme podcast HERE.

Vocation: The Universal Call to Holiness

 On this weeks programme we have the first part of a two part series on vocations. This week we look at the universal call to holiness. We don't like to be called "holy", but holiness is "Love loved". The SS102fm team have a chat about the link between loving God and holiness and how we can live it in our daily lives.

Next week we will look at how we can respond to the universal call to holiness through our individual vocations.

You can listen to this part of the programme excerpted from the main programme podcast HERE.

Gospel - Luke 10:25-37 - The Good Samaritan

  

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Reflections on this weeks gospel:

Sunday Reflections
Word on Fire
Centre for Liturgy
English Dominicans

Liturgical odds & ends

Liturgy of the Hours - psalter week 3; 15th week in ordinary time

Saints of the Week

11 July - St Benedict
12 July - Saint Louis Martin & Saint Marie-Azélie Guérin Martin
13 July - St Henry
14 July - Saint Camillus of Lellis also Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
15 July - Saint Bonaventure of Bagnoregio
16 July - Our Lady of Mount Carmel

July 4th - Feast day of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati - Salt + Light TV

“Verso l’alto”

 

July 4 is the Memorial (Feast Day) of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati. The following is the homily of Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB preached on Monday, July 14, 2008 during WYD Sydney at the Prayer Vigil and Eucharistic Adoration with the body of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, Australia.

Dear Friends,

Dear Wanda, niece of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati,

What an honour and privilege it is to be here with you this evening in St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, Australia! Led by the young adults of Canada’s Catholic Christian Outreach [CCO], one of our nation’s outstanding movements for Catholic university students, we have gathered together to adore Jesus, gift of God for the life of the world. And young people of the entire world have also come here, to pray around the mortal remains of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati during World Youth Day 2008.

We have just listened to the blueprint for Christianity in that magnificent text of the Beatitudes from Matthew’s Gospel [5:1-12]. The Beatitudes in Christ’s Sermon on the Mount are a recipe for extreme holiness. Every crisis that the Church faces, every crisis that the world faces, is a crisis of holiness and a crisis of saints.

If there was ever an age when young men and women needed authentic heroes, it is our age. The Church understands that the saints and blesseds, their prayers, their lives, are for people on earth; that sainthood, as an earthly honor, is not coveted by the saints or blesseds themselves.

“Creating a culture of vocation in today’s Irish Church-is it too late?” - Sr Louise O'Rourke

Cross post from Pilgrims Progress:
   

The following is a talk which I was invited to give to the Annual General Meeting of St. Joseph's Young Priest's Society in Foxrock on the 13th of June 2016.Good evening, it’s good to be here with you this evening. For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Sr. M. Louise O’ Rourke, and I’m a Disciple of the Divine Master, up at Newtownpark Avenue. Thanks to Dominic Dowling for inviting me to speak to you too.
When I asked Dominic, what do you want me to speak about…he more or less told me that I could choose! Sometimes it is easier to be given a topic to talk about. Anyways, after some prayer and reflection I came up with the title: “Creating a culture of vocation in today’s Irish Church- is it too late? ”.

Everyone is called to discern what God wants them to do with their lives — be it a young man considering the priesthood, men and women entering the religious life, a man feeling called to the permanent diaconate, a couple deciding on marriage, or someone recognizing a dedicated single life. Today, however, there are many challenges to hearing God’s call, and the task of the Church is to assist men and women to discern the path that will lead them to true happiness and eternal life.

We often associate the term “vocation” solely with priesthood or those discerning a call to the priesthood. But it is more than that. The word vocation comes from the Latin word vocare, which is a verb that means ‘to call’. In simplest terms, a vocation could also be called a ‘calling.’ In our Catholic worldview, we believe that God has a plan for each of us. In a way, in a broad way, the whole sense of discipleship, the whole sense of divine Providence, the whole sense that God has a plan for us, stems from what you might call this generic sense of vocation. What we often overlook is that we all have a vocation. Two actually! Primarily, we are all called to a life of holiness. That is we should all be striving to be saints one day. In addition, we all have a particular vocation. It is through our particular vocation that we discern the state of life God is calling us to.

We tend to hear all the time about a “crisis in vocations.” This is usually discussed concerning vocations to the priesthood. But the challenge of discerning a vocation is not limited to the priesthood. The crisis is that the vocations to the priesthood and religious life are not being nurtured and encouraged as well as they could be. Nor is the vocation to marriage. The crisis is not just one of numbers; it is a crisis of culture.  There are many who are being called, yet for a young person today it can be very daunting to acknowledge such a thing and pursue it.

That said, I don’t believe there is a vocation crisis.  I believe that what we have is a Vocation Awareness Crisis.  I know that God continues to call men and women into service, but I think we have created an environment in our Catholic culture where people no longer have the ears to hear that call; or the willingness to follow it. Outside of our church, our secular culture values materialism, wealth, status, position, celebrity and power, far, far above a call to poverty, chastity, obedience and service and so the natural outcome is fewer deacons, priests and religious, fewer married couples and families open to promoting vocations.

In vocation circles, we often talk about creating a culture of vocations. This is not a new concept. We know it used to exist.  Fifty years ago, there was no greater honour to a family than if one of its members became a priest or a religious, but those times have changed. But they can change again.