The Celebration of Advent

Posted on 27. Nov, 2019 in Advent, Seasons of the Church Year

As we approach the season of Advent, we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus.  In a world where the commercial side of Christmas starts earlier each year, the idea of waiting and preparing becomes a greater challenge than ever before. Perhaps this year more than ever it is time to reflect on this wonderful […]

The Goodness of Good Friday

Posted on 26. Apr, 2019 in Christian Values, Easter, Seasons of the Church Year

Another one of our most listened to pieces looked at Good Friday and was with Pat Coyle, Director of Irish Jesuit Communications. Here she speaks to Miriam Gormally of Soulwaves Radio about what she perceives to be the serious inadequacies of the current and prevailing atonement theory linked to Jesus’ death on the cross on […]

Music for Eastertide

Posted on 25. Apr, 2019 in Community, Easter, Music

Singer, songwriter and composer, Eamon Keane is also a counsellor. He comes from an artistic family — actor father, Eamonn, musician mother, Maura Hassett, journalist brother, Fergal, playwright uncle, John B — and his talents are eclectic. Classically trained as a pianist, his music is wide ranging. He also believes that spirit is very important in […]

Contemplating Holy Week

Posted on 18. Apr, 2019 in Christian Values, Church Teachings, Community, Conflict, Easter, Holy Week, Liturgy, Seasons of the Church Year, Vocation

What’s the first thing you would do if you were betrayed by your closest friends, asks Paddy Greene SJ to his trainees. Well if your Jesus, he says, you put your arms around them. Here he looks at how Jesus must have felt when his teachings of universal love where being challenged by Church officials. […]

The Origins of Lent

Posted on 28. Mar, 2019 in Baptism, Lent, Liturgy, Seasons of the Church Year

We take a look back at a piece with Sr. Marie Stuart who talks with Fr. Brendan Coffey of Glenstal Abbey about the origins of Lent.  The season of Lent coincides with spring time each year. Historically it has been associated with difficult, maybe even miserable times when the weather – in Ireland at any […]

New Year Prayer

Posted on 07. Jan, 2019 in Prayer, Seasons of the Church Year

Now for a New Year Reflection  –  this is a prayer from the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin’s Reach Out Campaign, a blessing for the New Year, first played in Dec 2005, read here by the then Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Jim Moriarty.

Appreciating Advent

Posted on 13. Dec, 2018 in Advent, Christian Values, Community, Seasons of the Church Year, Vocation

The season of Advent is full of contradictions, so says Dr Kevin Hargaden, Social Justice Theologian at the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice and Presbyterian Elder. Advent is filled with light and darkness, optimism and hope, and happiness and joy – but ultimately, he said it’s about time coming to its fullness. Dr Hargaden […]

Good Friday

Posted on 29. Mar, 2018 in Community, Easter, Seasons of the Church Year

Luke Macnamara OSB, monk of Glenstal Abbey and lecturer in Sacred Scripture in St Patrick’s College Maynooth looks at the ritual and reverence that makes up Good Friday. He talks about how the knowledge that Jesus suffers with us sustains people and allows them to know that they are fully loved. Here he explains the […]

Easter Saturday

Posted on 29. Mar, 2018 in Christian Values, Easter, Festivals

Luke Macnamara OSB, monk of Glenstal Abbey and lecturer in Sacred Scripture in St Patrick’s College also looks at the vigil of Easter Saturday night when they celebrate the culmination of the Holy Triduum. He explains that it is one of the most popular nights as they have a big fire and use the theme […]

Fasting for Lent

Posted on 15. Feb, 2018 in Lent, Seasons of the Church Year

Lenten fasting has changed considerably over the years, from the days of the black fast to just two fast days at present.  Redemptorist Fr. George Wadding believes that fasting can be linked to prayer – and that it is in fact the highest form of prayer.  In this piece from 2009, he explained his theory […]