C&SI - Exploring the Acts of the Apostles (Part 2) with Fr Adrian Graffy (of whatgoodnews.org) - 8 May 2022 (S02E25)

On this weeks podcast we take a Lenten prayer space and take listeners through the Stations of the Cross. The Stations are a very traditional Lenten observance associated especially with the Franciscans in the Holy Land who commemorate the Lords Passion and Death by walking  the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem. The objective of the stations is to help the Christian faithful to make a spiritual pilgrimage through contemplation of the Passion of Christ.

The reflections used on this years recording of the Stations of the Cross are taken from the Cafod Stations 2024.

We have our regular run through the liturgical odds and ends of the coming week and also reflect on the fact that today is Laetare Sunday.

We have our weekly reflection on the Sunday gosepl from John 3:14-21 with that great summary of faith - "God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life".
 

On this weeks podcast excerpt we take a Lenten prayer space and take listeners through the Stations of the Cross. The Stations are a very traditional Lenten observance associated especially with the Franciscans in the Holy Land who commemorate the Lords Passion and Death by walking  the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem. The objective of the stations is to help the Christian faithful to make a spiritual pilgrimage through contemplation of the Passion of Christ.

The reflections used on this years recording of the Stations of the Cross are taken from the Cafod Stations 2024.

On this weeks podcast we welcome Julianne Moran back to speak to John and Shane about the Irish Synodal Pathway and where things stand with it. 

In March 2021, the Irish Bishops conference announced their intention to be begin the process of having a Synodal Pathway in Ireland which could include a Synodal Assembly in 2026. Then a couple of months later Pope Francis put the proverbial cat among the pigeons by announcing the Universal Synod on Synodality and requiring the input from Catholics around the world.

Julianne Moran is the General Secretary for the Irish Synodal Pathway and she rejoins the podcast this week to set out how the process of responding and engaging with the Synod on Synodality in Rome has provided the tools, ideas and assisted the discernment around the Irish Synodal Pathway and where things are and where they are going over the next 18 - 24 months following on the recommendations of the initial National Steering Committee report and the results from the research conducted on the process of engaging with the Synod on Synodality on the training needs ahead of any Irish Synodal Pathway.

You can find out more about the Irish Synodal Pathway at synod.ie and we highly recommend this video The Synodal Pathway - the journey so far. There are many other resources on the website and a lot of short videos which take you through different aspects of the process to date. 

On this weeks podcast we welcome Julianne Moran back to speak to John and Shane about the Irish Synodal Pathway and where things stand with it. We have our regular liturgical odds and ends and of course our reflection on the weekly Sunday gospel which this week is John's account of Jesus cleansing the temple in Jerusalem.

Irish National Synodal Pathway
In March 2021, the Irish Bishops conference announced their intention to be begin the process of having a Synodal Pathway in Ireland which could include a Synodal Assembly in 2026. Then a couple of months later Pope Francis put the proverbial cat among the pigeons by announcing the Universal Synod on Synodality and requiring the input from Catholics around the world.

Julianne Moran is the General Secretary for the Irish Synodal Pathway and she rejoins the podcast this week to set out how the process of responding and engaging with the Synod on Synodality in Rome has provided the tools, ideas and assisted the discernment around the Irish Synodal Pathway and where things are and where they are going over the next 18 - 24 months following on the recommendations of the initial National Steering Committee report and the results from the research conducted on the process of engaging with the Synod on Synodality on the training needs ahead of any Irish Synodal Pathway.

You can find out more about the Irish Synodal Pathway at synod.ie and we highly recommend this video The Synodal Pathway - the journey so far. There are many other resources on the website and a lot of short videos which take you through different aspects of the process to date. 

Welcome back to this weeks podcast here on C&SI.

John and Shane are delighted to welcome Jane Mellet back on the podcast to speak about the 51st Trocaire Lenten campaign which this year takes as its theme -   ‘Let Justice Flow Like a River, Righteousness Like a Never-Failing Stream.’

We have our regular run through the liturgical odds and ends for the coming week and have our reflection on the Sunday gospel which is Mark's account of the Transfiguration and what the event of Mount Tabor speak to us today about.

Trocaire Lent 2024
This year the Lenten campaign focuses on water justice and shares with us the life of Malita and her family from Malawi sharing with us the twin travels of too much water and too little water exacerbated by the effects of climate change. Travelling so far for water each day affects other parts of the lives of Malita and her children, Margaret, Patrick and Patricia. Carrying 20 litres of water leaves the children tired and some days they are not able to go to school. Farming is an important part of how the family support themselves, but a lack of water makes farming difficult or too much water washes away crops and soil nutrients. Trócaire and their partners in Malawi are working to create solutions to the water shortages, such as digging bore holes close to villages.

• General information about the 2024 Lenten campaign
• Family resource - Lent 2024: Nurturing our Family Faith in Nature

Welcome back to this weeks podcast here on C&SI.

John and Shane are delighted to welcome Jane Mellet back on the podcast to speak about the 51st Trocaire Lenten campaign which this year takes as its theme -   ‘Let Justice Flow Like a River, Righteousness Like a Never-Failing Stream.’

This year the Lenten campaign focuses on water justice and shares with us the life of Malita and her family from Malawi sharing with us the twin travels of too much water and too little water exacerbated by the effects of climate change. Travelling so far for water each day affects other parts of the lives of Malita and her children, Margaret, Patrick and Patricia. Carrying 20 litres of water leaves the children tired and some days they are not able to go to school. Farming is an important part of how the family support themselves, but a lack of water makes farming difficult or too much water washes away crops and soil nutrients. Trócaire and their partners in Malawi are working to create solutions to the water shortages, such as digging bore holes close to villages.

• General information about the 2024 Lenten campaign
• Family resource - Lent 2024: Nurturing our Family Faith in Nature

Hi folks
Unfortunately we won't be in a position to publish a podcast here on the platform this week. This is due to the untimely death of Philomena Keily, daughter-in-law of John and Ann whose funeral takes place this weekend.

On my own behalf and of our listeners here on C&SI, we extend our condolences to John, Ann, their son Anthony and his children on the death of Philomena.

All going to plan we should be back next week.

**************

Our plan this week had been to speak to Jane Mellet from Trocaire about their 2024 Lenten campaign, You can find out about the Lenten campaign at Trocaire's website.

On this weeks podcast we begin our preparation for the "joyful season" of Lent which starts next Wednesday, 14th February. On this weeks podcast we are delighted to be joined by Fr Frank Duhig who gives us a reflection on preparation and how to unlock the possibilities of the Lenten Season.

We have our regular liturgical odds and ends including a brief look at the saints for next week with the reminder that during Lent our celebrations of the saints are muted to reflect the penitential season.

We have our weekly reflection on the Sunday gospel (Mark 1:40-45) reflecting on the encounter of Jesus with the Leper Man. 

Preparing for Lent with Fr Frank Duhig.
Fr Frank reminds us that Lent is a season or a Springtime for the Soul which give us an opportunity to undertake a spiritual spring clean or soul service ala car service! Throughout life we can be tempted or diverted like Satan tried to divert Jesus as we will hear about in next weeks gospel. Lent is a period of retreat, a time to keep God and the things of God on our radar. It can be seen as a battle for identifying how we have drifted from Christ. The traditional Lenten foci of prayer, alms and fasting are keys to help us to benefit from this spring time.

Notices

Glenstal Abbey - Journey through Lent – ‘A New Springtime for Life’ – with the monks of Glenstal Abbey each Sunday of Lent at 4.30pm in the Monastery Library. Cost is €20 per Sunday, with talks made available later on our YouTube page. Each talk will be followed by refreshments and an invitation to join the monastic community for Sunday Vespers in the Abbey Church. To book please email events@glenstal.com or call 061 621005.

Ruah Rest - "Spring time in the Soul" Lenten Journey ​. An online 6 week retreat plus a lovely guided Good Friday online reflective hour (29th March 12p.m. - 1p.m.) Main series of retreat evenings are on Monday evenings beginning 19th February 7.30p.m. - 9p.m. Presented by Martina Lehane Sheehan & Invited Guests. Join us on this very special weekly retreat where we will attend to our need for healing and transformation as we journey into Lent and the beautiful season of Spring.

On this weeks podcast excerpt we begin our preparation for the "joyful season" of Lent which starts next Wednesday, 14th February. On this weeks podcast we are delighted to be joined by Fr Frank Duhig who gives us a reflection on preparation and how to unlock the possibilities of the Lenten Season.

Fr Frank reminds us that Lent is a season or a Springtime for the Soul which give us an opportunity to undertake a spiritual spring clean or soul service ala car service! Throughout life we can be tempted or diverted like Satan tried to divert Jesus as we will hear about in next weeks gospel. Lent is a period of retreat, a time to keep God and the things of God on our radar. It can be seen as a battle for identifying how we have drifted from Christ. The traditional Lenten foci of prayer, alms and fasting are keys to help us to benefit from this spring time.

On this weeks podcast we are marking Ireland's newest public holiday which is dedicated to St Bridget of Kildare on what is actually the 1,500th anniversary of her death in 524AD. We are exploring and sharing the culture and folklore around  one of Ireland's great saints with the seanchaí Eddie Lenihan. Eddie is one of our great storytellers and keepers of lore (but there is a lot lost in translation when you try to describe who and what a seanchaí does and is using the term "storyteller"). We are sharing a podcast episode from the Tell Me a Story with Eddie Lenihan project where Eddie speaks about the folklore around St Brigid - Muire na nGael - Mary of the Irish. (If you want to hear more from Eddie click through to the Tell Me a Story website).

In addition to the piece with Eddie we also shared two pieces of music which were supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the ITMA – Irish Traditional Music Archive. They collaborated on a series of three short online films show casing a newly composed piece of music inspired by lore relating to Brigid in 2022: 

• St Brigid’s Day is composed by Caitlín Nic Gabhann (used at end of part 1 of podcast)
• St Brigid’s Jig/Port Naomh Bríd is composed by Louise Mulcahy (used at end of part 2 of podcast)
• St Brigid's Day / Lá Fhéile Bríde 2022: Síle Denvir performs newly composed traditional Irish melody