bishop brendan leahy

From April 2023 to April 2024 the Irish church is marking a year of prayer for vocations to the diocesan priesthood with the theme/tag line "Take the Risk for Christ". As part of that effort to encourage men to consider a vocation to the diocesan priesthood here on C&SI we will be hosting a series of interviews with priests over the next few months who will be sharing their vocation story and what it means to them to be a priest in Ireland today.

To get the ball rolling however, John decided to go right to the top - so to speak - and asked Bishop Brendan Leahy to come on the podcast and to share his vocation journey which has brought him all the way to being bishop of our little diocese on the banks of the Shannon. You can listen to that conversation in part 2 of this weeks full podcast.

Our regular weekly items of course are on this week as well - liturgical odds and ends including our saints for the week and of course a shared reflection on this weeks Sunday gospel (Matthew 16:21-27) where once more we have the call to radical discipleship from Jesus to daily take up our cross to follow him.

From April 2023 to April 2024 the Irish church is marking a year of prayer for vocations to the diocesan priesthood with the theme/tag line "Take the Risk for Christ". As part of that effort to encourage men to consider a vocation to the diocesan priesthood here on C&SI we will be hosting a series of interviews with priests over the next few months who will be sharing their vocation story and what it means to them to be a priest in Ireland today.

To get the ball rolling however, John decided to go right to the top - so to speak - and asked Bishop Brendan Leahy to come on the podcast and to share his vocation journey which has brought him all the way to being bishop of our little diocese on the banks of the Shannon

C&SI brings together a series of reflections to share over the Christmas Season. Originally available for listening on Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day, we are sharing the individual reflections to allow listeners a bite size moment over the days of Christmas - to allow us to pause and reflect for a few moments and also as a reminder that Christmas is not just "the day" but a season of faith where we celebrate the wonder of the coming of Emmanuel into the messiness of human suffering and existence.

This short reflection is from Bishop Brendan Leahy, bishop of Limerick dwelling on the child in the crib, who without words and big signs  and speeches that God is there for us no matter what we think.

On the excerpt from this weeks podcast, John and Shane have an interview with Bishop Brendan Leahy from Limerick. 

Bishop Brendan talks to Shane about various issues and things including:

• Ireland's current covid-19 situation and Pope Francis reminder to Christians that taking a vaccine is an Act of Love.
• a brief discussion about the the forth coming Irish National Synodal Pathway and how we have to be open to dialogue while accepting that from a faith perspective there are also some things which aren't going to change but being open to dialogue to explore ways of sharing them. C&SI will have a full programme on the National Synodal Pathway in late September/early October when it is fully launched. 
• The Synod of Bishops to be held on Rome in 2023 on the topic of synodality but which will have a local and national component beginning in Autumn 2021.
• Brief discussion on the motu proprio "Traditionis Custodes - On the Use of the Roman Liturgy Prior to the Reform of 1970" issued by Pope Francis on 16th July 2021, For Limerick diocese the impact is minimal as the main location for Mass and other liturgies celebrated with the Missal of Pope John XXIIII are celebrated by the Institute of Christ the King at the Sacred Heart Church on Limerick Crescent. Bishop Leahy also had a few thoughts on the encouragement of Pope Francis to bishops (in the accompany letter to the motu proprio) to "be vigilant in ensuring that every liturgy be celebrated with decorum and fidelity to the liturgical books promulgated after Vatican Council II, without the eccentricities that can easily degenerate into abuses".
• Linking into our programme last week Bishop Brendan also reminds people about the Season of Creation which starts on 1 September until 4th October. Resources available HERE.

On this weeks podcast John and Shane are joined by Bishop Brendan Leahy (of Limerick diocese) for a catch up chat. We have our regular notices, saints of the week and of course our reflection on the weekly Sunday Gospel.  

Bishop Brendan talks to Shane about various issues and things including:

• Ireland's current covid-19 situation and Pope Francis reminder to Christians that taking a vaccine is an Act of Love.
• a brief discussion about the the forth coming Irish National Synodal Pathway and how we have to be open to dialogue while accepting that from a faith perspective there are also some things which aren't going to change but being open to dialogue to explore ways of sharing them. C&SI will have a full programme on the National Synodal Pathway in late September/early October when it is fully launched. 
• The Synod of Bishops to be held on Rome in 2023 on the topic of synodality but which will have a local and national component beginning in Autumn 2021.
• Brief discussion on the motu proprio "Traditionis Custodes - On the Use of the Roman Liturgy Prior to the Reform of 1970" issued by Pope Francis on 16th July 2021, For Limerick diocese the impact is minimal as the main location for Mass and other liturgies celebrated with the Missal of Pope John XXIIII are celebrated by the Institute of Christ the King at the Sacred Heart Church on Limerick Crescent. Bishop Leahy also had a few thoughts on the encouragement of Pope Francis to bishops (in the accompany letter to the motu proprio) to "be vigilant in ensuring that every liturgy be celebrated with decorum and fidelity to the liturgical books promulgated after Vatican Council II, without the eccentricities that can easily degenerate into abuses".
• Linking into our programme last week Bishop Brendan also reminds people about the Season of Creation which starts on 1 September until 4th October. Resources available HERE.

So this week we outsource the interviewing to Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick who is in conversation with with Canon Tony Mullins. Listeners to the programme will be familiar with Fr Tony's dulcet tones every Sunday morning from Mass in Abbeyfeale. On this weeks programme we broadcast one of a series of conversations Bishop Brendan is having with all sorts of people from around the diocese which are being posted on the diocesan facebook page. Speaking about the goodness in people, Canon Mullins shares his experience in the covid pandemic focusing on it's challenges and prospects.

In addition we have our regular notices, saints of the week (which come with a breakfast warning this week as they include a number of martyrs) and of course our reflections on the Sunday Gospel which continues the account of the post-Easter events this week from the gospel of Luke. 

Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick joins John and Shane on this weeks programme for a catch up. We discuss the impact of covid-19 on community and the faith community, the changes and challenges facing the church, vocations, financial impact of covid-19, and the current debate about euthanasia being pushed through the Dáil. 

Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick joins John and Shane on this weeks programme for a catch up. We discuss the impact of covid-19 on community and the faith community, the changes and challenges facing the church, vocations, financial impact of covid-19, and the current debate about euthanasia being pushed through the Dáil. 

In addition to the interview with Bishop Brendan, we have our regular saints of the week, local notices and of course our reflection on the Sunday gospel.  

From all the Sacred Space102fm team, wishing you and yours every best wish and blessing of this Holy & Festive Season and into the New Year 2019. May the Peace of the Babe of Bethlehem be the gift you receive this Christmastide.

From

John, Ann, & Shane

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

"In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them." 

- (Luke 2: 1-20)

Bishop Brendan Leahy joins the SS102fm team for a chat looking at various items. We have a discussion with Bishop Brendan looking at various things including:

• His highlights of the year just gone where he focused on the "special-ness" of the annual Chrism Mass and the ecumenical solemn Carrying of the Cross on Good Friday from St Mary's Cathedral to St John's Cathedral. 
• We examine the state of vocations in the diocese including the fact that Limerick doesn't seek priests from abroad and his openness to considering the introduction of the permanent diaconate.
• The developments in relation to the Pastoral Units within the diocese.
• What does he think of the move in the Dublin archdiocese to move sacramental preparation towards a parish based model.
• Responding to the issue of growing public levels of racism.
• Things undertaken during the year to promote ecumenism 

On this weeks programme John and Shane are joined by Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick for what is almost becoming an annual chat and catch up. 

We have a discussion with Bishop Brendan looking at the bishops highlights of the year, discuss the current state of vocations in the diocese and the issue of foreign priests, migration, ecumenism, and the development of pastoral units across the diocese. 

We have a look at our saints of the week as well as a short reflection on this week's Sunday gospel. 

Bishop Brendan Leahy joins us on the programme this week to discuss various issues and changes which have arisen with the main change being the introduction of a Team Ministry approach to deal with the falling number of priests which was confirmed for the Diocese of Limerick. In addition to the introduction of the pastoral units he reflects on the  need for vocations and possible changes needed to seminary formation; we discuss the introduction of the lay led liturgies in parishes and how in Limerick diocese the policy is not to distribute Holy Communion at week day liturgies; and briefly discuss his inclusion in a list as possible successor to Archbishop Diarmuid Martin.

On this weeks programme the SS102fm team are on the road where we travelled to the new Diocesan Office in St Munchin's College to interview Bishop Brendan Leahy. 

Bishop Leahy discusses the new pastoral units and changes it will mean in parishes, the issue of vocations and seminarian formation, and lay led liturgies and explaining why the diocesan policy is not to distribute Holy Communion at them. In addition he also briefly reflects on the challenges faced by Irish Catholics throughout 2018.

In addition we have our regular reflection on the Sunday Gospel as well as saints of the week and other liturgical odds & ends.