sacredspace102fm

On this weeks programme we are joined by Mary McDaid who is the Director of Pastoral Supports at Sanctuary of St Patrick on Lough Derg in Co Donegal. The pilgrim site known throughout Ireland simply as Lough Derg, has a history going back over a millennium and once again in 2021 is facing the challenge of dealing with covid-19 restrictions and trying to maintain an unbroken tradition linking us back to the foundations of faith on this island.

Mary shares with us about Lough Derg's history and role in faith journeys for so many people and shares the various new initiatives including the Pilgrim Path and residential retreats and invites people to still link in with this island of quiet miracles, an oasis of peace for our modern world.

Lough Derg website which has links to their various social media accounts - Facebook, Twitter, iCatholic, Youtube.

For those who may want to post petitions to the sanctuary - Lough Derg, Sanctuary of St Patrick, Pettigo, Co Donegal, F94 PC60
Tel; 00353 (0) 71 9861518
email: info@loughderg.org       

On this weeks programme we are joined by Mary McDaid who is the Director of Pastoral Supports at Sanctuary of St Patrick on Lough Derg in Co Donegal. The pilgrim site known throughout Ireland simply as Lough Derg, has a history going back over a millennium and once again in 2021 is facing the challenge of dealing with covid-19 restrictions and trying to maintain an unbroken tradition linking us back to the foundations of faith on this island.

We have our regular notices, saints of the week and of course our reflection on this weeks Sunday gospel on our full programme.

****************
Mary shares with us about Lough Derg's history and role in faith journeys for so many people and shares the various new initiatives including the Pilgrim Path and residential retreats and invites people to still link in with this island of quiet miracles, an oasis of peace for our modern world.

Lough Derg website which has links to their various social media accounts - Facebook, Twitter, iCatholic, Youtube.

For those who may want to post petitions to the sanctuary - Lough Derg, Sanctuary of St Patrick, Pettigo, Co Donegal, F94 PC60
Tel; 00353 (0) 71 9861518
email: info@loughderg.org       

On this weeks programme we are joined by Fr Alex Alantham from the Society of St Paul to share with us about the Pauline Family founded by Bl James Albeirone and the special biblical year which the Pauline family is celebrating in 2020/2021

In addition we have our regular notices, saints of the weeks as well as the reflection on the Sunday Gospel.

*******************
The Biblical Year of the Pauline Family has the theme “That the Word of the Lord may speed on,”  Announcing the Pauline Biblical Year in January 2020, the Major Superiors of the Pauline Family in Rome said that the common objective of the year-long celebration of the Biblical year is “To renew ourselves through familiarity, study and prayerful reading of the Sacred Scriptures, in order to live the Word of God so that it reaches everyone, especially those on the existential and thought peripheries.” The Biblical Year 2020-2021 is the third in the history of the Pauline Family. The first was called by Blessed James Alberione in 1960-1961 to celebrate the 1900th anniversary of the arrival of St. Paul in Rome. The second was celebrated in 1961-1962, thirty years after the one proposed by the Founder, with the aim of re-launching the meaning of the Pauline family's service to the Word of God. The current Biblical Year takes place on the occasion of the special commemorations of the birth in heaven of two great lovers of the Word: 1600 year of the death of Saint Jerome (30 Sept 420) and 50th year of the death of Blessed JamesAlberione (26 November 1971). The third Pauline Year will conclude on 26 November 2021, on the 50th death anniversary of the founder Blessed James Alberione.

“We are in the Biblical year. If we want the sacred text to enter all families and be loved and understood, many means can be used, but the first means is to read, mediate, and love the Bible ourselves. Those who love the Bible later spread it. Anyone who loves reading the Bible becomes enlightened, useful to people." Blessed James Alberione

“Walking with the Church, we renew ourselves through familiarity, study and prayerful reading of the Sacred Scriptures, in order to live the Word of God so that it reaches everyone, especially those on the existential and thought peripheries”.

You can find out more about the Biblical year of the Pauline Family HERE or HERE.

On this weeks programme, we move from west Limerick to the city as SS102fm marks the celebration of the 2021 Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help celebrated in Limerick at Mt St Alphonsus. Our morning programme on Sunday will include the broadcast of the 10am novena session. 

On the main radio programme John has a discussion with Fr Seamus Enright about the icon and the devotion to Mary under her title of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. We have our local notices, saints of the week and our reflection on the Sunday gospel. 

******

The annual Our Mother of Perpetual Help novena will again be different this year from those that took place before Covid-19. The novena will be celebrated online only via the Redemptorist website, novena.ie http://novena.ie. There will be four sessions daily – at 8am, 10am, 7.15pm and 9pm.

While the church will be closed during sessions of the novena, it will be open every day between 11am and 6pm for visits to Our Lady’s shrine.

The novena runs from June 18 until June 26.

Pope Francis has declared 2021 to be the year of St Joseph, and so this year’s theme is ‘Joseph: A Man for All Seasons.’

This past 18 months have been difficult. The disruption to school, work and travel has been particularly challenging for parents. Joseph and Mary faced similar challenges to those of many families today – how to be a good parent in difficult circumstances, how to treat each other with respect, how to cope with homelessness, emigration, or the lack of work; how to be people of integrity. We pray for parents and families and all affected by Covid-19, as we place our trust in Christ’s healing power through the intercession of our Mother of Perpetual Help.

SS102fm was delighted to welcome Dr Ruth Patterson to this weeks programme to share on her faith journey and thoughts on maintaining hope in these uncertain times.

Ruth Patterson is a Presbyterian minister, and for the last 21 years has been Director of Restoration Ministries, a non denominational, Christian organisation committed to peace and reconciliation.

In 1976 she was the first woman to be ordained in Ireland. She was the recipient of the Alumna of the Year 2000 award (Edinburgh University / Royal Bank of Scotland). In 2001 she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Presbyterian Theology Faculty of Ireland, and in 2003 was awarded an OBE for her efforts in reconciliation.

She has written four books and numerous articles stemming from her commitment to unity and peace. She produces annual scripture guidelines for Faith and Friendship.

This "daughter of the manse" joined John and Shane on this weeks programme to reflect on faith in this uncertain time. Ruth reminds listeners that the church of Christ has to work where people live their real lives and that to be christian and human as part of that church is to remember that our primary identity should be our identity in Christ. 

Reflecting on her own faith journey, Ruth makes the point that faith is a journey which never ends and which makes the Christian journey so exciting.

Reflecting on our experience of covid-19 Ruth shares her hope, but that her hope is not an easy option. We must weep if we must but we can't complain as the Way chooses us. We need to live out a domino effect of living simple acts of compassion. What happens to us in life is always a gift - no matter what. The key thing is that we need to alter the way we react to it. 

And ultimately, the question we need to ask ourselves is how do I live the future I long for in the present moment?

SS102fm was delighted to welcome Dr Ruth Patterson to this weeks programme to share on her faith journey and thoughts on maintaining hope in these uncertain times. 

We have our regular reflection on the Sunday Gospel - for the feast of Corpus Christi - as well as our saints of the week and local notices.

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

Ruth Patterson is a Presbyterian minister, and for the last 21 years has been Director of Restoration Ministries, a non denominational, Christian organisation committed to peace and reconciliation.

In 1976 she was the first woman to be ordained in Ireland. She was the recipient of the Alumna of the Year 2000 award (Edinburgh University / Royal Bank of Scotland). In 2001 she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the Presbyterian Theology Faculty of Ireland, and in 2003 was awarded an OBE for her efforts in reconciliation.

She has written four books and numerous articles stemming from her commitment to unity and peace. She produces annual scripture guidelines for Faith and Friendship.

This "daughter of the manse" joined John and Shane on this weeks programme to reflect on faith in this uncertain time. Ruth reminds listeners that the church of Christ has to work where people live their real lives and that to be christian and human as part of that church is to remember that our primary identity should be our identity in Christ. 

Reflecting on her own faith journey, Ruth makes the point that faith is a journey which never ends and which makes the Christian journey so exciting.

Reflecting on our experience of covid-19 Ruth shares her hope, but that her hope is not an easy option. We must weep if we must but we can't complain as the Way chooses us. We need to live out a domino effect of living simple acts of compassion. What happens to us in life is always a gift - no matter what. The key thing is that we need to alter the way we react to it. 

And ultimately, the question we need to ask ourselves is how do I live the future I long for in the present moment?

This week Sr Caitriona Kavanagh from the Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia in Limerick joins us to speak  about the  celebration by the Dominican family of the 800th anniversary of St. Dominic’s death during the year starting on the 6th of January 2021 until the 6th of January 2022.

The theme for the jubilee celebration is At Table with St. Dominic, which is inspired by the Mascarella table, the table on which the first portrait of St. Dominic was painted shortly after his canonization. Thus, we will celebrate St. Dominic not as a saint alone on a pedestal, but a saint enjoying table fellowship with his brothers, gathered by the same vocation to preach God’s Word and sharing God’s gift of food and drink.

As well as sharing more on the jubilee celebration, Sr Caitriona shares with us about the life of St Dominic, his promotion of praying the Rosary and the work of the Dominican family.

This week Sr Caitriona Kavanagh from the Dominican Sisters of St Cecilia in Limerick joins us to speak  about the  celebration by the Dominican family of the 800th anniversary of St. Dominic’s death during the year starting on the 6th of January 2021 until the 6th of January 2022.

The theme for the jubilee celebration is At Table with St. Dominic, which is inspired by the Mascarella table, the table on which the first portrait of St. Dominic was painted shortly after his canonization. Thus, we will celebrate St. Dominic not as a saint alone on a pedestal, but a saint enjoying table fellowship with his brothers, gathered by the same vocation to preach God’s Word and sharing God’s gift of food and drink.

As well as sharing more on the jubilee celebration, Sr Caitriona shares with us about the life of St Dominic, his promotion of praying the Rosary and the work of the Dominican family.

We have our regular visit to the saints of the week, some local notices including about Limerick diocese Pentecost Mission and of course our reflection on the Sunday Gospel for the Ascension of the Lord.

The SS102fm team is joined this week by Louise Quille who tells us her story about how she started off the Tir na nÓg Children's Village in Tanzania in 2006.

We have our regular notices of the week and saints as well as our reflection on the Sunday gospel.

Tir na nÓg Children's Village, Tanzania
Louise Quill tells us how while she was volunteering in Tanzania in 2006 she could see a great need for a facility that would provide a family unit for the orphaned and abandoned children. Tír na nÓg was created to alleviate the suffering of Tanzanian children and provide a home where they would be nurtured in a loving, safe environment. Tír na nÓg aims to educate these children according to their abilities.

You can watch a YouTube video about her journey called Kilimanjara Mama.

You can find out more about the project and how to donate at their website.

The SS102fm team is joined this week by Louise Quille who tells us her story about how she started off the Tir na nÓg Children's Village in Tanzania in 2006.

While she was volunteering in Tanzania in 2006 she could see a great need for a facility that would provide a family unit for the orphaned and abandoned children. Tír na nÓg was created to alleviate the suffering of Tanzanian children and provide a home where they would be nurtured in a loving, safe environment. Tír na nÓg aims to educate these children according to their abilities.

You can watch a YouTube video about her journey called Kilimanjaro Mama.

You can find out more about the project and how to donate at their website.

Matt Boylan, President of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association joins SS102fm to tells us about the history and to role of the PTAA over the years. Matt shares his experience of the Association and the role and vision of the Association as it moves into a new future.

On this weeks programme SS102fm we are joined by Olive Foley, the widow of the late Anthony (Axel) Foley - former Irish and Munster player-  who shares with us the plans of the Children's Grief Centre have to raise funds for their new facility in Limerick city.

Olive is an Ambassador for the Children's Grief Centre and is part of a very dedicated team working to help children with the services they need. The loss of a loved one is very difficult for children and young people. Death, separation and divorce changes the shape of a family. Whatever the reason the impact on a child or young person can be tough, as they struggle to come to terms with what has happened. The Children’s Grief Centre is here to walk the journey with your child. They provide support, care and an open ear to hear their story. It is volunteer lead and they do not charge a fee for their services.

Olive joins us this morning to tell us about the next stage of growth for the Centre and the new building which the Centre needs to renovate and update. You can see the video showing the plans HERE.

If you want to contribute Olive invites us to visit their website , or contact them at tel:061224627 or email info@childrensgriefcentre.ie  for more details of their work and plans.

We at Come and See Inspirations are delighted to have this opportunity to help promote the fundraising of the very worthy project.

On this weeks programme SS102fm we are joined by Olive Foley, the widow of the late Anthony (Axel) Foley - former Irish and Munster player-  who shares with us the plans of the Children's Grief Centre have to raise funds for their new facility in Limerick city. 

In addition we have  our regular notices and saints of the week, as well as our reflection for Good Shepherd Sunday.

Olive is an Ambassador for the Children's Grief Centre and is part of a very dedicated team working to help children with the services they need. The loss of a loved one is very difficult for children and young people. Death, separation and divorce changes the shape of a family. Whatever the reason the impact on a child or young person can be tough, as they struggle to come to terms with what has happened. The Children’s Grief Centre is here to walk the journey with your child. They provide support, care and an open ear to hear their story. It is volunteer lead and they do not charge a fee for their services.

Olive joins us this morning to tell us about the next stage of growth for the Centre and the new building which the Centre needs to renovate and update. You can see the video showing the plans HERE.

If you want to contribute Olive invites us to visit their website , or contact them at tel:061224627 or email info@childrensgriefcentre.ie  for more details of their work and plans.

We at Come and See Inspirations are delighted to have this opportunity to help promote the fundraising of the very worthy project.

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. 

Christus Resurrexit, alleluia!
Resurrexit vere, alleluia
Surrexit Dominus vere, alleluia!
Et apparuit Simoni, alleluia!

Christ is risen, Alleluia!
He is truly risen, Alleluia
The Lord is risen indeed, Alleluia!
And has appeared to Simon, alleluia!

Welcome to Sacred Space 102fm on the second Sunday of Easter where we continue to celebrate Easter Sunday within the Octave of Easter. On this weeks programme we have our saints of the week and our reflection on the Sunday gospel. As today of course is also Divine Mercy Sunday we have dipped back into the archive to an interview originally broadcast on 3 April 2016 where John and Michael Keating have an interview with Don Devaney about Divine Mercy and the Divine Mercy devotion.

Christus Resurrexit! Allelulia!!
Christ is Risen! Allelulia!!

On this Easter Sunday from all the Come & See Inspirations team we wish you and yours every blessing of this glorious day! Christ has risen! Alleluia, Alleluia!!

And so to share the joy of this special Sunday, we are joined by an old friend of the programme - Noirin Lynch - to pause and reflect on what it means for us in this Covid-19 time.

In addition we have some notices and of course our reflection on the Gospel of the Resurrection. There is no saints of the week this week as we enter into the Easter Octave - from Easter Sunday to the following Sunday we liturgically stop time to focus on the specialness of what we are celebrating and to liturgically extend the celebration out as much as we can.

Jesus is Risen - Noirin Lynch

Resurrection then, what is it?

Is it a denial of reality, a promise of no suffering - No

Is it an optimism, an insistence on looking on the bright side - No

Resurrection – Easter – is a protest against despair.

It is a realistic, looking life straight in the face, acknowledgement that some things are more important than death. 

Some things are more important than despair. Some things are more powerful than realism and fatalism and pandemics and nostalgia. 

The women who arrived at that tomb were not thrilled, happy, laughing or anything like it. Scripture says they were alarmed.  As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

They went in and found a messenger who did not assuage that alarm. He told them what had happened and it left them trembling and bewildered. Silenced even, afraid to speak of the impossible to others cause they could not make sense of it themselves

 I find that hugely comforting this year. I would love to be thrilled and excited about Easter but a part of me is just tired. Pandemics will do that to you. I am optimistic, but also a little scared of getting too excited in case there is a set back. I am happy but afraid it might rain. Lol. I am human. 

I find it hugely encouraging this year that our Gospel speaks of a dutiful group of women, who stayed faithful, who were bewildered and blest

From these women, the church began. From this honest reaction, Jesus the Christ became known to us all. From humanity not perfection, we go on out into Galilee 

Sometimes we dance through the rituals of Holy Week – busy in preparations and lists. This year we are forced into being present without the dance of busyness.

We are forced into Easter not in our Sunday best but in tracksuits and with trembling.  

Easter is not about how well prepared and put together we are 

-          Things are broken here and yet there is grace enough for everyone

Easter is not about surety and freedom from suffering

-          Some part of us dies each year as we come to know Gods love, it hurts but it heals too

Easter IS bewildering. If its not, we have underestimated its importance. 

-          Christ has broken a prison that held us all captured, the idea that death was the last and final thing we could not overcome. 

Pandemic is not the last word.  Life is not ended but changed.  Hope wins

Easter is a protest against despair

Let us know from now on that we are not defined by the worst of times, the loneliest of moments, the bewilderment. All of this was present at Resurrection and God transformed and blessed it. And God blessed you and I just as we are now. 

God is. 

God lives

God carries us on into Galilee. 

Alleluia

Jesus is Risen - Noirin Lynch

Resurrection then, what is it?

Is it a denial of reality, a promise of no suffering - No

Is it an optimism, an insistence on looking on the bright side - No

Resurrection – Easter – is a protest against despair.

It is a realistic, looking life straight in the face, acknowledgement that some things are more important than death. 

Some things are more important than despair. Some things are more powerful than realism and fatalism and pandemics and nostalgia. 

The women who arrived at that tomb were not thrilled, happy, laughing or anything like it. Scripture says they were alarmed.  As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

They went in and found a messenger who did not assuage that alarm. He told them what had happened and it left them trembling and bewildered. Silenced even, afraid to speak of the impossible to others cause they could not make sense of it themselves

 I find that hugely comforting this year. I would love to be thrilled and excited about Easter but a part of me is just tired. Pandemics will do that to you. I am optimistic, but also a little scared of getting too excited in case there is a set back. I am happy but afraid it might rain. Lol. I am human. 

I find it hugely encouraging this year that our Gospel speaks of a dutiful group of women, who stayed faithful, who were bewildered and blest

From these women, the church began. From this honest reaction, Jesus the Christ became known to us all. From humanity not perfection, we go on out into Galilee 

Sometimes we dance through the rituals of Holy Week – busy in preparations and lists. This year we are forced into being present without the dance of busyness.

We are forced into Easter not in our Sunday best but in tracksuits and with trembling.  

Easter is not about how well prepared and put together we are 

-          Things are broken here and yet there is grace enough for everyone

Easter is not about surety and freedom from suffering

-          Some part of us dies each year as we come to know Gods love, it hurts but it heals too

Easter IS bewildering. If its not, we have underestimated its importance. 

-          Christ has broken a prison that held us all captured, the idea that death was the last and final thing we could not overcome. 

Pandemic is not the last word.  Life is not ended but changed.  Hope wins

Easter is a protest against despair

Let us know from now on that we are not defined by the worst of times, the loneliest of moments, the bewilderment. All of this was present at Resurrection and God transformed and blessed it. And God blessed you and I just as we are now. 

God is. 

God lives

God carries us on into Galilee. 

Alleluia

This week we begin our Paschal celebration with the commemoration of the Lords entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. This weeks programme  focuses on Holy week as we have an extended reflection on the Sunday Gospel (the Procession gospel) and then three short "statio" reflections on moments during Holy Week - the Washing of the Feet on Holy Thursday, the last words of Jesus on the Cross "I thirst" and then a reflection on the tomb of Holy Saturday.

Reflections on this weeks programme:

"I thirst for you" - Joseph Langford taken from "Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter"

"Tomb" taken from "Passio - Meditations on the Way" by Christy Kenneally

On this weeks programme we are delighted to talk to Rose O'Connor and Aoife Walsh about the resources and online liturgies which Limerick Diocese are making available ahead of Holy Week and which will be available on the diocesan website. Resources for parishes and especially for families for Holy Week will be released on the Limerick Diocese website. These resources and liturgies are meant to complement local efforts being prepared in local parishes. In addition to the resources and ideas, there will also be three online liturgies streamed via the Limerick Diocese facebook page:

Monday 29th March - Liturgy of Solidarity - 8pm
Tuesday 30th March - Tenebrae Liturgy - 8pm
Wednesday 31st March - A Liturgy of Forgiveness - 8pm 

We have our regular saints of the week, notices and of course a reflection on this weeks Sunday gospel.

On the excerpt from this weeks programme we are delighted to talk to Rose O'Connor and Aoife Walsh about the resources and online liturgies which Limerick Diocese are making available ahead of Holy Week and which will be available on the diocesan website. Resources for parishes and especially for families for Holy Week will be released on the Limerick Diocese website. These resources and liturgies are meant to complement local efforts being prepared in local parishes. In addition to the resources and ideas, there will also be three online liturgies streamed via the Limerick Diocese facebook page:

Monday 29th March - Liturgy of Solidarity - 8pm
Tuesday 30th March - Tenebrae Liturgy - 8pm
Wednesday 31st March - A Liturgy of Forgiveness - 8pm