Come & See Inspirations

On this weeks podcast we are joined by Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick to discuss the Synod on Synodality which was held in Rome during the month of October 2023 - the first phase of the meetings on the issue, the second phase is to be held in October 2024. We have our regular run through the liturgical odds and ends for the coming week, and also our weekly reflection on the Sunday gospel (Matthew 25:31-46) which is the gospel for the feast of Christ the King.. Bishop Brendan attended the Synod as one of the representatives of the Irish bishops and he takes us through his reflections and observations of the various events including the pre-synod retreat for the participants and then onto the sessions of the Synod themselves.  We discuss how the synod participants worked through the "conversations in the Spirit" methodology and ultimately the various topics and issues which came up in the final synthesis document. The final synthesis document is divided into three sections:The Face of the Synodal Ch

On this weeks podcast we are joined by Bishop Brendan Leahy of Limerick to discuss the Synod on Synodality which was held in Rome during the month of October 2023 - the first phase of the meetings on the issue, the second phase is to be held in October 2024. Bishop Brendan attended the Synod as one of the representatives of the Irish bishops and he takes us through his reflections and observations of the various events including the pre-synod retreat for the participants and then onto the sessions of the Synod themselves.  We discuss how the synod participants worked through the "conversations in the Spirit" methodology and ultimately the various topics and issues which came up in the final synthesis document. The final synthesis document is divided into three sections:The Face of the Synodal ChurchAll Disciples, All MissionariesWeaving bonds, Building Communities Each subsection is divided into the areas of convergence, areas or matters for future considerations, and agreed proposals.  Every one is

On this weeks podcast John and Shane are joined by Fr Frank Duhig who shares with us some reflections on the sacrament of God's love and mercy - the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We have our regular run through the liturgical odds & ends including the upcoming saints of the week and Fr Frank takes us through a reflection on this weeks Sunday gospel around the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) with the reminder to us that "You have been faithful in small things; come and join in your master's happiness".Sacrament of God's love and mercyFr Frank reflects on the fact that in the challenge of an internet world, you can't google grace or our relationship with God. Our relationship with God needs to start with prayer but for such a relationship to stay alive we need two way  communication including us being able to listen to God. We need to have a consciousness of our relationship with God. Do we recognise our failures to live up to the commandment of love?When we enter into

On this weeks podcast John and Shane are joined by Fr Frank Duhig who shares with us some reflections on the sacrament of God's love and mercy - the Sacrament of Reconciliation.Fr Frank reflects on the fact that in the challenge of an internet world, you can't google grace or our relationship with God. Our relationship with God needs to start with prayer but for such a relationship to stay alive we need two way  communication including us being able to listen to God. We need to have a consciousness of our relationship with God. Do we recognise our failures to live up to the commandment of love?When we enter into that communication in the sacrament we need to remember that "we stand on Holy Ground"? It is a sacred space where we can be open to God if we let him.  We also need not to be afraid of our sins - the Lord can deal with them!But at the same time we also need to realise that while God is merciful it is not free gratis. We have to respond to the invitation! But when we do, the gifted

On this weeks podcast we are joined by Julianne Moran, General Secretary for the Synodal Pathway of the Catholic Church in Ireland to discuss the Synod on Synodality which was held in Rome during the month of October 2023 - the first phase of the meetings on the issue, the second phase is to be held in October 2024. We have our regular run through the liturgical odds and ends for the coming week, and also our weekly reflection on the Sunday gospel (Matthew 25:1-13).Julianne takes us through the various events including the Ecumenical Vigil on 30 September, the pre-synod retreat for the participants and then onto the sessions of the Synod themselves. We look through who was attending and despite the media expectation of "secrecy",  the actual level of transparency and sharing of resources from the Vatican is actually overwhelming. We discuss how the synod work - the "conversations in the Spirit" methodology and ultimately the various topics and issues which came up in the final document. Th

On this weeks podcast we are joined by Julianne Moran, General Secretary for the Synodal Pathway of the Catholic Church in Ireland to discuss the Synod on Synodality which was held in Rome during the month of October 2023 - the first phase of the meetings on the issue, the second phase is to be held in October 2024. Julianne takes us through the various events including the Ecumenical Vigil on 30 September, the pre-synod retreat for the participants and then onto the sessions of the Synod themselves. We look through who was attending and despite the media expectation of "secrecy",  the actual level of transparency and sharing of resources from the Vatican is actually overwhelming. We discuss how the synod work - the "conversations in the Spirit" methodology and ultimately the various topics and issues which came up in the final document. The final document is divided into three sections:The Face of the Synodal ChurchAll Disciples, All MissionariesWeaving bonds, Building Communities Each su

As we head into the dark evenings of winter with the season of remembrance during November, the season of winter rest also provides opportunity for us to look for some resources and places to recharge. On this weeks podcast we are joined by Martine Leehane Sheehan to share with us around the story of Ruah Rest Retreat centre in Cork and the work she and the team are now doing, rebuilding after the untimely death of her husband Pat. She discusses up coming winter programme and courses which will be available as well as other resources available from Ruah Rest.You can find out all about the centre, the up coming courses (including how to book), resources and contact them via their website HERE.We have our regular run through the liturgical odds and ends, some local notices and of course our reflection on this weeks Sunday gospel (Matthew 23:1-12).

As we head into the dark evenings of winter with the season of remembrance during November, the season of winter rest also provides opportunity for us to look for some resources and places to recharge. On this weeks podcast we are joined by Martine Leehane Sheehan to share with us around the story of Ruah Rest Retreat centre in Cork and the work she and the team are now doing, rebuilding after the untimely death of her husband Pat. She discusses up coming winter programme and courses which will be available as well as other resources available from Ruah Rest.You can find out all about the centre, the up coming courses (including how to book), resources and contact them via their website HERE.  Contact Martina at info@ruahrest.com

As regular listeners will know we have had quite a bit of coverage around the synodal process so this week we bring you an update about the Synod of Bishops which is taking place in Rome during the month of October 2023. The C&SI team have taken excerpts from the daily Synod Briefings from Vatican News to share with you some of the actual thoughts and reflections from participants in  the Synod process.It is an opportunity for listeners to hear from people actually participating in the Synod itself rather than what is being filtered through main stream media with its eurocentric focus on so called hot button issues.We are sharing the briefings from Oct 25th and 27th from Synod of Bishops and also include the briefing about the publication of the Letter of theXVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops to the People of God.Full reports are available at the links below and you can also watch the briefings on the Vatican Youtube channel.25th October - There were a number of contributors to the dail

On this weeks podcast we continue sharing some of the briefings from the closing week of the Synod of Bishops. We have our usual run through the up coming liturgical odds and ends for the coming week and of course in part 3 of the podcast we reflect on this weeks gospel (Matthew 22:34-40) where we reflect on the question "Master, which is the greatest commandment of the law?".Synod of Bishops 2023As regular listeners will know we have had quite a bit of coverage around the synodal process so this week we bring you an update about the Synod of Bishops which is taking place in Rome during the month of October 2023. The C&SI team have taken excerpts from the daily Synod Briefings from Vatican News to share with you some of the actual thoughts and reflections from participants in  the Synod process.It is an opportunity for listeners to hear from people actually participating in the Synod itself rather than what is being filtered through main stream media with its eurocentric focus on so called hot b

As regular listeners will know we have had quite a bit of coverage around the synodal process so this week we bring you an update about the Synod of Bishops which is taking place in Rome during the month of October 2023. The C&SI team have taken excerpts from the daily Synod Briefings from Vatican News to share with you some of the actual thoughts and reflections from participants in  the Synod process.It is an opportunity for listeners to hear from people actually participating in the Synod itself rather than what is being filtered through main stream media with its eurocentric focus on so called hot button issues.We are sharing the briefings from Oct 16th, 17th and 18th.Full reports are available at the links below and you can also watch the briefings on the Vatican Youtube channel.October 16th - The true meaning of synodality, the richness of diversity, the role that the baptized within the Church, missionary activity, ecumenism and interreligious dialogue, the role of women in the perspective of the f

On this weeks podcast we cover a lot of ground for our listeners!Engaging with the Franciscans in the Holy Land praying for peaceAn invitation to pray for peaceFollow news from the Holy Land via Terra Sancta NewsMission Sunday 2023World Mission Sunday is the Holy Father’s annual appeal for spiritual and financial support so that the work of overseas mission and missionaries can continue. It always falls on the second last Sunday in October, and is one of three yearly universal Church collections. Links to Missio IrelandPope Francis message for Mission Sunday 2023Regular liturgical odds and ends and reflection on the Sunday gospelWe have our usual run through the up coming liturgical odds and ends for the coming week and of course in part 3 of the podcast we reflect on this weeks gospel (Matthew 22:15-21) where Jesus reminds us to "give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God".Synod of Bishops 2023As regular listeners will know we have had quite a bit of coverage around t

On this weeks podcast Jane Mellet from Trocaire joins Shane and John to  help us go through the new papal exhortation "Laudate Deum, to all people of good will on the climate crisis". It is a document intended to follow up on his 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home and sets out Pope Francis challenge to the world (not just catholics) around the climate crisis and the lack of progress in dealing with the issue. We have our regular run through the liturgical space in the coming week, some local notices and of course our weekly reflection on the Sunday gospel (Matthew 22:1-14) in part 3 which looks at the parable this week of the invitation to the wedding feast. Laudate DeumSo what is it? Jane takes us through the document published on 4th Oct on the last day of the Season of Creation. It is an apostolic exhortation which is a teaching document from the pope, which often aims to exhort (encourage) a particular virtue or activity. Like many papal encyclicals, apostolic exhortations

On this weeks podcast Jane Mellet from Trocaire joins Shane and John to  help us go through the new papal exhortation "Laudate Deum, to all people of good will on the climate crisis". It is a document intended to follow up on his 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home and sets out Pope Francis challenge to the world (not just Catholics) around the climate crisis and the lack of progress in dealing with the issue.Laudate DeumSo what is it? Jane takes us through the document published on 4th Oct on the last day of the Season of Creation. It is an apostolic exhortation which is a teaching document from the pope, which often aims to exhort (encourage) a particular virtue or activity. Like many papal encyclicals, apostolic exhortations have often developed themes of the Church’s social teaching. This exhortation has been called a follow up to Laudato Si’ and the title reflects this. Like Laudato Si' this new document reminds us of the words of St Francis' prayer-poem, the Can

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.On this weeks podcast we have a chat with Fr Derek Leonard to share his vocation journey which has brought him to Peru and back again to the banks of the Shannon.

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.On this weeks podcast we have a chat with Fr Derek Leonard to share his vocation journey which has brought him to Peru and back again to 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 21:33-43) which is the parable of the wineyard.

On this weeks podcast we are marking the last weekend in the 2023 Season of Creation which ends on 4th October - the feast of St Francis of Assisi. We are sharing with listeners a talk given at the 2023 National Novena to Our Lady of Knock on 17th August 2023.The theme of the 2023 Novena was "Caring for Creation" and the talk is by friend of the podcast Noirin Lynch on "Working together for a better world".

On this weeks podcast we are marking the last weekend in the 2023 Season of Creation which ends on 4th October - the feast of St Francis of Assisi. We are sharing with listeners a talk given at the 2023 National Novena to Our Lady of Knock on 17th August 2023. The theme of the 2023 Novena was "Caring for Creation" and the talk is by friend of the podcast Noirin Lynch on "Working together for a better world".We have our regular run through up coming liturgical odds and ends, some brief comments on the next few weeks in Rome with a consistory to appoint new cardinals, a new papal apostolic exhortation, ecumenical prayer events and of course the beginning of the meeting of the Synod of Bishops to look at the issue of synodality.And of course we have our reflection on this weeks Sunday gospel (Matthew 21:28-32) which challenges us to action and not just words.

Continuing of theme of New Years 2.0 from last week where September for many people is there turn to routines with back to school, back to work etc after the breaks over the summer we continue to let you know of upcoming things on this weeks podcast. We welcome to this weeks podcast Rose O'Connor and James Connery from the Limerick Diocesan Office who share with us the upcoming events and courses between now and Advent.Included are:Event on positive mental health on 10th OctoberDiocesan liturgy day on 11th NovemberNovember retreat days on 4th NovemberAdvent retreat days on 2nd DecemberNational Alpha Conference is 11th NovemberFull details available on the Limerick Diocesan website.We have our regular run through the liturgical odds and ends including saints of the week. We also have our regular sharing on the Sunday gospel (Matthew 20:1-16). 

Continuing of theme of New Years 2.0 from last week where September for many people is the return to routines with back to school, back to work etc after the breaks over the summer we continue to let you know of upcoming things on this weeks podcast. We welcome to this weeks podcast Rose O'Connor and James Connery from the Limerick Diocesan Office who share with us the upcoming events and courses between now and Advent.Included are:Event on positive mental health on 10th OctoberDiocesan liturgy day on 11th NovemberNovember retreat days on 4th NovemberAdvent retreat days on 2nd DecemberNational Alpha Conference is 11th NovemberFull details available on the Limerick Diocesan website.