Come & See Inspirations

Rev. Professor Eamonn Conway is a priest of the Tuam Diocese.  He studied philosophy and sociology at the National University of Ireland and theology at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth and the University of Tuebingen.  He was awarded his doctorate in theology in 1991 and taught Systematic Theology for seven years at All Hallows College, Dublin.  He was appointed Head of Theology and Religious Studies at Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick in 1999 and in 2000 he also became co-director at the Centre for Culture, Technology & Values.Fr. Eamonn speaks to us this week about his experience of attending the recent Synod of Bishops in Rome on the theme of New Evangelisation which examined ways of trying to renew and bring back people to a more active participation in their faith.  Fr. Eamonn explained in general terms what a Synod of Bishops is and what it does and shared a fascinating account of what it meant to be an expert advisor at a Synod and some of the topics that arose there.

On this week’s programme we have an interview with Fr John Guiney SJ who is from west Limerick and has worked on the missions with the Society of Jesus (the Jesuit's) for over 25 years all around East Africa and parts of south east Asia including a period of time as the director of the Jesuit Refugee Service in East Africa. He is now the director of the Irish Jesuit Missions office and he joins us this week to reflect on his experience as a missionary and what it means for all of us to be missionary today as this Sunday is Mission Sunday.

On this weeks programme we are joined by a longtime friend of Sacred Space 102fm Sr Louise O'Rourke PDDM. Sr Louise has been contributing to the programme for the last few years behind  the scenes as our Rome Correspondent, IEC 2012 Correspondent and one of the prayer supports of the programme. Sr Louise shares her own vocation story as well as introducing us to the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master who are celebrating 50 years of their foundation in Ireland in Athlone and Dublin.

We are joined this week on the programme by Monica Brown and Hilary Musgrave who talk to us about their ministry which creatively encourages people to make space for the divine in their everyday lives.Monica is a composer, teacher, facilitator, story teller and community animator. "Her workshops, retreats, faith celebrations and concerts leave people wanting more of the God she somehow manages to make real and tangible through her songs and creatively integrated presentations. By maintaining an empowering link to the Christ of Scriptures, Monica has pioneered a creative approach to spirituality, bringing on board mime, story, ritual and imagery, to embody the Jesus that truly liberates."Monica has composed and recorded 16 collections of songs for children, youth and adults (including the universally appealing "One People One Land") and has written and produced videos and other resources in the area of faith formation, liturgy and ritual. Monica is the founding director of Emmaus Production

On this weeks programme excerpt John has a recording of a recent visit to by Abbeyfeale native Bishop Michael Lenihan OFM who was on a visit home from his diocese in Honduras. Bishop Michael was only appointed a bishop back in December 2011.On December 30, 2011 Pope Benedict XVI erected the new Diocese of La Ceiba in Honduras, with territory taken from the diocese of San Pedro Sula, making it suffragan of the Archdiocese of Tegucigalpa, and appointed Rev. Fr. Michael Lenihan, O.F.M. former Vicar General and Pastor in the Diocese of Comayagua Honduras as first Bishop of the new Diocese of La Ceiba.Rev. Fr. Michael Lenihan, O.F.M, was born on September 22, 1951 in Abbeyfeale, in the diocese of Limerick (Ireland). After his primary and secondary studies, he entered the Franciscan novitiate in 1972, he studied philosophy at the National University of Galway, Ireland (1973-1976), and theology in Rome at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (1976-1979), and at the Pontifical Gregorian University (1979-19

John interviews Sr Elizabeth Ryan from the Presentation sisters who were celebrating 175 years in Limerick. The Presentation Sisters were formed in Cork city by Nano Nagle - the Woman of the Lantern - in 1775. Nano Nagle founded the Institute of the Charitable Instruction of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, on Christmas Eve, 1775, in Cork, Ireland in response to the need to provide basic education to Catholic children in the city who due to the Penal Laws had no access to education. This foundation was the fruit of more than twenty years of loving service to the poor of that city where she had founded her first school as a lay woman, in 1754. Sr Elizabeth tell us the story of this great pioneer of education.The sisters came to Sexton Street and opened a small school assisted by Maria King in 1837 who invited them from Cork to work in Limerick City. Currently there are 52 Presentation houses in the province, 272 sisters and a large number of Associate members and Colleagues.To-day, Nano Nagle is regarded as one of t

Fr Michael Liston and Reena joined us on the programme this week to share their experiences of what happened at IEC2012 and also the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes. For Fr Michael some of what struck him about the Congress was the atmosphere of friendship between those who were attending the Congress. He was also struck by the atmosphere of prayer and opportunities for prayer which were provided through out. But also the many different ways of praying that are available to people which was demonstrated by the many stands in the main exhibition hall. For many people it was also an experience of quiet hope being nursed and supported. It was a week of friendship with each other that being friends with Christ offers us; truly a manifestation of communion. The openness to other people like what happens on pilgrimage to Lourdes, allows the Lord to be the Lord of our Hearts and allow every one in; the challenge of course being to continue to let people in when we return home.Reena worked as a volunteer at the Youth

Br Martin Brown OSB joins us on SS102fm to discuss the restoration of the permanent diaconate to the Irish diocesan church fifty years after Pope Paul VI restored it to the universal church at the Second Vatican Council. Br Martin is a monk of Glenstal Abbey and is also a permanent deacon who works as the headmaster to the Glenstal Abbey School. He joins John and Shane on this mornings programme to discuss what exactly the diaconate is and its role in the ministry of the church.The diaconate is seen as the public manifestation of the servant nature of the church. Deacons are ordained ministers of the church who also serve in a liturgical function."The restoration of the ministry of permanent deacons is somehow looked on in terms of what the deacon can or cannot do compared with the priest and ministry of the deacon is looked on as some sort of second-class ministry. People who speak or write in this framework fail to understand the deaconate and fail to understand ministry. The order of deacons is not ju

Br Martin Brown OSB joins us on this weeks programme to discuss the restoration of the permanent diaconate to the Irish diocesan church fifty years after Pope Paul VI restored it to the universal church at the Second Vatican Council.Br Martin is a monk of Glenstal Abbey and is also a permanent deacon who works as the headmaster to the Glenstal Abbey School. He joins John and Shane on this mornings programme to discuss what exactly the diaconate is and its role in the ministry of the church.The diaconate is seen as the public manifestation of the servant nature of the church. Deacons are ordained ministers of the church who also serve in a liturgical function."The restoration of the ministry of permanent deacons is somehow looked on in terms of what the deacon can or cannot do compared with the priest and ministry of the deacon is looked on as some sort of second-class ministry. People who speak or write in this framework fail to understand the deaconate and fail to understand ministry. The order of deaco

Fr Frank Duhig joins us on this weeks programme to give us a short reflection on Corpus Christi and a short discussion about our modern relationship with the Mass and the Eucharist. Scripture tells us of the history of God's self giving of Himself to us down through the ages which culminated in the ultimate giving of his Son. This Self-giving is at the heart of the relationship between God and ourselves. The Eucharist is the ultimate reminder of that self-giving which Jesus completed on the cross.The concept of love as self giving was first set out with the coming of Jesus and the gift of the Eucharist extends that self giving of Jesus to all people for all time. And the Eucharist also gives us the greatest possible way of giving thanks for that gift.The Eucharist ask us to give ourselves to others in the way as Jesus gave himself to us; selflessly and openly. It is not an easy command to obey, it is a very had thing to do. In the Eucharist Jesus gives us a model and reminder how we can give ourselves to

Fr Michael LIston joins the SS102fm team to reflect on the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Trinity Sunday, officially "The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity," is one of the few feasts of the Christian liturgical year that celebrates a reality and doctrine rather than an event or person. On Trinity Sunday we remember and honor the eternal God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Trinity Sunday is celebrated the Sunday after Pentecost, and lasts only one day, which is symbolic of the unity of the Trinity. The Eastern Churches have no tradition of Trinity Sunday, arguing that they celebrate the Trinity every Sunday. Westerners do as well, although they set aside a special feast day for the purpose. The feast day of the Blessed Trinity is a summary of all the feast days we have had since Christmas up to and including Lent, Easter and the Pentecost. In some ways it is all summarised in the feast day of the Blessed Trinity. Fr Micháel takes us through a wonderful reflection on the meaning of our relat

Trinity Sunday, officially "The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity," is one of the few feasts of the Christian Year that celebrates a reality and doctrine rather than an event or person. On Trinity Sunday we remember and honor the eternal God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Trinity Sunday is celebrated the Sunday after Pentecost, and lasts only one day, which is symbolic of the unity of the Trinity. The Eastern Churches have no tradition of Trinity Sunday, arguing that they celebrate the Trinity every Sunday. Westerners do as well, although they set aside a special feast day for the purpose. The feast day of the Blessed Trinity is a summary of all the feast days we have had since Christmas up to and including Lent, Easter and the Pentecost. In some ways it is all summarised in the feast day of the Blessed Trinity. Fr Micháel takes us through a wonderful reflection on the meaning of our relationship with the Trinity and how we are welcomed into the love of the Trinity which is open to each

Pentecost is the festival when Christians celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is celebrated on the Sunday 50 days after Easter (the name comes from the Greek pentekoste, "fiftieth"). Pentecost is regarded as the birthday of the Christian church, and the start of the church's mission to the world. Ten days after Jesus ascended into heaven, the twelve apostles, Jesus' mother and family, and many other of His disciples gathered together in Jerusalem for the Jewish harvest festival that was celebrated on the fiftieth day after Passover. While they were indoors praying, a sound like that of a rushing wind filled the house and tongues of fire descended and rested over each of their heads. This was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on human flesh promised by God through the prophet Joel.The disciples were suddenly empowered to proclaim the gospel of the risen Christ. They went out into the streets of Jerusalem and began preaching to the crowds gathered for the festival. Not only did the dis

SS102fm has done a series of interviews over the years reflecting on the experience of vocations to the priesthood and religious life. In this programme excerpt, Fr Chris O'Donnell shares his vocation story and a reflection on vocation with SS102fm. Originally broadcast on Vocation Sunday 29th April 2012.

On this weeks programme we have an interview with Fr John Walsh about the Feast of Divine Mercy which is celebrated today.The Feast of Divine Mercy, celebrated on the Octave of Easter (the Sunday after Easter Sunday), is a relatively new addition to the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar. Celebrating the Divine Mercy of Jesus Christ, as revealed by Christ Himself to Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, this feast was extended to the entire Catholic Church by Pope John Paul II on April 30, 2000, the day that he canonized Saint Faustina.

We are joined by Fr Noel Kirwin this week from Limerick Diocesan Pastoral Centre who gives us a reflection on Holy Week focusing on the Passion Gospel. Holy Week is a story of the death of Jesus but it begins with a story of joy with the entry into Jerusalem with Jesus entering as a King on the back of a donkey, over turning the misconception of what the Messiah will be. The Jerusalem which welcomes him in joy is also the city which kills the prophets. It is the beginning of a season of joy as it brings us to the celebration of Resurrection which brings us into touch with our own lives.We bring ourselves to mingle with the stories of the past then we find we are being changed by going through and being part of these liturgies which re-enact the great drama between good and evil, such a drama which goes on in every life, but Jesus reminds us to like him to trust in the Father to bring us through. We are reminded that Jesus stands in solidarity with us in our suffering because he has been there too, he is in so

On this morning’s programme we are introduced to the Emmanuel Community by Geraldine Creaton. The Emmanuel Community is present in Ireland, and in fifty six countries around the world, and on every continent. The Emmanuel Community was founded in France in 1972 by the Servant of God Pierre Goursat and Martine Lafitte-Catta. The mission of the Community is to reveal to every man and woman the presence of the God of Love in our lives, Jesus Christ, who is “Emmanuel”, ”God With Us”, and wants to be close to us. The Community consists of members with different states of life (families, singles, priests and celibate brothers and sisters) having the most different professions and trying to live a fraternal life in the world. It sees its aim as to respond to God's call to holiness addressed to each person, mainly through intense personal prayer, Eucharistic adoration, compassion for the spiritually and materially poor and evangelization. Members are helped to grow spiritually in various ways: "household me

Fr Michael Liston leads us through a short reflection on this weeks programme considering "this extraordinary man" Patrick who couldn't "stay silent because of all that God had done for him in His mercy" and what his example has for Irish people today.Many of us know the story of his capture and years of captivity but when we read Patrick's own writings we hear of his instinctive turn to pray in a time of despair and how it leads to transformation for him in his life. Throughout his writings we see a man who is very conscience that the success of preaching the gospel in Ireland was not by a human being on his own but only successful by the grace of God. A human being with a great sense of gratitude to God and how God had loved him. In the middle of all his travails it comes across again and again that his heart could burst for gratitude and love of God because of the relationship of love that Patrick had for God.Patrick's story reminds us of the power of the grace of God in

This week is the 3rd Sunday of Lent so we are half way through our Lenten journey. So this morning we are doing a more reflective, prayerful programme with a focus on the Stations of the Cross which are a very traditional Lenten practice.The Station reflections which we use are by Fr Richard Furey CSsR. They are called Mary's Stations as they follow the mother of Jesus as she walks the road to Calvary, where Jesus was crucified, emphasizing her sense of surrender: "I knew it had to be, so I walked on silently." Enter an intimate journey of faith through a deep reflection that will unite one's pain and suffering with Jesus on the cross through the sorrowful heart of His Mother.

"The joyful season of Lent" - it is an arresting phrase describing the season of Lent which is Fr Micheál Liston's catch phrase for this recording of SS102fm when he joins the team to reflect on Lent.Generally Lent is seen as being a season of doing without, where we are called to repent and believe the Gospel. But for the ordinary person perhaps it could be summed up in a child-like expression as "Don't be bold and say your prayers" (Ná bi dána agus abhair do phaidreacha).Fr Micheál reminds us that the season of Lent is a journey towards Easter and that we should travel with good heart to the joyful event of the Resurrection at Easter, to make room for the joyful heart to enter into us. After all the grace of God is knocking on the doors of our hearts, it is very near. It is an opportunity to turn once more to a welcoming Father; to a Father who wants to share with us his peace; the peace of Easter and the new hope.Light a candle and enter into some prayer, no matter how little.