On this weeks podcast we have a chat with John Quinn (Director of Strategy, Alpha Ireland) and Fr Chris O'Donnell about the Alpha programme and what it offers to searchers for the meaning of life and those seeking someway to engage with the big questions of life in a friendly, open and fulfilling encounter.

We have our regular run through the upcoming liturgical odds and ends of the week which has a very large Marian theme with the feast of the Immaculate Conception of BVM (Dec 8), Our Lady of Loreto (Dec 10) and Our Lady of Guadeloupe (Dec 12). We also remind people of some of the upcoming events at Knock Shrine.

In part three we have our weekly reflection on the Sunday gospel and this week we encounter the figure of John the Baptist - the Forerunner of the Lord, the great bridge between the Old and New Testaments and his uncompromising call to conversion to prepare the way of the Lord which echos down to us to this moment in time. 

Introducing Alpha

John, John Quinn and Fr Chris have a chat about what Alpha means and what it is. It generally consists of a 10-week series of sessions exploring the basics of the Christian faith. Alpha provides a safe space to discuss life, meaning and faith in a friendly and informal environment. Alpha sessions are all about a time to connect, relax and build friendships over a cup of tea or something to eat. There is a talk/video designed to engage and inspire conversation; exploring the big issues and unpack the basics of Christianity, addressing questions in a fresh, contemporary, and dynamic way. Followed by conversations where people share their thoughts and discuss it in a small group. 

Link to Alpha Ireland

Contact Fr Chris - 0876323309

Text us at +353 874668950 or email at [email protected]

On this weeks podcast we have a chat with John Quinn (Director of Strategy, Alpha Ireland) and Fr Chris O'Donnell about the Alpha programme and what it offers to searchers for the meaning of life and those seeking someway to engage with the big questions of life in a friendly, open and fulfilling encounter.

John, John Quinn and Fr Chris have a chat about what Alpha means and what it is. It generally consists of a 10-week series of sessions exploring the basics of the Christian faith. Alpha provides a safe space to discuss life, meaning and faith in a friendly and informal environment. Alpha sessions are all about a time to connect, relax and build friendships over a cup of tea or something to eat. There is a talk/video designed to engage and inspire conversation; exploring the big issues and unpack the basics of Christianity, addressing questions in a fresh, contemporary, and dynamic way. Followed by conversations where people share their thoughts and discuss it in a small group. 

Link to Alpha Ireland

Contact Fr Chris - 0876323309

Text us at +353 874668950 or email at [email protected]

Happy New Liturgical Year! to all our listeners on C&SI as we enter into the new liturgical year with this weekend being the first Sunday of Advent. 

On this weeks podcast/radio programme the C&SI team is joined by Fr Neil Xavier O’Donoghue, Executive Secretary for Liturgy of the Irish Catholic's Bishop Conference to discuss the up coming changes in the lectionary for the Irish Church and how Catholics in Ireland will hear the proclamation of the Word of God. 

In part one as always we have our run through the up coming liturgical odds and ends including the saints of the week as well as some notices and reminders about Advent retreats.

In part three we have our weekly reflection on the Sunday gospel and this week we begin our journey with Matthew through the new liturgical year.

Preparing a new lectionary for the Irish Church

In 2011 the global English speaking community got a new translation of the Roman Missal including all the parts and prayers of the Mass. On this weeks podcast Fr Neil O'Donoghue joins us to explain the next change that Irish Catholics will experience in how we celebrate our liturgies with the work in progress on preparing a new lectionary - aka the book of the readings of Scripture used in our public liturgies.

For over fifty years, parishes and communities across the island of Ireland, Australia and New Zealand have listened to the scripture readings proclaimed in church from the same translations which are given in the Lectionary for Mass which are taken from the Jerusalem Bible.  Many of these books are now in a poor state and in need of replacing.  In 2021 the bishops recognised that this was an opportunity for a new edition of the Lectionary, taking advantage of a revised translation of the readings, which is both accessible and faithful to the evolving nuances of the English language and contemporary biblical scholarship. For Ireland, the Revised New Jerusalem Bible was chosen as the text for the Lectionary.  This translation recognises the need for the text to be proclaimed in the liturgy, to be faithful to the original biblical texts and it is sensitive to inclusivity.  For the psalms in the Lectionary, the Abbey Psalms and Canticles will be used.  This is a sympathetic revision of the familiar Grail Psalter and the revised text has already been adopted in several English-speaking countries. It is a joint project with the church in Australia and New Zealand but it will mean that our readings in Ireland are going to sound slightly different to our nearest neighbours in the UK. 

• Bishops’ Conferences of Ireland, Australia and New Zealand collaborate on ‘Joint Lectionary Project’
• Lectionary group from Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand meet in Maynooth

Text us at +353 874668950 or email at [email protected]

On this weeks podcast/radio programme excerpt the C&SI team is joined by Fr Neil Xavier O’Donoghue, Executive Secretary for Liturgy of the Irish Catholic's Bishop Conference to discuss the up coming changes in the lectionary for the Irish Church and how Catholics in Ireland will hear the proclamation of the Word of God. 

In 2011 the global English speaking community got a new translation of the Roman Missal including all the parts and prayers of the Mass. On this weeks podcast Fr Neil O'Donoghue joins us to explain the next change that Irish Catholics will experience in how we celebrate our liturgies with the work in progress on preparing a new lectionary - aka the book of the readings of Scripture used in our public liturgies.

For over fifty years, parishes and communities across the island of Ireland, Australia and New Zealand have listened to the scripture readings proclaimed in church from the same translations which are given in the Lectionary for Mass which are taken from the Jerusalem Bible.  Many of these books are now in a poor state and in need of replacing.  In 2021 the bishops recognised that this was an opportunity for a new edition of the Lectionary, taking advantage of a revised translation of the readings, which is both accessible and faithful to the evolving nuances of the English language and contemporary biblical scholarship. For Ireland, the Revised New Jerusalem Bible was chosen as the text for the Lectionary.  This translation recognises the need for the text to be proclaimed in the liturgy, to be faithful to the original biblical texts and it is sensitive to inclusivity.  For the psalms in the Lectionary, the Abbey Psalms and Canticles will be used.  This is a sympathetic revision of the familiar Grail Psalter and the revised text has already been adopted in several English-speaking countries. It is a joint project with the church in Australia and New Zealand but it will mean that our readings in Ireland are going to sound slightly different to our nearest neighbours in the UK. 

• Bishops’ Conferences of Ireland, Australia and New Zealand collaborate on ‘Joint Lectionary Project’
• Lectionary group from Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand meet in Maynooth

Text us at +353 874668950 or email at [email protected]

2025 marks the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. On this weeks podcast excerpt we are sharing an Introduction to the Nicaean creed which has been prepared by the team at Knock Shrine in which Fr Martin Browne OSB gives an introduction to the history and context of the Council and its significance to all Christians right down to the present day. 

On May 20, the Christian world commemorated the 1700th anniversary of the opening of the first ecumenical council, held in Nicaea in 325, which has gone down in history primarily on account of the Creed, which brings together, defines, and proclaims the faith in salvation in Jesus Christ and in the One God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Later completed by the Council of Constantinople in 381, the Nicene Creed became in practice the identity card of the professed faith of the Church. This pivotal moment in the history of the Church still shapes what we believe, how we pray, and how we understand God today.

As part of the commemoration, Knock Shrine has put together a series of videos exploring the Council and the parts of the creed. In this first episode, Fr Eugene Duffy and Fr Martin Brown OSB go through the history of the council and tease out its significance for the history of Christianity.

Text us at +353 874668950 or email at [email protected]

2025 marks the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. On this weeks podcast we are sharing an Introduction to the Nicaean creed which has been prepared by the team at Knock Shrine in which Fr Martin Browne OSB gives an introduction to the history and context of the Council and its significance to all Christians right down to the present day. 

In part one we have a run through the up coming liturgical odds and ends for the week ahead including saints of the week and some notices around preparations for Advent. 

In part three as always we have our reflection on the Sunday gospel which is Luke's account of the Crucifixion which is the reading for the Solemnity of Christ the King.  

1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea

On May 20, the Christian world commemorated the 1700th anniversary of the opening of the first ecumenical council, held in Nicaea in 325, which has gone down in history primarily on account of the Creed, which brings together, defines, and proclaims the faith in salvation in Jesus Christ and in the One God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Later completed by the Council of Constantinople in 381, the Nicene Creed became in practice the identity card of the professed faith of the Church. This pivotal moment in the history of the Church still shapes what we believe, how we pray, and how we understand God today.

As part of the commemoration, Knock Shrine has put together a series of videos exploring the Council and the parts of the creed. In this first episode, Fr Eugene Duffy and Fr Martin Brown OSB go through the history of the council and tease out its significance for the history of Christianity.

Text us at +353 874668950 or email at [email protected]

On this weeks podcast excerpt we are joined by Sr Phyllis Moynihan who gives us a reflection on grief taking the account from the gospel of Luke of the death of Lazarus. 

Grief is a difficult journey to comes to us all and it is a time in which God can seem very far away. On this weeks podcast Sr Phyllis Moynihan reflects on that sense of aloneness and deep darkness and how even when we don't feel it, God is there in the darkness with us taking us through Jesus' own experience of grief of a loved one with the death of his friend Lazarus. 

Text us at +353 874668950 or email at [email protected]

On this weeks podcast we are joined by Sr Phyllis Moynihan who gives us a reflection on grief taking the account from the gospel of Luke of the death of Lazarus. 

We have our regular run through the up coming liturgical odds and ends on the liturgical calendar including Saints of the Week and we also went through some up coming resources for Advent (listed in the notes at the end).

As we come towards the end of the liturgical calendar, the gospel puts before us the teaching of Jesus to his disciples about enduring the travails of the world and trusting in God (Luke 21:5-19). 

Lord if you were here, my brother would not have died

Grief is a difficult journey to comes to us all and it is a time in which God can seem very far away. On this weeks podcast Sr Phyllis Moynihan reflects on that sense of aloneness and deep darkness and how even when we don't feel it, God is there in the darkness with us taking us through Jesus' own experience of grief of a loved one with the death of his friend Lazarus. 

Preparing for Advent

29th November - Advert Desert Day - Limerick Diocesan Office

29th November - Prepare the Way - Glenstal Abbey

1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd of December - Advent Retreat (via Zoom) - Ruah Rest & Martina Leehane Sheehan

6th & 7th December - Whisper of God Retreat - Knock Shrine

20th December - Oasis Days 2025 – December 20th – Present for Christmas , present to Christ - FCJ House of Spirituality, Spanish Point

On the podcast this week we mentioned a number of other events coming up at Knock Shrine in the next few weeks. Find more information under Whats On at Knock Shrine.

Text us at +353 874668950 or email at [email protected]

On this weeks podcast we introduce our listeners to the The Way - which is a new digital multimedia platform set up by the Irish Bishops’ Conference dedicated to sharing the Good News and the witness of the Catholic Church in Ireland. 

In part two, we share an interview from the The Way between John Quinn of Alpha Ireland and Wendy Grace asking the question "How can I find God" in Ireland today. 

We have our regular run through the up coming liturgical odds and ends, share about the feast day this Sunday which is the Dedication of the Basilica of St John in the Lateran and share the Sunday gospel which is for the feast day. 

The Way

John has a brief chat with Fr Bill Kemmy to introduce The Way, the new online digital multimedia platform dedicated to sharing the Good News.  In the very early Church, the first believers were known as followers of ‘the Way’ (e.g. Acts 9:2). In answer to the question ‘how can we know the way?’ (John 14:5) Jesus declared that ‘I am the Way, the Truth and Life.’ The platform is intended to help people to know the Way – to discover the faith, live the faith and pass on the faith. It is for both seekers and followers. 

 Here on C&SI we are always trying to find new resources and guides for our listeners on their faith journey and here on the podcast we will also be tapping into the resources available from The Way and sharing them with our listeners as well as our own output and regular interviews as well. 

How can I find God?

We have had a couple of programmes and podcast previously here in C&SI about the Alpha programme and this week we are sharing an interview with John Quinn from Alpha Ireland from "A Question of Faith" podcast series on on the Way. In discussion with Wendy Grace, John Quinn discusses how people can connect with faith and the importance of contact with fellow seekers.

Text us at +353 874668950 or email at [email protected]

On this weeks podcast excerpt we introduce our listeners to the The Way - which is a new digital multimedia platform set up by the Irish Bishops’ Conference dedicated to sharing the Good News and the witness of the Catholic Church in Ireland. 

In part two, we share an interview from the The Way between John Quinn of Alpha Ireland and Wendy Grace asking the question "How can I find God" in Ireland today. 

The Way

John has a brief chat with Fr Bill Kemmy to introduce The Way, the new online digital multimedia platform dedicated to sharing the Good News.  In the very early Church, the first believers were known as followers of ‘the Way’ (e.g. Acts 9:2). In answer to the question ‘how can we know the way?’ (John 14:5) Jesus declared that ‘I am the Way, the Truth and Life.’ The platform is intended to help people to know the Way – to discover the faith, live the faith and pass on the faith. It is for both seekers and followers. 

 Here on C&SI we are always trying to find new resources and guides for our listeners on their faith journey and here on the podcast we will also be tapping into the resources available from The Way and sharing them with our listeners as well as our own output and regular interviews as well. 

How can I find God?

We have had a couple of programmes and podcast previously here in C&SI about the Alpha programme and this week we are sharing an interview with John Quinn from Alpha Ireland from "A Question of Faith" podcast series on on the Way. In discussion with Wendy Grace, John Quinn discusses how people can connect with faith and the importance of contact with fellow seekers.

Text us at +353 874668950 or email at [email protected]

On this week programme John and Shane take a visit back into the archive to an interview we did in 2015 with a very special guest, the Irish writer Alice Taylor. Alice spoke to us then about her reflections on memory and grief - important considerations during the month of November for many people. 

Reflections on memory & grief: An Interview with Alice Taylor
November can be a hard month for many people as we recall the memory of our dead. In the Roman Catholic tradition it is the month of the Holy Soul's. And it seems to be an appropriate time to reflect and pray for our dead as the year and seasons move towards the death of winter.

But coping with death and grief can be difficult and on this weeks programme we share an interview with Alice Taylor to reflect on memory and dealing with grief especially after writing her book As time stood still.

Alice Taylor lives in the village of Innishannon in County Cork, in a house attached to the local supermarket and post office. Since her eldest son has taken over responsibility for the shop, she has been able to devote more time to her writing.

Alice Taylor worked as a telephonist in Killarney and Bandon. When she married, she moved to Innishannon where she ran a guesthouse at first, then the supermarket and post office. She and her husband, Gabriel Murphy, who sadly passed away in 2005, had four sons and one daughter. In 1984 she edited and published the first issue of Candlelight, a local magazine which has since appeared annually. In 1986 she published an illustrated collection of her own verse.

To School Through the Fields was published in May 1988. It was an immediate success, launching Alice on a series of signing sessions, talks and readings the length and breadth of Ireland. Her first radio interview, forty two minutes long on RTÉ Radio's Gay Byrne Show, was the most talked about radio programme of 1988, and her first television interview, of the same length, was the highlight of the year on RTÉ television's Late Late Show. Since then she written numerous other books in fiction, poetry and memoir

Text us at +353 874668950 or email at [email protected]