5 million pray as they go

Downloads from Pray-as-you-go, the podcast website of the British Province of the Jesuits, passed the 5 million mark recently. According to SJ, the Province newsletter, the average number of downloads per day in the first week of March was over 14,000. Each day, Pray-as-you-go offers an audio file, with prayer and music, to help busy people to reflect while on the move. The files can be downloaded in either MP3 or WMA format. View the website at: http://www.pray-as-you-go.org/.

New beginnings on Inis Oírr

Eleven young adults were on Inis Oírr in Galway Bay for the Easter Triduum as part of a joint initiative between Slí Eile and the Galway Spirituality Centre. This pilot retreat on the theme of “new beginnings” involved a pilgrimage to different sites on the island, a dawn resurrection mass, and group reflections. A poem from John O’Donohue’s Benedictus was used to reflect the ‘beginnings’ theme: your courage kindled, and out you stepped onto new ground. To see photos of the retreat: Web Album. The next event for young adults aged 18-35, is a Film and Pizza Evening, April 15, 7.30pm, at the Jesuit Spirituality Centre, 6 Ely Place (Sea Road), Galway. Contact: galway@jesuit.ie, 00353 91 523707. One of the pilgrims, Kieran Hayes, has written a personal account of the pilgrimage experience, which you can read below. Read more »

A new director for Slí Eile

Slí Eile has announced the appointment of a new director. Pádraig Swan, a member of the Gardiner Street Gospel Choir for the last two years, will take up leadership of the Jesuit organisation that provides a wide range of faith and justice activities for young adults aged 18-35 in June. A native of Carlow, Pádraig first came into contact with Slí Eile through the Gospel Choir and participated in Slí Eile activities, including the last two Easter retreats in Clongowes. He studied for the diocesan priesthood in Kildare and Leighlin for three years, and he worked with Youth Work Ireland for two years. He also brings experience of several years of retail management to his new role. Padraig will work alongside Slí Eile’s current director, Rory Halpin SJ, during the month of April, before taking up his new position full time from the beginning of June.

Kierkegaard and celibacy

Irish Jesuit Tom Casey, professor of philosophy in the Gregorian University in Rome, writes in this month’s Pastoral Review about ‘Learning about celibacy from a Lutheran’. The Lutheran in question is Søren Kierkegaard (1813-1855), the Danish philosopher who prepared the path for theistic existentialism. Fr Casey’s article provides a fascinating account of Kierkegaard’s asceticism and understanding of faith. And this week’s Tablet (subscription only) has another article by Fr Casey, ‘The Jewish way to listen’, in which he explains how much he has learnt from the Jewish faith.

Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of St. Ignatius Loyola

Irish pilgrimages to the parts of Spain associated with St. Ignatius Loyola are comparatively rare, so there was a pioneering spirit when eighteen pilgrims from the Irish Province’s Education Sector departed from Dublin for Bilbao on 13th March. Four teachers were from Colaiste Iognaid, Galway, with an equal number from Crescent College Comprehensive, Limerick. There were five representatives of Clongowes Wood College and three from Gonzaga College. Brian Flannery, the Province’s Education Delegate, and Frank Clarke, Jesuit Ethos Director at Clongowes, were the organisers. Fergus O’Donoghue, S.J. was a guide and translator. Read more »

Prayer courses at Manresa

Manresa is holding a series of evenings of ‘Praying with scripture’ in April and May. They will take place between 7.30 and 9.00pm on every Tuesday from 1 April to 6 May and will be directed by Fr Ciary Quirke SJ. And, between autumn 2008 and spring 2009, Manresa will host a residential course on ‘Deepening Faith and Prayer’ over six weekends. It is designed for those who wish to make time and space to meet God, to develop new ways of praying the Scriptures, to deepen their Christian faith, and to learn to recognise where God is present in their lives. The weekends are as follows: September 19-21; October 17-19; November 14-16; January 9-11; February 13-15; and March 13-15. For further details on these events, contact Manresa at 01-8331352 or email manresa@jesuit.ie.

Carl’s Rhythm of the Dance Anniversary

Colaiste Iognaid’s music teacher, Carl Hession, was the composer for the ‘Rhythm of the Dance‘, the Irish music and dance show, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary in Dollywood, Tennessee. Carl, who has been in the school since 1980, is currently regarded as one of traditional Irish music’s “finest accompanist, composers and arrangers“. Along with renowned fiddler, Frankie Gavin, Carl played in the Dubai Irish Festival in January and their repertoire included a song called Planxty Paddy Lydon dedicated to the former principal of the college.

Clongowes immersed in Lesotho

Thirteen fifth year Clongowes students and four staff flew out on 23 March for the Second African Immersion Experience in Lesotho. Their main focus will be working for the Malealea Development Trust, a community based organisation that empowers people through participatory development and education projects. The Clongowes group will also work closely with the Irish Embassy there, involving them in discussions about macro development issues with Lesotho’s Health Minister, the Irish Embassy Development staff and Church agencies. The group will also work in orphanages under the patronage of Dee Fay, wife of the Irish Ambassador.

Pictured are the Irish Ambassador to Lesotho, Paddy Fay, with the Lesotho Ambassador to Ireland, Mannete Ramaili, on a visit to Clongowes last year.

Timire an Earraigh

In the current edition of the Irish language magazine An Timire Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Director of Ovation Global DMC, refers to the inspiration of Chiara Lubich, the recently deceased founder of Focolare in his discussion of the challenges facing the Christian in the business world. Fr Petrus Hans describes his long period in prison in China and Tekadiomona Nima SJ outlines the need to make Christianity relevant to the culture of the Church community. Other articles include a tribute to Seán Ó Duibhir SJ, poems and book reviews. An Timire is published quarterly and can be ordered by writing to An Timire, 36 Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 2. Yearly subscription is €10.

Jesuit schools rugby sweep

Jesuit schools in Leinster were the winners of the three major schools rugby competitions this year. Belvedere College won the Leinster schools Senior rugby cup, Clongowes Wood College won the Leinster schools Junior rugby cup, and Gonzaga college won the Vinnie Murray Cup. The Clongowes Senior team also reached the semi-final of the Leinster senior cup and Gonzaga college Junior team reached the semi-final of the Leinster Junior rugby cup. Meanwhile in Connacht, Coláiste Iognáid have added the Tribune Schools’ Cup to their earlier Connacht League title. They defeated the Marist College in the final 10-7, to take their eight Cup title.

Pictured here is Deirdre Murray, wife of the late Vinnie Murray, presenting the Vinnie Murray trophy to the Gonzaga captain, Daniel Kane. Vinnie Murray had the trophy named in his honour for his contribution to the development of schools rugby.

Gospel Choir Easter Monday broadcast

The Gardiner Street Gospel Choir is featured on RTE Radio 1 on Easter Monday, March 24, at 9pm. The award-winning and hugely popular choir was recorded live in Gardiner Street Church on Thursday 13 March for RTE’s ‘In Concert’ programme. More than a regular concert, it features songs and the spoken reflections that echo the Easter themes. Entitled ‘Mourning, Loss, Rejoicing‘, it is both uplifting and thought-provoking. Listen on your radio or on RTE’s website: www.rte.ie/radio.

McVerry Trust fundraising trek in Lesotho

The Peter McVerry Trust (PMVT) is organising a ten day fundraising hike through Lesotho, known as the African ‘Mountain Kingdom’, in South Africa. The trek will start at the foot of the majestic Sekameng range and move through Tsehlanyane and Golden Gate Highlands National Parks which are famous for outstanding scenery, bushman paintings, and wildlife. Funds raised through the trek will be used for PMVT’s work supporting homeless young people through a range of services including outreach, drug detox, accommodation and education. The trek dates are 17th – 26th October, 2008.
Space is limited. Please contact 01 8230776 or email trek@pmvtrust.ie for an information pack.

Response to Kenya

Due to the post election violence in Kenya recently, the Irish Missionary Resource Service (IMRS) set up an emergency fund to help cope with many thousands of people displaced by the ethnic violence. The Irish Jesuit Mission Office has successfully processed two applications for this fund. A grant of €15,000 was approved for relief work by the Jesuit Refugee Service in Western Kenya. The money will be spent on tents, clothing, food and counselling among a population of 2,000 Internally Displaced families in Kachimbola, about 30km from Kitale. A second grant has just been approved for food, shelter and educational needs of 2,000 people who fled for protection to the Jesuit Parish of Saint Joseph the Worker in Kangemi, Nairobi. Frs John Guiney SJ and Gerry Whelan SJ have served for many years in this parish. It is hoped to submit a third project by the Jesuit Hakimani Centre to rebuild peace in the community in the near future.