http://www.amdg.ie Audio from the Irish Province of the Society of Jesus Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:00:28 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Audio from the Irish Province of the Society of Jesus Audio from the Irish Province of the Society of Jesus JCC no http://www.amdg.ie/2011/09/13/homeless-in-crisis-mcverry/ http://www.amdg.ie/2011/09/13/homeless-in-crisis-mcverry/#comments Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:51:46 +0000 Pat Coyle http://www.amdg.ie/?p=12985 http://www.amdg.ie/2011/09/13/homeless-in-crisis-mcverry/feed/ 0 “Emergency homeless services in Dublin are in crisis. There are now more people forced to sleep on the streets than at any time in the past 10 years. Dublin City Council is reduced to handing out sleeping bags to many homeless people each night.” So said Peter McVerry SJ, in a strong letter to the Irish Times on 6 September. He made an urgent call on behalf of the homeless people with whom he works, one of whom rang the emergency help line and was kept waiting for almost two hours beore being informed there were no beds available. “It is frustrating enough to be homeless when the services actually work; with the services now close to collapse, frustation levels are boiling over.” RTE’s News at One picked up the story. Listen to Peter here. “Emergency homeless services in Dublin are in crisis. There are now more people forced to sleep on the streets than at any time in the past 10 years. Dublin City Council is reduced to handing out sleeping bags to many homeless people each [...] http://www.amdg.ie/2011/02/08/short-notices-82/ http://www.amdg.ie/2011/02/08/short-notices-82/#comments Tue, 08 Feb 2011 15:07:39 +0000 Paul Andrews http://www.amdg.ie/?p=10872 http://www.amdg.ie/2011/02/08/short-notices-82/feed/ 0 Belvederians won the Intermediate Medley and the Freestyle Relay in the Leinster Schools Championships; and in the national championships they won 2nd place in the Under 14 Breaststroke, and 3rd in the Under 14 Butterfly. Robert Hynes was selected to represent Ireland in upcoming Schools International. Pictured here are: L to R: Robert Hynes, Andrew Hynes, Headmaster Gerry Foley, Benjamin Doyle, Coach Tony Morris. Four Belvederians are taking their arguments to the Other Island: Johnny Byrne and Mark A. Kelly to the Finals of the Oxford Union Debating Competition; and Conor Byrne and Rian Hayes to the Other Place – the Finals day in Cambridge of the International Competition for Young Debaters. On 2 February Dr Finbarr Clancy SJ, Rector of the Ecclesiastical Faculty in Milltown, made his Final Vows, his solemn profession as a Jesuit. His former fellow-novice, Provincial Tom Layden, spoke movingly of the two-way commitment being celebrated: of Finbarr to the Society and of the Society to him. The following day Finbarr welcomed two US bishops who were making the Apostolic Visitation of the Ecclesiastical Faculty. Brian Grogan helped to draft the statement of the Association of Catholic Priests for their press conference on Thursday, re the new liturgical texts. Interviewed by Jonathan Clinch on the News at One, RTE Radio 1, Brian voiced the Association’s misgivings about the new translation of the Mass, both for its anachronistic language and the autocratic, non-consultative way it was imposed by Rome. FR PROVINCIAL’S DIARY 10-14 February: European Provincials meet in Luxemburg 17-18 February: Superiors’ meeting in Dublin Belvederians won the Intermediate Medley and the Freestyle Relay in the Leinster Schools Championships; and in the national championships they won 2nd place in the Under 14 Breaststroke, and 3rd in the Under 14 Butterfly. Robert Hynes was selected [...] http://www.amdg.ie/2010/11/23/steps-to-spiritual-sanity/ http://www.amdg.ie/2010/11/23/steps-to-spiritual-sanity/#comments Tue, 23 Nov 2010 19:52:18 +0000 Pat Coyle http://www.amdg.ie/?p=10129 http://www.amdg.ie/2010/11/23/steps-to-spiritual-sanity/feed/ 0 Dr Richard Leonard is a 47-year-old Australian Jesuit and Director of the Australian Catholic Film and Broadcasting Office. His new book, Where the Hell is God? debunks many myths about the role of God in human suffering. After an interview on RTE’s John Murray Show, hundreds of people turned up to hear him at the book launch in Manresa, and packed Gardiner Street church the following day. RTE’s Roisin Duffy, remarking on the impact of Richard Leonard’s radio interview, was asked during the day by three colleagues where they could get the book. Richard’s inner struggle after a tragic accident to his sister, led him to the seven steps to spiritual sanity which he outlines  in his book. Click here to listen to his Gardiner St talk, and here for photos of his book launch. Richard told the story of the tragic accident that left his 28-year-old sister completely paralysed. “I was appalled at some of the letters we received, that passed as Christian insights into the role of God in her tragedy. That’s why I’ve struggled  in my book to find the seven steps to spiritual sanity, which contradict what many people actually believe about God’s role in human suffering.  When I was studying theology as a Jesuit, looking at issues such as God and suffering and the ethics of euthanasia, it was largely an academic exercise. Then my sister, a nurse working with the aboriginal people, was left completely paralysed from the neck down in a car accident, and those issues literally became matters of life and death for me”.  In these steps he claims that: God does not directly send pain suffering and disease. God does not punish us. God does not send us accidents to teach us things, though we can learn from them. God does not will earthquakes, floods, droughts or other natural disasters. God did not need the blood of Jesus. Jesus did not just come to die but God used his death to announce the end of death. God does not kill us off. “I am very grateful to the correspondents who wrote to me after my sister’s accident”, he says. “They have alerted me to how often  in the worst moments of our lives we hear some terrible theology that does not draw us to God. It alienates us.”  Richard is a film critic and author of Mystical Gaze: An exploration of the films of Peter Weir, and Movies That Matter. Dr Richard Leonard is a 47-year-old Australian Jesuit and Director of the Australian Catholic Film and Broadcasting Office. His new book, Where the Hell is God? debunks many myths about the role of God in human suffering. After an interview on [...] http://www.amdg.ie/2010/06/15/crumbling-childcare-system-mcverry/ http://www.amdg.ie/2010/06/15/crumbling-childcare-system-mcverry/#comments Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:57:26 +0000 Pat Coyle http://www.amdg.ie/?p=8666 http://www.amdg.ie/2010/06/15/crumbling-childcare-system-mcverry/feed/ 0 “Daniel was still a child, he should not have died”.  So said Peter McVerry SJ, officiating at the funeral of  Daniel McAnaspie on Tuesday 9 June in the Church of the Annunciation, Finglas. The seventeen-year-old had been in the care of the HSE, and his body was found dumped in a field. Mourners listened as Fr McVerry told them that a contributing factor in Daniel’s death was the neglect of the State, which “bailed out bankers” while presiding over a “crumbling system of childcare”. He said that Daniel’s death, however, had created a momentum for changing that system, and “all of us, his family and friends, have a responsibility to ensure that the momentum is maintained until no child is at risk and every child’s needs are properly met”. To listen to Peter McVerry with Pat Kenny, click here; to read the Sunday Tribune’s profile of Peter, click here. “Daniel was still a child, he should not have died”.  So said Peter McVerry SJ, officiating at the funeral of  Daniel McAnaspie on Tuesday 9 June in the Church of the Annunciation, Finglas. The seventeen-year-old had been in the care of the [...] http://www.amdg.ie/2009/11/03/studies-role-in-shaping-modern-ireland/ http://www.amdg.ie/2009/11/03/studies-role-in-shaping-modern-ireland/#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:08:53 +0000 Pat Coyle http://www.amdg.ie/?p=6648 http://www.amdg.ie/2009/11/03/studies-role-in-shaping-modern-ireland/feed/ 0 Studies, the long established Jesuit Journal, was the subject of an interesting discussion on Andy O’Mahony’s Off the Shelf programme on RTE Radio 1 , Sat 31 Oct ’09.  The panel, economist Fionola Kennedy and historian Tom Garvin, were examining Bryan Fanning’s latest book ‘ The Quest for Modern Ireland: Battle of Ideas, 1912-86. There, the historian explores the intellectual debate that shaped 20th century Ireland as featured in journals such as Studies, The Bell, Christus Rex and The Crane Bag. He argues that after Independence these journals were engaged in a “nation-building project” with  education as the central concern. Studies, he argues, was to the fore in paving the way for a shift of focus on education that was cultural and religious to one with a more economic objective. Studies, the long established Jesuit Journal, was the subject of an interesting discussion on Andy O’Mahony’s Off the Shelf programme on RTE Radio 1 , Sat 31 Oct ’09.  The panel, economist Fionola Kennedy and historian Tom Garvin, were [...] http://www.amdg.ie/2009/09/13/creativity-daring-and-great-humility-for-the-frontiers/ http://www.amdg.ie/2009/09/13/creativity-daring-and-great-humility-for-the-frontiers/#comments Sun, 13 Sep 2009 13:05:35 +0000 Pat Coyle http://www.amdg.ie/?p=5798 http://www.amdg.ie/2009/09/13/creativity-daring-and-great-humility-for-the-frontiers/feed/ 0 ‘Jesuit  mission today’ was the issue addressed by Fr Adolfo Nicolas SJ, when he spoke to his fellow Jesuits, their co-workers and colleagues, in Gonzaga College on Sat Sept 12th. In his introduction to the Jesuit Fr General’s talk, Irish Provincial John Dardis SJ told those gathered that there were unprecedented challenges facing the Irish Church today. “But we all can make a difference if we respond to those challenges with creativity , discernment and courage”. Fr Nicolas outlined some of the challenges such as rapid change in technology and communications, globalisation  and a rise in xenophobia, a pluralism that some choose to intepret as there being no absolutes, and a spreading decline in the influence of relgious belief . He spoke of  the profund transition that had been made in Ireland from poverty to plenty and now to potential austerity. All this, allied to the Ryan report and the pending Dublin report, meant that  the entire landscape of the church was changing. “Evaluation and change must be done,” he said “and all of you are part of that. And the Gospel mercy and justice for the poor must be preached with renewed vigour and dynamism to people who are angry but also hungry.” He then went on to outline four key elements of the Jesuit mission, the first being the univeral nature of the call. Jesuits and their co-workers are called ‘to go where the need is greatest’. He commended the Jesuits present who had spent many years on missionary work in Africa, Japan, China, Hong Kong, and Cambodia. He was happy that the Irish Province was continuing to send its young men on the missions. In this brief audio  extract, Fr General pays tribute to Irish Jesuits’ missionary activity, remarking that “the Irish have always been great travellers”. The second element was being ‘at the frontiers’, a term used by the 35th General Congregation and now being picked up by many religious. He  said the frontiers could be geographical or less obvious. They needed to be discerned and in his opinion demanded three important qualities: creativity, daring and great humility! He said that every Jesuit work, be it in justice, spirituality, education, or whatever, should ask the question, “How are we at the frontiers?” The third element was the pursuit of dialogue with different cultures and religions. He pointed out that this was something the present Pope  modelled in his visits to various countries. He spoke of the need to be sensitive to the nuance of the language that we use in such dialogue. Often people speak to each other using the same words which have very different meanings to each individual. Citing a story from his own life, Fr Adolfo recalled meeting a Japanese man who did not recognise him at first as a priest , because he was wearing a shirt and tie. After some time , when he realised he was talking to a Jesuit, he exclaimed ,”But you don’t really believe in God, do you?”. Pausing before replying Fr Adolfo said,  “Not the God you have in mind when you’re asking that question!” Finally he stressed the importance of the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits. He said the founder’s principle of ‘finding God in all things ‘ meant that Ignatian spirituality was a particularly suitable one for these times. It took people where they were at and brought them forward when they made the choices. He cited the Jesuit prayer site www.sacredspace.ie, created in Ireland, as an excellent example of this process, and he urged those present to think in a similaraly creative way about how to make the Exercises relevant and accessible to people in all walks of life. “There’s no point expecting a mother with two children to go on an eight-day retreat!” He urged all present, Jesuits and their non-Jesuit colleagues, to continue to work with each other, as was the case with Jesuits since their foundation. They would only survive and move [...] ‘Jesuit  mission today’ was the issue addressed by Fr Adolfo Nicolas SJ, when he spoke to his fellow Jesuits, their co-workers and colleagues, in Gonzaga College on Sat Sept 12th. In his introduction to the Jesuit Fr General’s talk, Irish [...] http://www.amdg.ie/2009/09/12/fr-generals-vampire-tales/ http://www.amdg.ie/2009/09/12/fr-generals-vampire-tales/#comments Sat, 12 Sep 2009 08:23:35 +0000 Pat Coyle http://www.amdg.ie/?p=5784 http://www.amdg.ie/2009/09/12/fr-generals-vampire-tales/feed/ 0 Father Adolfo Nicolas SJ visited Gonzaga College Dublin on the morning of Saturday 12 September 2009 and was greeted by the headmaster Mr Kevin Whirdy, the Superior of the Gonzaga Jesuit Community Myles O Reilly SJ, and the Partners and Mission delegate Ms Deirdre Soffe. In the college, Fr Nicolas met with members of the Ignatian family and with the Directors of Chairs and boards.  He thanked them for their creativity and commitment, which he said was a source of energy for him in his own work. A few eyebrows were raised, however, when he declared that he was going back home to tell them that it never rains in Ireland! At coffee break he was introduced to students of the college who had recently returned from Zambia having worked on a volunteer programme there. In this brief extract, Fr General pays tribute to Irish Jesuits’ missionary activity, remarking that “the Irish have always been great travellers”. Father Adolfo Nicolas SJ visited Gonzaga College Dublin on the morning of Saturday 12 September 2009 and was greeted by the headmaster Mr Kevin Whirdy, the Superior of the Gonzaga Jesuit Community Myles O Reilly SJ, and the Partners and Mission [...] http://www.amdg.ie/2009/08/25/return-of-the-lisbon-treaty/ http://www.amdg.ie/2009/08/25/return-of-the-lisbon-treaty/#comments Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:40:36 +0000 dermot http://www.amdg.ie/?p=5455 http://www.amdg.ie/2009/08/25/return-of-the-lisbon-treaty/feed/ 0 In the first of a series of podcasts, Edmond Grace SJ argues earnestly that the Irish ought to vote Yes to Lisbon in the upcoming referendum. To vote against the treaty, in Edmond’s assessment, would be to have recourse to a narrow isolationism that sends out the wrong message to our European neighbours: “We cannot trust you, we cannot trust your governments, and we want you to leave us alone”. “Every nation stumbles into history half-formed,” he says, “and already bound up with the stories of its neighbours.” The Irish can do much more good by contributing to the welfare of fellow-European nations than by separating itself from them. Click on the ‘Read more’ for a link to the audio file. Edmond Grace on the Lisbon referendum In the first of a series of podcasts, Edmond Grace SJ argues earnestly that the Irish ought to vote Yes to Lisbon in the upcoming referendum. To vote against the treaty, in Edmond’s assessment, would be to have recourse to a narrow isolationism [...] http://www.amdg.ie/2009/05/13/traditions-meet/ http://www.amdg.ie/2009/05/13/traditions-meet/#comments Wed, 13 May 2009 10:15:49 +0000 Piaras Jackson http://www.amdg.ie/?p=4525 http://www.amdg.ie/2009/05/13/traditions-meet/feed/ 0 Tuesday 12 May, at 7.30 p.m. in Gardiner Street Ignatian Room, Bertie Ahern TD launched Todd Morrissey’s new book: Where two traditions meet: John Sullivan SJ. Donal Neary SJ welcomes those present. Conor Harper SJ introduces the event. Bertie Ahern TD launches Todd Morrissey’s book, Where two traditions meet: John Sullivan SJ John Dardis SJ speaks about the book The author, Todd Morrissey SJ, speaks about Where two traditions meet: John Sullivan SJ Conor Harper SJ concludes the launch of Where two traditions meet: John Sullivan SJ [Show as slideshow] 12► Tuesday 12 May, at 7.30 p.m. in Gardiner Street Ignatian Room, Bertie Ahern TD launched Todd Morrissey’s new book: Where two traditions meet: John Sullivan SJ. Donal Neary SJ welcomes those present. Conor Harper SJ introduces the event. Bertie [...]