Irish Jesuits

In this interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications, popular Irish singer-songwriter Liam Lawton talks about his Advent tour around Ireland. He says music speaks directly to the heart, and has a capacity to heal and console during times of suffering, loss or mental distress.

Peter McVerry decries the government's complete failure to address homelessness intelligently or sympathetically.

Ignatian mysticism is a theme in the writings of Brian O'Leary SJ. The Irish Jesuit author has written numerous books and articles, and for many decades has travelled internationally to teach on St Ignatius. This interview, with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications, took place on Monday 23 October,  the birthday of the founder of the Jesuits. In it, Brian alludes to the rise in interest in mys...

Dr Annemarie Paulin-Campbell heads up the spirituality work of the Jesuit Institute South Africa and works with victims of trauma. In this interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications, Annemarie discusses the interface between Christian spirituality and psychology in a place that is still severely affected by the apartheid era.

Gerry O'Hanlon SJ one of the contributors to "A Dialogue of Hope: Critical Thinking for Critical Times". In this interview with Pat Coyle at the launch of the book, he outlines the role churches should play in bringing about the more inclusive dialogue the group are calling for. He says the Catholic Church in particular doesn't have an embedded model for listening to their people. It is crucial, h...

Fergus O'Ferrall, Lay Leader of the Methodist Church in Ireland, is one of the contributors to "A Dialogue of Hope: Critical Thinking for Critical Times". In this interview with Pat Coyle he says that there were also people throughout the length and breadth of rural Ireland who were suffering from a variety of social issues. Their voices need to be heard and appropriate platforms need to be set up...

Dermot Lane is one of the contributors to "A Dialogue of Hope: Critical Thinking for Critical Times". In this interview with Pat Coyle he emphasises the need to develop a new and shared vision of what it means to be human in this world. He is convinced that if believers and non-believers, secularists and religious, were to work on this together they would find much common ground, not least in the...

"Ireland is at a critical juncture," according to group member David Begg, former General Secretary of ICTU. In this interview with Pat Coyle he says we need a radical rethink if we are to have any positive outcomes for Irish citizens into the future. He highlights the difficulties facing the country not just in terms of Brexit but also in terms of its positioning within the EU and its relationshi...

"How can the Irish state become a leader in climate change?" In this interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications, Catherine Devitt, Environmental Justice Officer with the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice in Ireland, outlines the nature of their submission to the Citizens' Assembly. They focus on the impact of climate change on the poor around the world.

Gerry Whelan SJ is professor of fundamental theology at the Gregorian University in Rome. In this interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications, Gerry talks about writing his new book on Pope Francis with the aim to provide an academic defence of the Pope’s pastoral approach. As Francis is expected to attend the World Meeting of Families in Ireland next year, Gerry believes he will be a...

Dartstáisiúin - Turas traenach na beatha by Irish Jesuits

Dr Bernadette Flanagan is board of SpIRE, the institute of applied spirituality in Ireland. One of their fastest growing courses is Spiritual Toursim. She talks to Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications about it, and her involvement in what's known as the 'new monasticism'.

Alan McGuckian SJ has been appointed as the first Jesuit Bishop in Ireland by Pope Francis. For the last number of years he has been working as part of the Jesuit's Northern Ministry. Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications interviewed him last year about his life and work as a Jesuit, in the Jesuit Community house in Brookvale Avenue in North Belfast.

What does is All Mean? is the latest book from Australian Jesuit Richard Leonard. In this interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications he talks about the book and how, like most of his previous books, it came about on foot of a question posed to him by someone trying to grapple with their faith. In this instance the question came from a mother whose one year old child he'd just buried.

In light of Donald Trump’s meeting with Pope Francis, Irish Jesuit philosopher Pat Riordan offered advice to Pope Francis from the first Bishop of Rome, Saint Peter. He was preaching in his parish of Cricklewood, London. In this interview with Pat Coyle he explains how Peter's advice could be very important given the disparity on many issues between the Roman pontiff and the US President.

Irish Jesuit Des O’Grady shares his experience of living with Alzheimer’s disease and the learning he is gleaning from it. The upside, he says, is that he now lives his life at a more affective level. There are of course the well known downsides. Des is a chaplain in the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum, Dublin, Ireland.

In the wake of the Manchester Arena attack, Irish Jesuit philosopher Pat Riordan says it is a mistake to dismiss the actions of the suicide bomber as simply 'evil'. In this interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications, the Irish Jesuit, who lives and lectures in London, says we must go deeper and engage with the worldview that leads to such horrific attacks.

Donal Neary SJ reflects on the life of Fr. John Sullivan SJ on The Living Word, RTÉ Radio 1, 8 May 2017. www.rte.ie/radio1/a-living-word/

Chris Brolly is a Jesuit novice who worked in marginalised communities before joining the Jesuits. In this interview with Pat Coyle from Irish Jesuit Communications, he speaks about his reason for joining the Jesuits and he shares his experience of working with Peter McVerry in his drop-in centre for the homeless of Dublin.

Toni Witwer SJ, is the General Postulator for the Jesuits and he is overseeing the beatification of Fr John Sullivan SJ. Blessed John Sullivan's beatification ceremony will be the first ever beatification ceremony to take place in Ireland. In this interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communication, Fr Witwer talks about the meaning and significance of it.

Greg Boyle SJ, founder of the Homeboy Industries, has been awarded the University of Notre Dame’s highest Honour, the Laetare Medal. Previous recipients include President John F. Kennedy, Catholic Worker founder Dorothy Day, and actor Martin Sheen. Fr Greg is being given the award for being a Catholic “whose genius has ennobled the arts and sciences, illustrated the ideals of the Church, and enric...

Dee Hennessy and Des O'Grady SJ give retreats across Ireland based on mindfulness and a spirituality of creation. In this interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications they talk about mindfulness, cosmology and their work with groups and individuals.

Raymond O'Connor is Project Co-Ordinator of the Pioneer and Total Abstinence Association in Ireland. In this interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications he talks about the Irish nation's attitude to drink, the role the Pioneers seek to play in promoting the health and spiritual well-being of Irish society and the urgent need for public funding to continue their work.

Brendan Staunton SJ is a psychotherapist with a keen interest in art. In this interview he tells the remarkable story of how 'The Taking of Christ' was found to be an authentic Caravaggio, having hung for many years in the refectory of a Jesuit community house in Leeson St, Dublin, Ireland. The Jesuits have given Caravaggio's 'The Taking of Christ' to the National Gallery of Ireland on indefinite...

Rev Helen Freeburn is a Presbyterian minister working at the United Methodist and Presbyterian Church near Eyre Square in Galway. In this interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications she talks about her ministery, her mulit-cultural congregation and the role of mercy in the life of a Christian.