Irish Jesuits

Although we mark the feast of All Souls and All Saints on two separate days, Dr  Dermot Roantree, Editor with Jesuit Irish Jesuit Communications, says they are really two sides of the one coin. In this interview with Miriam Gormally of Soulwaves Radio, he says that there are mysteries like death which don't yield easy answers and indeed it may be better that we don’t expect answers, but only ask q...

New Zealander Michael Smith SJ spoke with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications about his work as International Education Officer with Jesuit Refugee Service in Rome. He described his work as a representative for 184,000 students around the world from preschool education to adult education, and teacher training. He also spoke of JRS's values of advocacy, service and accompaniment.

Jesuit John J. Moore SJ, former Professor of Botany at University College Dublin, talks about his life as a Jesuit, an African missionary, a botanist, and a friend of the renowned Jesuit photographer, Fr Frank Browne.

James Martin SJ spoke with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications about his book signing after his LGBT talk at the WMOF Pastoral Congress at the RDS in Dublin on 23 August, 2018. Fr Martin, author of 'Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the LGBT Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity', engaged with pilgrims for a number of hours and sees book...

Retreatant Máire Fitzgerald spoke on the call to love and service – reaching out to wounded hearts. She spoke about being empowered to go out and give of herself in service.

Retreatant Feargal O’Cleirigh talked about living his faith and getting his feet muddy in the world today. He also talked about being inspired by the many events of the World Meeting of Families.

Retreatant Sean O’Rourke spoke about meditating and contemplating on Saint Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises. He also spoke about the spiritual movements of consolation and desolation and basking in gratitude.

The Irish Jesuits organised a ‘Faith in the Modern World’ retreat for young people from all over Europe in preparation for the World Meeting of Families and Pope Francis’ visit to Ireland at Manresa Jesuit Centre of Spirituality, Dublin from 20 to 26 August 2018. In his work with the retreatants, coordinator Niall Leahy SJ discussed the consolation of the head and heart working together. He also d...

Renowned American Jesuit James Martin spoke with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications about clerical sex abuse in light of the recent Pennsylvania report in the United States. He came to Dublin on foot of an invitation from the Vatican to talk about ‘Showing welcome and respect in our parishes for LGBT people and their families’ at the World Meeting of Families 2018 Pastoral Congress in the RD...

Bernard McGuckian SJ, Mary Brady and Vera Casey spoke to Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications about the work of the Pioneer Association and the Messenger Publications' best-selling books at the World Meeting of Families Pastoral Congress in the RDS, Dublin from 22 to 24 August 2018.

In this podcast with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications, Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ of the Raphoe Diocese spoke about the impact the World Meeting of Families Pastoral Congress had on himself and his family. He also talked about the Pope’s visit and the shadow the clerical sex abuse scandals cast over the event at the RDS, Dublin from 22 to 24 August 2018.

German-Irish sculptor Imogen Stuart and Jesuit author Brian Grogan spoke to Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications about their purpose-built prayer garden for pilgrims at the World Meeting of Families Pastoral Congress at the RDS in Dublin from 22 to 24 August, 2018. Imogen talked about her famous beehive creation where members of the public could enter and pray for three minutes at a time.

In this podcast with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications, Siobhán Murphy and Iva Beranek, spiritual guides in the Ignatian tradition, spoke about what arose for them during the World Meeting of Families Pastoral Congress at the RDS in Dublin from 22 to 24 August 2018. This included helping the faithful to tap into their own wisdom.

Renowned American Jesuit Fr James Martin gave a workshop entitled ‘Showing welcome and respect in our parishes for LGBT people and their families’ at the World Meeting of Families 2018 Pastoral Congress in the RDS, Dublin on 23 August 2018. In this podcast interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications, he shared many personal stories of LGBT exclusion by priests and religious and encoura...

Kevin O'Rourke SJ, assistant director of Jesuit novices, speaks to Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications on Pope Francis' pending visit to Ireland and the shadow that the recent report on clerical sexual abuse in the United States has cast on the Catholic Church. In the podcast, Fr O'Rourke likens the current crisis to the reformation in the 16th century, commenting that it is a worldwide probl...

Bart Kiely SJ died on 17 August, 2018 aged 76 years in the loving care of the staff at Cherryfield Lodge nursing home, Dublin. People can listen to the homily at his funeral Mass given by Fr Mike Drennan SJ.

Fr Michael Smith SJ, International Education Officer for the Jesuit Refugee Service in Rome, speaks with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications about the Ignatian practice of communal discernment or discernment in common. In the interview, the New Zealander explains the dynamic process in a step-by-step approach and looks to the founding of the Jesuits and the dealing of the clerical sexual abus...

Palestinian refugee Iman Matawi, who has worked both academically and practically with refugees in recent years in Egypt, was in Dublin with her Irish husband Darragh Murphy. During this time, she spoke with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications about her struggle, the recent Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) report and the bill to ban Israeli goods from occupied Palestinian territories.

Irish Jesuit priest Ashley Evans, who has been working in Cambodia for over 30 years, speaks to Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications about his work helping people to move on from the country's brutal autocratic regime.

US theologian Stanley Hauerwas, described as 'one of the most influential Christian thinkers in the English speaking world', In this interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications, the controversial and hugely respected Methodist theologian addresses a number of topical issues in his characteristically forthright and unpredictable style.

Irish Jesuit theologian Gerry O'Hanlon talks to Pat Coyle about his latest book 'The Quiet Revolution'. It's about Pope Francis who he says has an idea of 'Church' which if pushed through and implemented will reverse 1,000 years of the way in which the church as been structured.

Irish Jesuit theologian Gerry O'Hanlon SJ speaks about crisis, conscience and opportunity in the wake of Ireland's historic decision to repeal the 8th amendment

The Schola of Clongowes Wood College recently took 1st Prize in the National Secondary Schools Competition for Choirs in the Liturgical Music Section. This podcast features their performance of John Rutter’s 'A Clare Benediction'.

Jean Claude Ralaivaonirina SJ of the Madagascar Province is a Jesuit tertian who did a placement at Cherryfield Lodge, a nursing home in Dublin for Irish Jesuits, and at the Clongowes Wood College farm in Co Kildare. Fr Jean Claude said that he had learned a lot from the wisdom of the older Jesuits, and the farming experience will help him, surprisingly, in his new role working with the homeless i...

In this interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications, Irish Jesuit philosopher Dr Patrick Riordan discusses the 8th Amendment in light of his talk at the Loyola Institute forum at Trinity College Dublin, entitled 'Living Humanely: Perspectives from Law, Morality and Science' on 13 April, 2018.