Irish Jesuits

Different names by Irish Jesuits

Is it for everyone? by Irish Jesuits

Different varieties of spiritual direction by Irish Jesuits

What is the specific nature of Ignatian spiritual direction? by Irish Jesuits

Brian O'Leary SJ: counselling and spiritual direction what's the difference? by Irish Jesuits

In a recent visit to Rome, Leon O'Giolláin SJ attended a conference hosted by the leader of the Jesuits worldwide, Father General Arturo Sosa SJ. The aim of the conference was to explore what it means to be a Jesuit in todays world. In this interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications, Leon the Jesuit delegate for spiritual formation explains what he learnt over the course of the confer...

In this second and final part of his interview interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications, Leon O'Giolláin SJ defines 'spiritual conversation' by setting it in the context of the spirituality of St Ignatius. He references in particular the 'Spiritual Exercises' which is the saint's guidebook for those seeking a relationship with God. He also discusses the central role of spiritual con...

Brian Grogan SJ, author of the award-winning book 'Pedro Arrupe: A Heart Larger than the World', speaks to Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications about worldwide Jesuit leader Pedro Arrupe’s stroke and final years.

In this third part of an extended interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications, Brian Grogan SJ gives his own take on Fr Arrupe's clash with the Roman Curia over his enthusiastic implementation of Vatican 11 reforms within the Jesuit Order. And on his more personal conflict with Pope John Paul 11, following complaints to the Pontiff lodged by conservative Spanish Jesuits, unhappy with t...

Best-selling author Richard Leonard SJ speaks to Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications about the Beatitudes which can be referred to as the big gospel passage on law and love. He maintains that "the blessing is within the experience" of each Beatitude – whether poor, persecuted, hungry for justice, or in mourning. This interview is based on Leonard's latest book 'The Law of Love: Modern Languag...

One of the favourite readings for couples having a Catholic wedding ceremony is St Paul's hymn to love,1Corinthinans 13. Australian Jesuit Richard Leonard poses a challenge to the bride and groom who ask for this to be read on their wedding day which causes some of them to change their mind about their choice! In this interview with Pat Coyle based on his latest book The Law of Love, Richard Leona...

In this podcast interview from the RNN archives, Irish Jesuit Brendan McManus SJ spoke to Pat Coyle about how music helped him get through some of the hardest moments in his life and how it also allowed him to make spiritual breakthroughs while on retreat. Set during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, Brendan talked about how music is God’s way of speaking to us in times of trouble and how we should b...

Irish Jesuit Leon Q'Giolláin SJ recently attended a workshop on 'spiritual conversation' in St Beuno's Jesuit spirituality centre in Wales. In this part one of an interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications he defines spiritual conversation by setting it in the context of the spirituality of St Ignatius. He also details the significant characteristics of such conversation including sen...

The seventh bi-annual international conference of the International Network for the Study of Spirituality (INSS) was held for the first time in Ireland with over 160 people attending the event from all over the world. Dr Michael O'Sullivan SJ is an Irish Jesuit and organiser of the conference. In this interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications he tells her all about it focusing also o...

A meditation on tuning into the rhythm of the summer breeze and our gentle inner experience. It involves imagining a peaceful scene with the wind moving the curtain of a quiet room. An invitation of love and compassion. By Gavin Thomas Murphy (featured in Messenger magazine, August 2023).

"Unless the catholic church will agree that I too am made in the image and likeness of God, then the church, particularly the hierarchy, will continue to see the backs of women's heads as they race out of the church for the last time". So says Phyllis Zagano, Professor of Relgion at Hofstra University in New York,in the third and final part of an extended interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit C...

Fr John Sullivan Theme by Irish Jesuits

There are over 47,000 permanent deacons, all men, most married, in the Roman Catholic Church today. The issue of women deacons was raised at the Second Vatican Council, only to die a quick death. However in 2019, at the Amazon Synod, 9 out of 12 language groups asked for woman deacons and Pope Francis responded, "If the gauntlet has been thrown down I will pick it up." Dr Phyllis Zagano is Profess...

Given the tenuous and insubstantial nature of the arguments against the ordination of women in the catholic church (as outlined by Dr Gerry O'Hanlon in part one of his interview with Pat Coyle) what really lies behind the institution's refusal to allow women become priests? It's a question he has reflected on he shares his reflections in this final part of their interview. He also outlines the rea...

Thirty-six Popes were ordained deacons but never priests. Women deacons were present in the church from the time of St Paul, and the diaconate fell out of favour in the 12th century largely because of evolving clerical practices and disgruntled priests. Just some of the facts regarding the history of deacons in the catholic church that Dr Phyllis Sagano shared with Pat Coyle in this, part one of a...

Brian Grogan SJ has just received the US Independent Press Award for his biography of Pedro Arrupe SJ, The cause for the beatification and canonisation of Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, the 28th Superior General of the Society of Jesus, officially opened in Rome on February 5, 2019, the 28th anniversary of his death. In this second part of an extensive interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communication...

Irish Jesuit theologian Gerry O'Hanlon SJ talks to Pat Coyle and outlines the theology underpinning Pope Francis' position on the non-possibility of women's ordination in the Catholic Church, and the pontiff's reliance on the theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar. Dr O'Hanlon's Ph. D. thesis was on the work of von Balthasar. He says that the 'theological intuition' that von Balthasar had regarding me...

Deirdre Soffe and Seamus Crimmins recently completed the M.Phil in theology at the Loyola Institute Trinity College Dublin. They both found the experience transformative in various ways. In this interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications, they talk about powerful the impact the course made on them, the learning that took place, and the challenges they faced and were helped to overcome...

Pope Francis is ten years in office this month (March 2023) and Gerry Whelan SJ, Director of the Department of Fundamental Theology in the Gregorian University in Rome assesses his papacy so far in this interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications. He speaks of the growing opposition to the Pope from both the right and the left, which Whelan describes as in part a response to the way Po...

Brian Grogan SJ has just received a US International Press Award for his biography of Pedro Arrupe SJ, the former Father General of the Jesuits worldwide. The cause for the beatification and canonization of Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ, officially opened in Rome on February 5, 2019, the 28th anniversary of his death. In this part one of an extended interview with Pat Coyle of Irish Jesuit Communications,...