Sons of Ignatius

24 hours after Magnifica Humanitas is published, Fr Niall and Kevin Hargaden from the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice sit down to talk about Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, in which he reflects on what Artificial Intelligence could mean for humanity.

The Minimise Project is a secular pro-life initiative that seeks to promote better conversations and exchanges about abortion, and to reduce the abortion rate in Ireland as much as is possible. Fr Niall talks to Muireann Lynch and Ben Conroy about the project, their main ideas and approaches, and the workshops that they offer. More information and contact details are available at www.theminimisepr...

Fr Niall reflects on a recent visit to Newgrange, a large passage grave in Co. Meath which was built over 5,000 years ago. Can it teach us something about Christian prayer?

Fr Niall recently went to Castel Gandolfo, near Rome, to attend the Raising Hope conference to mark 10 years since the publication of Laudato Si. Pope Leo was present and opened the event. Eamon Ryan, one-time leader of the Green Party in Ireland, was also there. In this episode Fr Niall and Eamon talk about the conference, and reflect more widely on faith, environmentalism, and public service. Ea...

Speaking the morning after the election of Pope Leo XIV, Frs. Niall and Gerry Whelan SJ are very enthusiastic about the election of the new pontiff. The big question is whether or not Pope Leo will be in continuity with Pope Francis. In light of that question, Fr Gerry goes through the deeper theological significance of Pope Francis’ pontificate and the tensions it provoked in the Church. He also...

In Part II of this three-part mini-series, Fr Niall and Fr Gerry continue the story of Pope Francis’ life. They begin by sharing some reflections on Pope Francis’ funeral, which turned out to be something of a geopolitical event. Fr Gerry then talks about J-M Bergoglio’s time as a Jesuit superior when he put the Argentinian Jesuits on a new course, his period of exile and suffering called the “Cor...

 The news of the death of Pope Francis early on Easter Monday came as a shock to the world. After serving for 12 years as the successor of St. Peter, Francis has gone to God, bringing to an end a dramatic chapter in the history of the Church and the Society of Jesus.   Francis brought a unique set of gifts and perspectives to the papacy. While being firmly rooted in Catholic tradition, he never fi...

The Institution of the Eucharist: the source and summit of Christian life.

Fr. Niall Leahy SJ and Seán McMahon SJ introduce and discuss their respective formation stages. Fr. Niall reflects on his 'Experiment' with the Missionaries of Charity. Recent videos on the Irish Jesuit Instagram are also highlighted.

Eamonn Walls SJ hosts the new Jesuit "scholastic" Seán McMahon SJ as he reflects on professing First Vows in Innsbruck and taking the next step after Noviciate.

Fr. Niall Leahy SJ preaches on Christ's calming of the storm, Christ as Creator, bringing our challenges to God, and the call to be humble and courageous in doing great things for God.

Fr. Kevin O'Rourke SJ preaches on "Christ burgling Satan's house", the theme of Christ's authority in the Gospel of Mark, and the Church as Christ's family.

What is love? Fr. Niall's homily offers a three-fold answer: Eros (passionate, romantic love), Philia (friendship and political love) and Agape (the free, lasting love that comes from God.) That Agape love comes from God is a wonderful message from St. John that people need to know. Being loved by God is not about working harder, "copping on" or everyone pulling their socks up. We ca...

Jesuit novice and friend of the show Sean McMahon returns to Sons of Ignatius to talk about his recent experience in Uganda where he was ministering to refugees.

Fr Niall talks with Fr Ted Penton SJ and Fr Mark Lopez SJ about the final stage of Jesuit formation which is called tertianship. For the last eight weeks or so Fr Ted has been ministering in Gardiner Street parish while Fr Mark has been in a nearby shelter for men experiencing homelessness which is run by the Legion of Mary.

In this third conversation between Fr Niall and Drs. Kevin and Ciara from JCFJ they talk about the connection between the care of the environment and Jesus. If Christians are to be ecologically responsible then the link between creation and Christ needs to be made very explicit.

Fr Niall, Kevin and Ciara get into some of the concrete demands of transitioning from an unsustainable to a sustainable lifestyle. On yer bike! They conclude that a sustainable life is actually more fulfilling and it’s just the changing which is hard.

Fr Niall sits down with environmental duo Dr Kevin Hargaden and Dr Ciara Murphy from the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice ( JCFJ) to talk about Laudate Deum , Pope Francis’ recent letter on climate change. The tone of the letter is urgent and challenging but it still strikes a note of hope. Ciara is impressed by the quality of the scientific argument while Kevin insists that this is still a spi...

Seán McMahon SJ is a second year Jesuit novice who has just finished his pilgrimage experiment. Even by Jesuit standards this pilgrimage was extreme! In our first episode after the summer break Fr Niall catches up with Seán to talk about the physical, geographical and spiritual highs and lows of his pilgrimage walking over 500 kilometres from Zurich in Switzerland to Paray le Monial in France. Epi...

Often we think we have to earn God's love but when we get something in return for our good behaviour that's a reward - not a gift! God gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit to help us live the Christian life well. While we receive the Holy Spirit is a special way in Baptism and Confirmation, it's not a "one and done" occurance. God sends the Holy Spirit to help us anytime we a...

Happy Easter to all our listeners. This week Fr Niall talks to Fr. Adam Hincks SJ, a Canadian Jesuit and astronomer who looks so far into space that he looks back in time. Adam talks about his life as a scientist and a Jesuit, about the similarities and differences between science and theology, and he shares some of the beautiful discoveries that he has made. He also drops a bombshell about telesc...

Fr Niall and Eamonn talk about St Patrick. They conclude that he would have been an amazing Jesuit but he definitely did not invent Guinness!

Fr Michael Simone SJ is an Italian-American priest and an Old Testament scholar who came to Dublin last year for a year of spiritual formation, which in Jesuit lingo is called "Tertianship". In this episode Fr Niall talks to him about his time in Ireland and his impression of the Irish church compared to the USA. Apparently Ireland is still a Catholic country!

The freshly caffeinated Irish Jesuit duo Niall and Eamonn talk about recently deceased Pope Emeritus Benedict and love.

In this kinda Christmas-sy episode Fr. Niall is joined by Tony Foy, Executive Director of NET Ministries Ireland. Tony once heard Bishop Robert Baron say that the Mass is not really a tool of evangelisation so if the Church wants to attract new people it has to do something else other than invite them to Mass. Like what? Like Eucharistic adoration. P.S. If anyone has seen Fr. David could they tell...