Latest news with #HolyThursday
Irish Independent
24-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Staff on RTÉ's religious programmes to be redeployed as Donnybrook masses end
It has announced it will shift in-house Christian productions on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player to a variety of churches nationwide. The move is part of a plan to commission Christian worship content from independent producers from next year. An RTÉ spokesperson said the plan will be carried out in partnership with Ireland's 'major denominations' from a number of 'hub' churches. When asked if a Sunday mass will still be broadcast, he said there will be no change to the service, apart from it being produced in the independent sector. Roger Childs, RTÉ's commissioning editor of religious content, said masses, services and other forms of Christian worship will continue to be broadcast every Sunday and on Christian holidays. This includes St Patrick's Day, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. When asked about the impact of the move on workers, a spokesperson said management met with the team involved in the delivery of masses and services and 'they were informed that they would be redeployed to other programmes when this move happens'. A letter from the RTÉ Group of Unions to HR chief Eimear Cusack yesterday sought an urgent meeting to discuss the changes and impact on members. Siptu sector organiser Robbie Purfield said he believes fewer than 50 staff who work on religious programming will be affected. This is a public service and should be kept in-house. This could be the thin edge of the wedge. What's next? He said Siptu members want management to reverse the decision to outsource production, including the mass broadcasts, to the independent sector. ADVERTISEMENT 'These workers are in various grades, but the religious programme is not all they do,' he said. 'They would do everything from setting up the altar to the technical and operational elements, but now there will be less work for them. 'I know part of the strategy is that RTÉ needs to broadcast more from the independent sector, but this is a public service and should be kept in-house. This could be the thin edge of the wedge. What's next?' Mr Purfield said there has been no consultation with unions on the plan. RTÉ's managing editor of video and director of content, Seán Mac Giolla Phádraig, said technological advances mean it is possible to broadcast masses and services cost-effectively from churches nationwide. He said this would enable RTÉ to shift production from the Donnybrook studio base into 'authentic congregational worship settings' across 32 counties. Mr Childs said studio production of worship content has served audiences well for many years. However, the current production model requires groups to often travel long distances to Montrose. In addition, he said the studio's limited capacity allows for only a small representative presence from the featured parishes or school groups. A spokesperson said the launch of the new commissioning process is in line with RTÉ's 'New Direction' strategy. He said the Future of Media Commission recommended that 25pc of public funding to RTÉ is invested in the independent sector, and the Government intends to put this into legislation.
RTÉ News
22-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Independent sector to produce mass, services on RTÉ
RTÉ has launched a commissioning process that will see all of its Christian worship content produced in the independent sector. Currently, worship content is produced in a studio in RTÉ in Donnybrook, Dublin 4, however, it is hoped that by the start of next year, production will be shifted to a number of designated "hub" churches. The move is part of the broadcaster's new direction strategy. The production will be delivered in partnership with Ireland's major denominations based on production models already pioneered by other European braodcasters, RTÉ said. RTÉ's Managing Editor, Video and Director of Content, Seán Mac Giolla Phádraig said: "Advances in technology mean that it is now possible to broadcast Masses and services cost-effectively from a variety of churches nationwide, enabling RTÉ to shift production of this important content from the current Donnybrook studio base into authentic congregational worship settings across the 32 counties of Ireland, without any diminution in technical or editorial quality." Roger Childs, RTÉ's Commissioning Editor of Religious Content, said: "RTÉ remains fully committed to broadcasting a broad range of Christian worship content, reflecting the diversity of denominations and styles of worship across the 32 counties of Ireland in the long term. "Masses, services or other forms of Christian worship will continue to be broadcast every Sunday and on key Christian holidays: St Patrick's Day, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day." Mr Childs said the current production model means groups often have to travel long distances to Montrose and that the limited capacity of the studio "only allows for a small representative presence from each featured parish or school group". "In contrast, broadcasting from "hub" churches in each region will enable RTÉ to feature authentic congregational worship in those areas," he added.
Herald Malaysia
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
US priest-podcaster urges laity to pray for the conclave
'We're called to be spiritually present through our intercession,' says Father Mike Schmitz May 08, 2025 Father Mike Schmitz. (Photo: Facebook) By Jack Figge, OSV NewsAs the cardinals prepare to enter into the Sistine Chapel to vote on the next supreme pontiff May 7, faithful across the world are watching in of the "Bible in a Year" and "Catechism in a Year" podcasts and a frequent presenter for Ascension, Father Mike Schmitz has been leading a novena praying for the cardinals and the upcoming conclave, which over a million people have an interview with OSV News, Father Schmitz said the most important thing for the laity to do during this time is to pray. "First and foremost, we should be praying -- fervently," Father Schmitz said. "A conclave isn't just an election; it's a spiritual event. The Holy Spirit is active, and we're called to be spiritually present through our intercession." Praying the novena has presented the opportunity for thousands of Catholics to come together during this historic time as one church in preparation for the conclave, and prayer allows the laity to participate in this historic moment. "We are one body. The men entering the conclave aren't just making a strategic decision -- they're listening for the voice of the Holy Spirit," Father Schmitz said. "Our prayers help dispose their hearts to that voice. We often forget how much weight is on them: they're carrying the responsibility to discern God's will for the whole church. When the laity pray, we're not passive bystanders -- we're participants in this sacred moment. Our prayer helps prepare the soil for what God wants to plant." This conclave, he also shared, offers a twofold opportunity to reflect on the previous pontificate and to learn more about the life and history of the Catholic Church. In recent weeks, Father Schmitz has reflected on the impact that Pope Francis' pontificate had on his priesthood, specifically the time the late pope washed the feet of inmates on Holy Thursday. "That moment wasn't just powerful -- it was deeply Christlike," Father Schmitz said. "It reminded me of the heart of priesthood: to serve in humility, not to be served. His constant emphasis on mercy, encounter, and going to the peripheries has challenged me to not remain in comfort zones but to go where the Gospel is most needed. His call to be a 'field hospital' for souls has shaped the way I try to serve as a priest -- meeting people where they are, with love and truth." With the abundance of news outlets and media attention focusing on the conclave, these days provide a unique opportunity for the laity to learn about new aspects of the church. "It's a great time to learn more about how the church works -- how the Holy Spirit has guided the church through 2,000 years, even through difficult or confusing times," Father Schmitz said. "Read about the role of the pope, the history of the conclave and what it means for the church. But above all, be at peace. Jesus is still Lord. He promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against his church -- and he meant it." As the conclave begins, many commentators speaking to media outlets have attempted to cast the conclave in political terms, highlighting various tensions within the church. Father Schmitz warned that Catholics should be wary of this narrative, opting instead to root oneself in Jesus Christ. "We should never be naïve about tensions -- they're real. But we should also never forget who the church is: the bride of Christ," Father Schmitz said. "She is more than a set of ideologies or factions. The church is where sinners are saved, saints are formed, and the truth is proclaimed. We navigate tensions by rooting ourselves not in opinion, but in Christ." Amongst all the noise and commentaries surrounding the conclave, Father Schmitz urged Catholics to look past the tensions and disagreements between different factions and instead keep charity and unity at the forefront of one's mind. "Don't let the noise define your faith -- let Jesus do that," Father Schmitz said. "Unity doesn't mean uniformity; it means charity. So even in disagreement, we choose to love, to forgive and to stay close to the heart of the church."--
NBC News
05-05-2025
- Business
- NBC News
Pope Francis gave his remaining money to fund pasta factory at juvenile detention center
Before Pope Francis died, he donated the money remaining in his personal bank account to fund Pastificio Futuro, a pasta factory that employs current and former inmates from the Casal del Marmo detention center. Pope Francis visited the facility and washed inmates' feet twice on Holy Thursday. His donation will pay the factory's mortgage and help change the lives of more inmates. NBC News' Anne Thompson has our Good News 5, 2025
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Abilene woman marks Jubilee Year at the Vatican, sees Pope Francis in his final days
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Abilene resident Rochelle Johnson grew up in the country with a strong Catholic faith. 'I'm a cradle Catholic, and my parents were Catholic, and our life centered around the church. We were raised out on a farm, and there were many things that we didn't do because we were raised out of our country. But we went to church every Sunday. Where I was raised, we were out so far in the country that sometimes we didn't have a priest, and we were a mission church. So even with that, the community gathered at church, and we said the rosary, or we said the Stations of the Cross. It's very important to me,' added Johnson. What is a conclave? What to know about the secretive process to elect the next pope While she knew she wanted to visit Rome one day, it was her son, Garrett Johnson, who visited last spring and saw Saint Peter's Square and the Vatican. He called her during his 2024 vacation to plan a trip for Easter 2025. 'He called from there and said, 'Mom, you need to come here next year.' It's a Jubilee year in the church, once every 50 years. He said, 'I want to bring you here next year for Easter, so that we can celebrate Easter at the Vatican.' So, we called his brother and made it a family trip,' shared Johnson. Leaving the Tuesday before Easter, Johnson said her family celebrated Holy Thursday at Saint Peter's Basilica, Good Friday at a different church, and Easter Sunday at the Vatican. Although Pope Francis was not present at Mass due to health complications, Johnson shared that after Mass, no one left. Crowds waited at St. Peter's Square, and all of a sudden, Pope Francis came out of a window and blessed the crowd. Another priest read Pope Francis' Easter message, but then Pope Francis decided to greet the crowd even closer. 'We didn't think that we would see him at all. So, the fact that he came out in the window was something. But then to come down in the popemobile, we were able to get right up on the fence, on the one on one of the lanes that he came by. So, my son took a selfie of us with the pope,' explained Johnson. Tributes pour in for Pope Francis The next morning, news spread quickly that Pope Francis had died, and Johnson immediately noticed a change. 'Monday, I got a text. One of my sons and his wife were staying in a different Airbnb than we were. They texted and said the pope passed away. I was like, you're kidding. So, I opened up the link that they had sent me, which was a news link in Rome, and read it. We had some other tours planned in the Vatican. We had done a lot of stuff at the Vatican prior to Easter, but we had some other stuff planned in the week, and that was all canceled because of the preparations for the funeral and so forth,' explained Johnson. Pope Francis dies at 88 While Johnson said that there were some things she disagreed with the Pope, she understood why he is often referred to as the people's Pope. She shared that the experience was very emotional, from visiting the Vatican to climbing the sacred stairs, and seeing all the different churches in Rome with her sons and their wives. 'He had a lot of love and concern for those who are less fortunate than us. I think that's very important. Certainly, a tenant of the church, the corporate works of mercy that were taught to visit the poor, to visit the sick, and to visit those in prison. He had a lot of good things to teach us,' explained Johnson. Now, back in Abilene, Johnson stresses this is an experience that was once in a lifetime — looking forward to sharing stories with family, friends, and members of her church. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
