Rté - The Leap Of Faith

Pictures taken in 1903 in a Dublin City Churchyard raise more questions than answers and Jewish historian, Yanky Fachler examines the influence of the Jewish faith on the work of iconic musical artists, Barbra Streisand and Leonard Cohen.

Zen Buddhist Priest Myozan Kodo on Vesak, which is one of the most important Buddhist festivals. The RTÉ Radio 1 May Day tradition of playing Canon Sydney MacEwan's Bring Flowers of the Rarest. And we take a look at the Irish Chaplaincy in London which provides help and support, to Irish elderly people, prisoners and Travellers.

On tonight's programme, different kinds of isolation, from a French enclosed order of nuns, mariners at sea, missions abroad and the tranquillity of Inis Mor on the Aran Islands. The Leap of Faith is after the news.

This week, The Leap of Faith brings you a programme produced by CTVC in the UK. With churches closed and the lockdown firmly in place, the UK faces a very different Easter this year. More and more people experience the sudden loss of a friend or family member. Others fear genuinely for loved ones who are elderly or vulnerable.

Chris Patten, now Lord Patten of Barnes, reflects on the way in which faith has underpinned his entire life, both personally and politically.

Dr.Kevin Hargaden on what we can learn from desert monks when it comes to economics and social justice. The Very Reverend Doctor Dean Sarah Rowland Jones talks about St.David the patron saint of Wales and journalist and writer Robert Fisk shares his insight into the role of religion in middle east conflicts.

On tonight's programme: a report on Jewish tradition, the New Year of the Trees celebrated as part of World Interfaith Harmony Week. We review 'A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood' and the French teenager who received death threats for comments on the Islamic religion.

We take a look at Chinese New Year and China's approach to organised religion. And as the world marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, we talk with author and historian Yanky Fachler about the imperative for the next generations to never forget the victims of the Holocaust.

We talk with the Very Reverend Father Bryan Shortall OFM Cap. He is a member of the Capuchin Franciscan Order & Parish Priest at St Francis of Assisi Church in Priorswood in Dublin. He's also the author of two books, Tired of All the Bad News and Sending Positive Vibes.

On the Leap of Faith this week, BBC broadcaster Adrian Chiles talks about his conversion to the Roman Catholic Church. We also review the latest film from writer-director Terrence Malick, A Hidden Life, the story of an unsung hero Franz Jägerstätter now Blessed, who refused to fight for the Nazis in World War II.

On tonight's programme, what are the religious influences that contribute to the tensions in the Middle East and is there a role for faith in any possible solution? We talk about epiphanies and also the lesser heard stories about Nollaig na mBan.

On the Leap of Faith this week, we hear from a selection of guests who've spoken on a variety of topics over the past year. Email the programme [email protected]

A festive gathering of guests, including Father Bryan Shortall. author Christine Dwyer Hickey, UCD Chaplain Scott Evans, Dr Aileen Murtagh from St Patrick's Mental Health Services in Dublin, Gurusharan Singh Gogna, Nishita Sawant & Hannah Stern, with the sounds of the Continuum Choir, conducted by Blanaid Murphy, heralding this Christmas morning.

As we look forward to Christmas, we hear of some of the Christmas traditions in Mexico during Posada Navideña. Music composer Michael Holohan tells us of the Irish connections to the well-loved carol Angels we have heard on high, and Professor Cornelius Casey tells us about a conference on Religious Literacy coming in January.

Join Michael Comyn for The Leap of Faith. A programme for people of many faiths and none.

A sculpture of Jesus, depicted as a homeless person on a bench is the focus for World Day of the Poor in Dublin and for more than forty years he has been covering religious and social affairs in this country - Joe Little is in studio to capture some of the key moments.

We talk with journalists, Anne Thompson & Inés San Martín who are in Dublin this week to talk at an event on Media and Faith in a Secular Age. Noel Sweeney was in Dublin's Christchurch as The Sikh Community in Dublin held prayers and a service to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of their Guru Nanak.

Bishop Francis Duffy talks about a new listening initiative in his dioceses. Noel Sweeney reports on how Mexicans living in Cork celebrate the Day of the Dead. We talk with Father Tom Ryan, from Boston, author of several books on the use of Yoga and we remember Gay Byrne and his television series - The Meaning of Life.

Theologian Angela Hanley shares the story of her close friend Seán Fagan with her book 'What happened to Father Seán Fagan? From prayer to sports, animals to fasting, appreciating ways of living in the moment and adopting certain spiritual practices can bring bountiful health benefits, according to biologist and author, Dr Rupert Sheldrake.

Colm Flynn reports from Rome as the Synod of the Amazon comes to an end. Dr Fáinche Ryan, Director of the Loyola Institute talks about Umberto Eco’s historical drama, "The Name of the Rose", and our reporter Noel Sweeney visits Diwali celebrations in Dublin and captures the atmosphere of this festival of lights.