Religious Output on RTÉ, Advent & Christmas 2020

Date/Time
10 Dec 2020 until 31 Dec 2020
12:00 am

In response to Government restrictions due to COVID-19, RTÉ is continuing to schedule additional religious content during the months of November and December, subject to review as pandemic restrictions are lifted. These include Mass every weekday at 1030am and Sunday worship on Sundays at 2.15pm on the RTÉ News Channel.

Sunday 13th December

1110-1155 On the 3rd Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday, Bishop Pat Storey celebrates a Eucharistic Service with a diverse group of Anglican women priests, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of women’s ordination in Ireland. Participants include the Very Rev. Susan Green, the Ven. Ruth Elmes, teh Rev. Gillian Wharton, the Rev. Nicola Halford, the Rev. Cathy Hallissey, the Rev. Katherine Poulton and the Rt Rev. Michael Burrows. (RTÉ One with a transmission on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/ LW252 at 11.00am)

1415-1500 Mass on the 3rd Sunday of Advent. Location TBC. (RTÉ News Channel)

Sunday 20th December On the 4th Sunday of Advent, Fr Michael Toomey celebrates Mass in the RTÉ Studios, Donnybrook, with musicians and parishioners from Holy Family Church, Ardfinnan, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary. (Simulcast on RTÉ One TV & RTÉ Radio 1 Extra / LW252)

1415-1500 (TBC) The Way of the Crib (working title). The people and churches of Tullamore & Mount Mellick, Co Offaly, come together for a uniquely Irish “promenade” telling of the Nativity story. (RTÉ News Channel)

Thursday 24th December (Christmas Eve)

1600-1715 The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin. Traditional and modern carols and hymns, sung by the magnificent Choir of St Patrick’s Cathedral, directed by Stuart Nicholson, and interspersed with readings from the Old and New Testament to celebrate the birth of a saviour. Led by the Dean of St Patrick’s, the Most Rev. William Morton. This year, the sole congregation for the Service will be on radio and online and there will be no collection plate for the €120,000 that is usually raised for charities during this Service.. (RTÉ Radio 1, all platforms)

2000-2100 Dublin Civic Carol Service from St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street. Canon David Gillespie leads the annual Dublin Civic Carol Service. The Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Michael Jackson, and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Hazel Chu, will participate. Others reading lessons this year are connected with the response to the Covid-19 pandemic and include the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ronan Glynn; Dr Colman O’Loughlin, President of the Intensive Care Society of Ireland; Hilda Plant, a chaplain at St Vincent’s University Hospital: Dr Nicola Ryall, a consultant in rehabilitation medicine at the same hospital, Garda James MacCafferty; Ian Talbot, Chief Executive of the Irish Chambers of Commerce and RTÉ news anchor Bryan Dobson. (RTÉ News Channel)

2030-2035 (TBC) An Irish Nativity (working title). An imaginative and uniquely Irish re-telling of the Gospel Nativitiy story. (RTÉ One TV)

2110-2205 (TBC) Christmas at Home. Mary Kennedy and Ruth Smith present a Carols show like no other. There are no massed choirs in castles this year, but Mary, Ruth and their guests are all the more determined to bring the light and warmth of Christmas into Irish homes. Filmed all across the country, from Cork to Clare, Dingle to Durrow, Maynooth to Dublin, the show includes a rich and varied array of musical talent, including Lisa Hannigan, Loah, Celine Byrne, Úna Healy, Ray Lynam, Mick Flannery, teenage YouTube sensation Allie Sherlock, Aoife Granville, the Dingle Wran Boys, the Maynooth University Chamber Orchestra, Schola Gregoriana, the National Seminary Choir, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and Cor na nÓg. Other guests, who will each add their own inflection to thoughts of home this year include Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, Sister Stanislaus Kennedy, Imelda May and Donnah Vuma, a Zimbabwean asylum seeker who has made Ireland her home. (RTÉ One TV)

2300-Midnight Midnight Mass live from the church of St Finian, Clonard, Co. Meath. 1500 years ago, St Finian founded a monastery in this place. The faith, scholarship and missionary vision of its monks helped to keep the light of Christian civilisation alive across Europe during the Dark Ages. Tonight, St Finian’s light burns brightly once more, as the parish is the hub of a live Eurovision broadcast, beamed across the contintent. The main celebrant is the parish priest, Fr. Tom Gilroy, with music from Clonard Musical Ensemble, directed by Tally Claffey. (Simulcast on RTÉ One TV and RTÉ Radio 1 Extra / LW252.)

Friday 25th December (Christmas Day)

0720-0815 (TBC) Christmas at Home. A repeat of last night’s Carols show, presented by Mary Kennedy and Ruth Smith. (RTÉ One TV. Rpt.)

0800-0900 The Leap of Faith. Michael Comyn offers a festive mix of warmth, music, inspiration and humour in the company of a variety of duly socially distanced guests. (RTÉ Radio 1, all platforms)

0955-1000 (TBC) An Irish Nativity (working title). An imaginative and uniquely Irish re-telling of the Gospel Nativitiy story. (RTÉ One TV)

1000-1100 Réalta Órga Ríogacha. Fr Brian Ó Fearraigh presents a reflection on the year and the season, with festive music. (Raidio na Gaeltachta)

1000-1100 Mass on Christmas Day. Live Eurovision Mass from Morges in the French-speaking canton of Switzerland, with commentary and translation by Mary Kennedy. (RTÉ One TV & RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/ Longwave 252 simulcast.)

1100-1145 Aifreann do Lá Nollag le Athair Gearóid Ó Gríofa in Séipéal na Deastógala, Camus, Connemara. (Raidio na Gaeltachta)

1100-1145 Service for Christmas Day. The Church of Ireland Dean of Ossory, the Most Rev. David MacDonnell leads a Service in the RTÉ studios, Donnybrook, with members of the choir and parish of St Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny. (RTÉ One TV. This Service can also be heard on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra / LW 252 at 11.00-11.45)

1145-1210 (TBC) Urbi et Orbi – At the end of this most challenging year, Pope Francis offers “to the city and the world’ a message of prayer and hope, together with his traditional blessing – from St Peter’s Basilica, Rome, with commentary and translation by Fr Michael Collins. (RTÉ One TV)

1210-1220 (TBC) The Archbishops’ Christmas Message. The Catholic and Church of Ireland Primates of All Ireland, Archbishop Eamonn Martin and Archbishop John McDowell, offer a shared Christmas blessing to people in all parts of Ireland, North and South, reflecting on a year in which faith has helped many people find the resources to reach out in solidarity and to discover hope and resilience during the pandemic. (RTÉ One TV. This message can also be heard on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/LW252 at 1305- 1315)

Sunday 27th December

1100-1145 Aifreann ó Séipéal Naomh Eoin, Tralee, Contae Chiarraí le Athair Francis Nolan. (Raidio na Gaeltachta)

1110-1155 To mark tomorrow’s Feast of the Holy Innocents, a Service of Remembrance for Families affected by Infant and Pregnancy Loss. The Rev. Daniel Nuzum, leads the Service in UCC’s Honan Chapel and elsewhere in Cork University Maternity Hospital. (RTÉ One with a transmission on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/ LW252 at 11.00am)

Sunday 3rd January

1110-1155 Methodist Covenant Service. The President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Rev Tom McKnight, leads the annual Service of renewal and re-commitment – a tradition begun by John Wesley, but with even older roots. (RTÉ One with a transmission on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/ LW252 at 11.00am)

Sunday 10th January

1100-1145 Mass. Fr Joe Joe McDonald, Parish Priest of Celbridge & Straffan, Co. Kildare, celebrates Mass in the RTÉ studios, Donnybrook, with singers and members of the parish. (Simulcast on RTÉ One TV & RTÉ Radio 1 Extra / Longwave 252.)

Sunday 17th January

1110-1155 Heralding a Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, Lutheran minister, the Rev. Martin Sauter, and Methodist Lay Preacher Lesley Rankin lead members of a number of denominations in a Service of prayer and worship. (RTÉ One with a transmission on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/ LW252 at 11.00am)

Sunday 24th January

1100-1145 Marking the start, the next day, of Catholic Schools Week, students from Oatlands College, Stillorgan, Dublin, provide music for this Mass in the RTÉ studios, Donnybrook. (Simulcast on RTÉ One TV & RTÉ Radio 1 Extra / Longwave 252.)

Sunday 31st January

1110-1155 A Service celebrating the work of the Royal School of Church Music, with music led by Blanaid Murphy. (RTÉ One with a transmission on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/ LW252 at 11.00am)