Fr Tommy Lane's Work Promoting the Sacred Scriptures in Cloyne Diocese

I did my seminary training and studied theology at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, County Kildare which is the National Seminary for Ireland and the Pontifical University for Ireland. In the autumn of 1989 I went to Rome as a deacon and began my License in Sacred Scripture at the Biblical Institute in Rome. I was ordained in July 1990 for the Diocese of Cloyne (County Cork in Ireland). I completed the License in Sacred Scripture at the Biblical Institute in June 1992. I then began a Doctorate on Luke-Acts at the Gregorian University in Rome in the Fall of 1992 and submitted it in June 1994 and defended it in December 1994, being awarded Magna cum Laude. The dissertation is published by Peter Lang Press in European University Studies (XXIII/571) entitled Luke and the Gentile Mission: Gospel anticipates Acts. I began my work in adult education the following year, autumn 1995.

My pastoral appointments in the Diocese of Cloyne are as follows:
Cobh, as a deacon during the summer of 1989
Charleville, as temporary associate during the summer of 1990
(During 1991-1992 I helped in the parish of San Francesco in Acilia in Rome at weekends)
Glanworth and Ballindangan, as temporary associate during the summer of 1991
Charleville, as temporary associate during the summer of 1992
Castlemagner, as temporary associate during the summer of 1993
Aghabullogue and Rylane, during the summer of 1994
Carriganima and Clondrohid 1994-1997
Rathcormac and Bartlemy 1997-2004

The following outline of my work in adult education is arranged according to the academic year.

During the Autumn-Winter-Spring of 1995-96 I taught a twenty week course to adults in Macroom and Kanturk, two towns in my diocese, on the Wisdom Literature and Psalms of the Old Testament and the Synoptic Gospels (Matt, Mark, Luke) and Acts of the Apostles of the New Testament.

During the Autumn-Winter-Spring of 1996-97 I taught a twenty week course to adults in Mallow and Castlemartyr, two towns in my diocese, on the Wisdom Literature and Psalms of the Old Testament and the Synoptic Gospels and Acts of the Apostles of the New Testament.

In January 1997 I recorded the CD / Cassette Let's Talk to Jesus which contains four 16 minute guided biblical meditations accompanied by specially commissioned soothing background music.

During the Autumn-Winter-Spring of 1997-98 I taught a twenty week course to adults in Mitchelstown and Blarney, two towns in my diocese, on the Psalms and Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament, and the Synoptic Gospels and Acts of the Apostles. More details

During the Autumn of 1997 I recorded a second CD / Cassette Come, Let Us Adore Him which contains four 17 minute guided biblical meditations accompanied by specially commissioned soothing background music.

During the Autumn of 1997 I taught a five-week course to adults on the Psalms and Gospels of Matthew, Mark Luke in St Kieran’s College, Kilkenny.

I directed a Centenary Retreat for the Sisters of Mercy, Callan, County Kilkenny, in December 1997.

In February 1998 I taught the New Testament to the C.C.R.S. students at the Maryvale Institute, Birmingham, England. The Maryvale Institute is an International Catholic College which specializes in part-time and distance learning courses in Theology, Religious Education and Catechesis.

During the summer 1998, I wrote The Old Testament: a Course Book for the MA in Religious Education and Catechesis for the Maryvale Institute in Birmingham.

During 1998-99 I taught the New Testament to priests in St John’s College, Waterford who were pursuing the B.Th degree.

In December 1998 I set up my former website.

The Old Testament: a Course Book for the MA in Religious Education and Catechesis was published by the Maryvale Institute, Birmingham in January 1999.

From 1999 until beginning to minister in the USA in 2004 I taught the Old Testament module of the MA in Religious Education and Catechesis at the Maryvale Institute, Birmingham each year.

From Feb-June 99 I taught the Pentateuch to the seminarians in St John’s College, Waterford. The seminary closed in June '99 and the seminarians were transferred to St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, County Kildare.

I formed a Lectio Divina group for reading and praying the Sacred Scriptures in Rathcormac Parish during Lent 1999.

During the Autumn-Winter-Spring of 1999-2000 I taught a new twenty week course on the first third of the Old Testament and Paul and the Letters of the New Testament to adults in Mallow and Macroom.

Since Fr Bill was unable to be present for the beginning of his retreat in Knock in March 2000 I was asked to open the retreat.

In June 2000 I taught the Old Testament to the MA students at the Newman Institute in Ballina on behalf of the Maryvale Institute.

I spoke in parishes in Counties Leitrim and Roscommon and was very pleased that one parish formed a weekly Scripture Study Group after my talk.

During the summer of 2000 I began revising the first course I taught in Cloyne Diocese which I had released to the general public via advertisements in the Catholic media, now entitled Enjoying the Bible, making it much more user-friendly for people are unable to attend class. I divided it into weekly lessons with each lesson containing, Scripture reading, Scripture study and prayer with Scripture.

I completed the revision of Enjoying the Bible.

During the Autumn-Winter-Spring of 2000-2001 I taught a twenty week course on the first third of the Old Testament and Paul and the Letters of the New Testament to adults in Blarney and Castlemartyr.

I gave a series of Lenten talks in the parish of Knocknaheeny in Cork City and a talk in Stockport in the UK.

During the Autumn-Winter-Spring of 2001-2002 I taught a twenty week course on the first third of the Old Testament and Paul and the Letters of the New Testament to adults in Fermoy and Kanturk.

I made two new recordings, An Hour with Jesus which is a holy hour devoted especially to praying for peace and Your Word is my Lamp which is the most popular talk on the Scriptures which I have given in many venues.

I co-authored with Dr. Petroc Willey of the Maryvale Institute, Birmingham, UK, a series of new coursebooks for a new Scripture course for adults in parishes entitled Listening to the Word. The course handbook and the workbooks on 1 & 2 Thes, 1 & 2 Cor and Matthew were published.

During the Autumn-Winter-Spring of 2002-2003 I taught a twenty week course on Matthew, Mark, Luke and Acts and the Psalms and Wisdom Literature, Daniel and Maccabean Revolt to adults in Youghal and Midleton.

I made two new recordings. The first, Our Life, God's Gift, is a holy hour devoted especially to thanking God for the gift of life and praying for life. In one meditation during this hour I lead you into prayer with Jesus through every stage from conception to birth accompanied by specially commissioned soothing background music. The reaction from listeners was, "It should be in every home." The second recording, The Word was Made Flesh, is a popular talk on the the humanity of Jesus in the Scriptures which I have given in many venues. Many people said they found it easier to pray after listening to this talk. My second recording, Come, Let us Adore Him!, released in the autumn of 1997 was translated into Polish and distributed in Poland by Radio Plus, in Lódź, Poland. Its title in Polish is Biblia w Medytacji. Come, Let us Adore Him! in English sold out in December 2002.

I co-authored with Dr. Petroc Willey of the Maryvale Institute, Birmingham, UK, the new workbook on Acts for Listening to the Word.

I released to the public the second Scripture Course I taught in Cloyne Diocese, Enjoying Paul's Letters and the Old Testament. It covers the letters of the New Testament and the first third of the Old Testament.

During the summer of 2003 I added video to this website.

I was spiritual director of a pilgrimage to Spain and Portugal.

During the Autumn-Winter-Spring of 2003-2004 I taught a twenty week course on John and the Prophets to adults in Mallow and Macroom.

I gave a parish mission in Atlanta.

I was spiritual director of a pilgrimage to Spain and Portugal.

As Assistant Professor of Sacred Scripture in Mount St Mary's Seminary, Emmitsburg, Maryland, from 2004 until now I have taught the following courses:

My duties in the seminary also involve Formation Advising and Spiritual Direction.
I also offer pastoral assistance in parishes surrounding the seminary and have helped at retreats and parish missions.