Nov 30, 2012
Exciting news! Today marks the beginning of the exploreAway vocation discernment programme. Six people have begun the five weekend course that looks at how God is moving in their lives and inviting them to follow him. It’s a gentle, relfective time that gives space and quiet to share, pray and discern. The course will be facilitated by myself and Sr Gabrielle O’Farrell OLA. There’ll be inputs from members of a number of different congregations on areas like vocation, life journey, prayer, the vows and religious life.
We’d ask for your prayers for all those taking part in the course and for all those discerning their vocation at this time. We all have a role to play today in promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
Nov 23, 2012
Exciting doesn’t begin to describe it. It doesn’t do it justice. Are there even words to adequately explain what’s it like to have over 3,000,000 young Catholics sharing, exploring and celebrating their faith. A lot of the time people say, “You would have had to have been there.” This is one of those rare occasions when they’re actually right.
Next year’s celebration of World Youth Day in Rio promises to be one of the biggest youth gatherings in history. But it’s more than just a get together or simply a party. It about being a member of a universal Church, which includes people from all over our planet. It reminds us that, as Catholics, we have something to share and to celebrate. (more…)
Aug 25, 2012
The call of the disciples doesn’t really make a whole lot of sense. Jesus, after spending time in the desert reflecting on who he was and what his Father was calling him to do, invites an unusual group of people to follow him. These are the men who are going to help him proclaim good news, to bring healing to the broken and to reveal the presence of a loving God to all. In these days of human resource management and professional recruitment there are criteria that must be fulfilled, references to be checked and qualifications to be earned. To this end one could have asssumed that Jesus would have chosen from among the powerful, the learned and the influential. But our God is a God of surprises and He rarely acts in ways we aniticipate.
So it was with the apostles. In Luke 5 Jesus invites Simon Peter and his companions to put out into deep water, to respond to an invitation that seems pointless. The resulting catch is astonishing and it opens Simon Peter’s eyes to the fact that something extraordinary is happening. Once again Jesus invites Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John, but this time to do something far more profound. Their true vocation is to become fishers of men and women. Jesus wasn’t interested in the external trappings that people valued, as much today as back in his time. What Christ was looking for were people with a heart that was open to God’s call, not when they were ready, but when he needed them.
I’ve only been involved with vocation promotion for less than a year, but it’s been a powerful experience. It’s about journeying with people and listening to their story and how God continues to love, challenge and call them. For some they are thinking of becoming a priest, while others are interested in consecrated religious life. Very often though there is a sense that people feel that they don’t have enough faith; they are not holy enough; or maybe that they are not ready. But if we are going to wait until we ourselves are ready, well that day will most likely never come. Sometimes we need to take the risk, we need to leave our nets behind and we need to follow God’s call. If you look at the life of Peter and how he shaped his world and built up the people of God, it all began with that simple invitation to “Come and follow me.” That’s your invitation too. What’s your answer?
Jul 17, 2012
It’s almost time. We’re nearly there. At the end of this month the Knock Youth Festival is kicking off. The Festival is for all people between the ages of 17-30. It is a chance to come away and experience something amazing. Hundreds of young people will gather together on the 28th of July for a day with a difference. Drumming, Gymnastics, Elation Ministries,Trocaire, Magis, inspiring speakers, practical workshops, celebration of the Eucharist, chill out time, a chance to meet new people. The festival is FREE, all you have to pay for is your food. The day will begin at 12:00 and finish at 6:00pm. There are some buses coming from around the country. For more information click here.
Last years event saw over 600 people coming together, this is what they said….
‘The atmosphere in the chill out marquee was relaxed and welcoming. The weekend overall was one to be remembered’.
“It was great!! Countin down till next year already!!” says one festival goer.
“I had a brilliant time at the Youth festival. I will definitely be back again next year” said another.
In the run up to the Festival young people from the dioceses of Clogher, Raphoe, Kilmore, Elphin and Achonory will take part in a pilgrim relay. Young people will begin their walk in Lough Derg and walk to Knock Shrine, starting on the 22nd July. This walk will be organised by the different dioceses.
While your in the West, why not climb Croagh Patrick on ‘Reek Sunday’ Sunday the 29th of July. It is an amazing experience to climb the Holy Mountain with thousands of other pilgrims that will make the climb that day.
For any further information on the event you can contact me at fralan@mscvocations.ie or get in touch with the fantastic Knock Youth Team by clicking here.
Jul 17, 2012
Earlier this week on RTE, Ireland’s national broadcaster, John Creedon went behind the grille at the Poor Clare Convent in Galway. He was given a unique opportunity to see what happens in the convent and to chat with some of the community. It was a fascinating insight into the lives of the many sisters living lives of contemplation, coupled with creative outreach to the world around them.
It was wonderful to hear the vocation’s stories of the different women. They came from a wide variety of backgrounds and from all around the country. The University of Galway seemed to be an especially good place for vocations! What was most striking was the humanness of their individual stories. Whether they were working for the County Council or studying for a business degree before they entered they were united by a sense of God calling them to do something special. We tend to think that joining a religious congregation is counter cultural today, but it seems that it has always been the case. In an interview with one of the older sisters, John was informed that when she joined her family kept all her old clothes, because they assumed that she’d never last in the convent. You can watch the interview by clicking here. It runs from 36mins 56secs to 45mins 6secs.
Asking the sisters for their prayers and support has always been a strong tradition in the Poor Clares. Their community in Galway has taken it a step further, embracing the internet through the development of a new website. This initiative is in response to Pope John Paul II’s call that monasteries and convents should be schools of prayer and that they would continue to offer to today’s world an authentic experience of God. You can check out their website by clicking here. Judging by its popularity, as well as their Facebook page, it’s clear that people are open to their message and engaged by their spirituality and way of life – perhaps now more so than ever!
Jul 3, 2012
Aylesford Friary, in Kent, was alive last weekend with music by the MOBO nominated Jahaziel and Indecisive; workshops on a range of issues relevant to young people today; and a sense of celebration that has to be experienced to be believed. Each year hundreds of young adults gather from all over England and beyond for the Brightlights Festival to celebrate and share their faith. The tone of the three days is always relaxed and there is something for everybody. This year’s theme was 12: Ears that hear, eyes that see, focusing on discipleship. It was about a invitation to journey, beginning with the Feast of Ss Peter and Paul, and listening to where God was calling you in your life.
In addition to all the craic there were gentle and reflective liturgies throughout the three days. In addition to morning and night prayers we celebrated a number of liturgies of the Eucharist, as well as the Sacrament of Reconciliation. These experiences were enhanced by the work of the RISE Drama Group and the composition of original music for the occasion by Edwin Fawcett.
This is all part of what it means to come to Brightlights. There is an atmosphere here that is truly unique. It’s about building community and recalling that each of us have unique vocation, but also a common calling. It reminds us that we have a phenomenal message to share with the world if only we have those ears to hear and eyes to see. It is an event that the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart have been delighted to support and hope to continue into the future.
