by admin | Jul 17, 2012 | Belonging, Community Life, Community Prayer, Engaging Vocations, Ireland, Latest News, Prophetic, Uncategorized
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!
by admin | Jul 3, 2012 | Belonging, Engaging Vocations, Inspiring Others, Latest News, Our Values, Prophetic, UK
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.
by admin | Jun 27, 2012 | America, Compassion, Ireland, Latest News, Prophetic, UK
Leah Libresco has caused something of a stir in the US. Most of us in Ireland and England probably never heard of her, but she’s all over CNN at the moment. In the course of her regular atheist blog, ‘Unequally Yoked: a geeky atheist picks fights with her Catholic boyfriend,’ Libresco announced that she is in the process of becoming Catholic. For Libresco this journey of faith has been about finding one’s moral compass and exploring questions of morality.
“I had one thing that I was most certain of, which is that morality is something we have a duty to,” Libresco told CNN in an interview this week, a small cross dangling from her neck. “And it is external from us. And when push came to shove, that is the belief I wouldn’t let go of. And that is something I can’t prove.” “There was one religion that seemed like the most promising way to reach back to that living Truth,” Libresco wrote about Catholicism in her conversion announcement post, which has been shared over 18,000 times on Facebook.
Such a road to Damascus experience has been equally lauded by churches and pilloried by atheists. For some this is an opportunity to crow about the unassailable truth found in religion in general and Catholicism in particular. For others it marks a phase or an illogical shift into the world of self delusion.
For ourselves though it represents a reminder of the richness of the tradition we have in the Church and, most importantly, the compassion of Christ in reaching out to all people. This mustn’t be simply a case of one-upmanship, because I suspect that the number of Christians becoming atheists is greater than the reverse. We need to be able to enter into reasoned and faithful dialogue with others. Above all we need to follow Peter’s command to be “prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have within in you ( 1 Peter 3:15 ).” It’s more about spreading Good News than winning converts. Above all it’s about helping others discover the vocation that God has for each one of us.
Additional reporting available from CNN
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/06/22/prominent-atheist-blogger-converts-to-catholicism/comment-page-35/#comments
by admin | Jun 20, 2012 | International, Ireland, Latest News, Openness, Our Values, Prophetic, Solidarity, UK
Last Sunday 60,000 pilgrims gathered in Croke Park for the Statio Orbis of the 2012 Eucharistic Congress. This gathering was the culmination of a week’s celebration of hope, exploration of faith and sharing of love. When people were asked what was so special about the Congress the answer that was most often repeated was the atmosphere. There was a real sense of being reminded why we gather in communion; why we share the Word; why we break open the bread, the body of Christ.
It was an opportunity to remind ourselves of the precious gift we receive in the Eucharist. The words on the banner over the altar, Become What You Receive, offered encouragement, as well as a challenge. There has been a great deal of talk in Ireland, England and Western Europe about renewal in our church. If the Eucharistic Congress is to mean anything last Sunday wasn’t the end, but a new beginning.
Photos Irish Times Monday 18th June 2012
by admin | Jun 15, 2012 | Engaging Vocations, Latest News, Prophetic, The People
RTE's Drivetime is one of Ireland's most popular radio shows
One of the Eucharistic Congress’ themes during the week was vocation to priesthood and religious life. During the course of the day a number of people, including myself, were interviewed by the national broadcaster, RTE. We talked about vocation and how God continues to call men and women to follow Him. The Drivetime programme has a listenership of 239,000 people. You can listen to it by clicking the link below.
Fr. Alan’s Interview with RTE
![Something’s in the air at the Congress]()
by admin | Jun 14, 2012 | Engaging Vocations, Latest News, Solidarity
Sharing at the Congress
I got a text from a friend earlier today asking me if the Congress was worth all the effort. After all it’s taken years for planning, loads of work and hundreds of hours of sticking up bunting and stuffing envelopes. The answer though is a resounding YES!
As thousands of pilgrims wander around the Exhibition Hall in the RDS, Dublin, what strikes you immediately is the atmosphere. There’s a sense of celebration and anticipation that can only be found in events like the Eucharistic Congress or World Youth Day. As people take time to look at the stands, plan their day’s workshops, grab a cuppa with an old friend or head to the arena for Mass it’s clear everyone is happy to be here, together.
Taking time out at the Congress
Tuesday dealt with marriage and the importance of family. We had talks from Breda O’Brien, the Grandparents’ Association and Archbishop Hickey from Perth. They spoke of the need for seeing marriage as a three way partnership between God and each spouse. The family, they said, needs to be rooted in faith in order to fully grow and flourish.
Wednesday was a day devoted to vocation, priesthood and religious life. In the morning we had a celebration of religious life, led by Chris Monaghan, Passionist from Australia. Following Chris we had two young religious, who spoke of their vocational journey. Priesthood is not to be undertaken as a personal honour, Archbishop Dermot Clifford told pilgrims during the day. In the words of Pope John Paul II, Archbishop Clifford described priesthood as “unique, indispensable and irreplaceable”. He added that “the title of bishop is one not of honour but of function and therefore a bishop should strive to serve rather than rule.”
