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…)
Oct 18, 2012
This coming Sunday we celebrate Mission Sunday. It about celebrating the hundreds of years of selflessness, compassion and faith that make up the Mission tradition in Ireland. The theme in Ireland this year is Growing in Communion. We have an example of that growing in communion with Aisling Foley, a member of Viatores Christ. “I felt I had left my heart in Africa,” was Aisling’s response when she returned home from her first visit to South Africa.
She had volunteered to work with Home of Hope, a project that provides accommodation and foster care for children at risk. She took redundancy from her job as a solicitor and returned to South Africa for a year. That year has now become three! “I truly believe that I was guided to work in Home of Hope and that my mission is to stay here until God tells me that my work is done,” wrote Aisling. Every day these amazing children I work with teach me so much about tolerance, patience and love and these lessons will stay with me for life.”
Aisling follows in the spirit of Pauline Marie Jaricot, the young French woman who reached out to the needs of the Missions just after the French Revolution. Pauline’s wisdom was that all should be supported, none neglected, especially the most needy. Among Pauline’s achievements was the founding of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith 190 years ago this year. It is the Society that organises the celebration of Mission Sunday each year.
The poster above shows Aisling Foley, a lay missionary from Co. Cork with Neo in her office in the Western Cape in South Africa. Aisling is a member of Viatores Christi and Neo is one of the children with whom she works in a school called Amathemba (‘Our Hope’) for children with Fetal Alcohol spectrum Disorders.
This year the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are starting their volunteering programme with our sisters in South Africa. It’s an opportunity to make a real difference in our world, while having an unforgettable experience that will change your life. If you would like more information simply click here.
Oct 9, 2012
On Thursday coming we’re going to be launching the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Volunteer Programme at the DCU Volunteering Expo. We’ll be in the Venue – Students Union from 11:00am to 3:00pm, so if you’re around make sure to say hello. Below you’ll find details of the Programme.
With the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Volunteer Programme you will work with a community who need your skills, talents and enthusiasm. It’s about being in partnership with others, teaching and learning at the same time, and sharing of yourself in order to make a real difference in your world.
The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Volunteer Programme (MSCVP) is a new initiative that:
– looks to provide enriching, challenging and meaningful short term voluntary experiences.
– seeks to share the talents of our volunteers with our partner projects.
– works towards promoting responsible volunteering in our partner projects in South Africa.
We are looking for young men and women, between the ages of 25 and 40, who are interested in undertaking three months of volunteering work abroad over summer. Ideally applicants should have relevant skills, such as a teacher, mechanic, carpenter, nurse, electrician, doctor, etc. All necessary training will be provided. Part of the expenses for the trip will be provided, but there will be a need for fundraising.
If you would like further information you can contact Fr. Alan on (086) 7857955 or by email fralan@mscvocations.ie
Oct 1, 2012
It wasn’t a promising start. It was a morning of driving rain and misty drizzle as our bus headed through West Cork on the way to Kealkill. Whatever else it was it definitely wasn’t a morning for a pilgrimage. However with a simple prayer we began our 18km walk to Gougane Barra in honour of the feast of St. Finbarr. (more…)
Sep 22, 2012
The most essential piece of kit for the NPC
When people speak of the largest gathering of people in the world they often point to the Hindu celebration of Kumbh Mela, which can have more than 70 million pilgrims in attendance during the festival. As Catholics we often point to World Youth Day. In fact WYD in Manila in 1995 had over 4 million young people in attendance. How many there will be in Rio in 2013 remains to be seen, but we definitely plan on being there. Watch this space!
However all these events pale into insignificance when compared to the largest event in Ireland, the National Ploughing Championships, which will take place from September 25th to 27th at Heathpark, New Ross, Co. Wexford. It’s one of Europe’s largest outdoor exhibitions and agricultural trade shows and it attracts on average 189,000 visitors and 1,100 exhibitors. This year however there’ll be 1,001. I’ll be in attendance, along with some of my MSC brothers for the course of the festival. I’ve got my wellies and we’re ready for anything! We’ll be chatting with people, meeting benefactors and we’ve also got a novel of exploring what it means to have a vocation. It’ll involve centipedes, rotten eggs, moldy cheese and dog food. Enough said!
We’re in the lifestyle and tourism section called Barrow, Stand 756, Row W Block 1. If you’re around next week do drop by and say hello! You’d be most welcome! We’ll be blogging away during the Championship as well.
