Pilgrim progress- a disciple on a journey!

It's hard to believe the WMOF is starting. As a community and as a Delegation we have been preparing for this for a number of months and the Sisters are looking forward to participating in the programme as pilgrims as well as being present at our exhibition stand. We decided that the first group would go to early Mass at 7. 30 am in the Poor Clares in Simmonscourt so as to be able to open the stand when the RDS opened at 8 am. I was privileged to be able to give my service in a different capacity, for the clergy registration for the WMOF. Wearing my other 'hat', we had also been preparing for this for a number of months to assist in ensuring all visiting clergy had the proper paperwork from their Diocese so as to be a priest pilgrim at the event. It was an interesting week as we met priests from all over the world, spoke different languages, tried to be a welcoming presence and of assistance to ensure that they had their accreditation. This meant that I wasn't present…

I know, lots of abbreviations there in that blog title but just here to say that that there's great excitement here at our community as we're putting together the last bits and pieces for our participation in the World Meeting of Families in the RDS. We are happy to announce that we have a stand together with our Pauline brothers from the Society of St. Paul (SSP) and our Sisters from the Daughters of St. Paul. You can find us at Stands 114-116 and we'd be more than happy if you come along and say hi.
On our PDDM you'll find our sisters from our Dublin and Athlone communities and even some PDDM visitors who are here for the summer to learn English. You can come and talk to us, leave your prayer intentions for us before the Blessed Sacrament as we pray. We will have a small supply of some of the religious and liturgical articles which are available in our Liturgical Centres in Dublin and Athlone. However the goods we will have at the RDS are very special as most of them…

The following is a talk that I gave in March as part of the Novena of Grace which had as its focus this year, preparation for the World Meeting of Families.
Novena of Grace Halston Street
10th of March 2018
“Preparing in faith for the World Meeting of Families”
Good evening. My name is Sr. M. Louise O’Rourke, a sister from the Congregation, Disciples of the Divine Master. They say the Lord works in mysterious ways, well I think the fact I’m here this evening is proof of that. A chance meeting with Fr. Bryan in the corridor in the Diocesan Offices a few weeks ago has brought me here this evening. When I asked him, what I should talk about, he simply said, ‘just tell the people that God loves them.’ So, if you remember anything from what I’m going to say, remember that God loves you. That’s really the essence of the whole Bible and in particular the Gospel we heard tonight.As well as telling you, that God loves you, I hope to share some thoughts on the theme of the novena: “ Preparing in …

Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Benedict, father of monasticism and one of the patron saints of Europe. During my early days of religious life, I was discerning whether God was calling me to the Benedictine life because of my love for liturgy and my discovery of the Rule of St. Benedict which has so many gems for Christian and religious living. The Rule begins with the words: "Hear and heed my child, the voice of the Master." As I discerned, I realised that the Master for me was the Divine Master and so here I am! As I grew to know more about the charism of Blessed James Alberione, I was so happy to discover that he gave to us a life motto borrowed from the words of St. Benedict: "Ora et labora", that is, "Pray and work." He also gave prominence to the place of St. Scholastica in our spirituality and proposed her discipleship as a model for us. St. Scholastica was the twin of St. Benedict and our first sister was given the religious name …

Heart speaks to Heart- Cor ad cor loquitur! This motto of Blessed Cardinal John Newman is what comes to my mind and heart for the feastday today.
Today and tomorrow we will celebrate the hearts of Jesus and of Mary. Today, the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart -one of my favourites and tomorrow the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Nowadays it seems that the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has been archived back to the time of our grandparents or our parents. I remember in school learning to sing 'Sweet heart of Jesus' with great fervour as taught to us by the Sisters of Mercy. Even now when I hear it, I am still somewhat nostalgic. I doubt somehow that these are the songs which my nieces learnt for their school choir for Mass. also remembered how often we prayed the short prayers to the Sacred Heart in class, in assembly, when we were in trouble or anxious: "Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you" or "Sweet heart of Jesus, make me love you more and more&qu…

PROMO for Adoration Programme in the Chapel of Adoration- Dublin. The pace of life gets faster and faster and we risk being sucked into the tornado of work, meetings, full diaries and professional multitasking. Can we allow ourselves an hour to sit with Jesus? To switch off, no mobiles, no social media. Just face to face with Jesus.
Despite being on a busy N11 and close to the M50 motorway, the Chapel of Adoration at White’s Cross is a quiet haven for those who are discovering a need to digitally detox and reconnect with Jesus. Many call it an oasis of peace and tranquility, a place to recharge and refuel for the next stage of life’s journey. Jesus is present in the Blessed Sacrament and we are blessed to be able to keep him company all day from 8 am weekdays until late evening and from the afternoon until late evening at weekends.
Alongside the sisters, there is a steady stream of people in and out throughout the day at the Chapel. Some people are signed up for a scheduled hour.Others …

The Beatitudes are the Gospel's commentary on "attitude"

Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves; they will always have entertainment.

Blessed are those who can distinguish between a mountain and a molehill; they will save themselves a lot of trouble.

Blessed are those who can rest and sleep without looking for excuses; they will become wise.

Blessed are those who are intelligent enough not to take themselves too seriously; they will be appreciated.

Blessed are you if you can look seriously at small things and peacefully at serious things; you will go far in life.

Blessed are you if you can admire a smile and forget a scowl; your path will be sunlit.

Blessed are you if you can always interpret the attitudes of others with good will, even when appearances are to the contrary; you may seem naive, but that is the price of charity.

Blessed are those who think before acting and who laugh before thinking; they will avoid foolish mistakes.

Blessed are you if you kn…

PRAYERS FOR THE PROTECTION OF LIFE IN THE WOMB
Prayer of Saint Pope John Paul II – Evangelium Vitae
O Mary, bright dawn of the new world,
Mother of the living,
to you do we entrust the cause of life
Look down, O Mother, upon the vast numbers of babies not allowed to be born,
of the poor whose lives are made difficult,
of men and women who are victims of brutal violence, of the elderly and the sick killed by indifference or out of misguided mercy.
Grant that all who believe in your Son
may proclaim the Gospel of life
with honesty and love to the people of our time.
Obtain for them the grace to accept that Gospel as a gift ever new,
the joy of celebrating it with gratitude
throughout their lives
and the courage to bear witness to it
resolutely, in order to build,
together with all people of good will,
the civilization of truth and love,
to the praise and glory of God,
the Creator and lover of life.
Prayer to God the Father of All Life
Eternal God, You have revealed Yourself as the Father of …