Pilgrim progress- a disciple on a journey!

On this day, 29th of September 1998, early in the afternoon, accompanied by my Mam and Sr. Brid, I made my way to the Divine Master Convent in Dublin to begin my official discernment and formation with the Disciples of the Divine Master. It is amazing to believe that 15 years have passed. In those 15 years so much has happened and I can truly say, it has been pure grace. My siblings have grown up and are no longer the 8,10,13 and 15 year olds that I left when I went to the convent. Life goes on and we journey continuously toward our eternal Home. Although the Sunday liturgy takes precedence over the liturgical memorial of the Archangels, the feast is one very close to my heart.So today I celebrate the Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael: Archangels. In my vocational journey, the angels and archangels have always been close to me. The Catechism explains: "From infancy to death human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. 'Beside each believer sta

Maria Bambina doll Today we celebrate a beautiful feastday: The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary or as it is also known: the Feast of Maria Bambina. In some countries, there is a Maria Bambina doll which is displayed in the parish for this feast. Barbie eat your heart out! These dolls are beautiful with handmade clothes tailored often using gold thread, lace, satin, silk and other precious materials. As Disciples of the Divine Master, we receive the name ‘Mary’ when we make our First Profession and the 8 th of September is our common nameday throughout the world as a Congregation. I feel very honoured to bear Mary’s name but sadly we don’t use it as much as we used to, unless there is something serious or for formalities! Kind of like your Mum calling you by all your all your names including your Baptism and Confirmation names. Then you know you’re in trouble! In Italy, we were more accustomed to calling each other by our Marian name, thus reminding us of our mission to b

Praying for Syria and the countries of the Middle East, Syriac Catholic Church, Ottawa Photo: LOR This past Friday, in the Gospel, we are presented with the scene where the scribes and Pharisees say to Jesus, "The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same ; but yours eat and drink." Jesus answers them, "Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days." This text paved the way for pilgrims throughout the world to carry out the invitation of Pope Francis to pray and fast this day for peace in Syria and the countries of the Middle East. The last time a Pope called for a similar day of prayer and fasting was in 2003, when Pope John Paul II did the same before the Iraq war. The Vatican strongly opposed the US-led military actions in Iraq, and now, a decade later, Pope Fr