Pilgrim progress- a disciple on a journey!

No, you didn't read the title wrong...the Rose of Lima, not the Rose of Tralee. Last night, a familiar tune drifted through the televisions of many Irish households and through the internet for many other international followers. As a tenor belts out the words “The pale moon was rising…” this haunting melody signals that the new Rose of Tralee had been crowned. This year the winner of the Rose of Tralee was Jennifer Byrne from County Offaly (Up the Midlands!). The Rose of Tralee International Festival is a week long festival and is one of Ireland's largest and longest running festivals. It is based around the selection of the Rose of Tralee, an international event that encompasses young women of Irish descent from Ireland and around the world. People sometimes ask if the Rose of Tralee Festival is a beauty pageant. As their website states, “The Rose of Tralee Festival is a multifaceted event that celebrates the many attributes of modern young Irish women.” When we were

The following is an article I wrote for the Irish Catholic after we opened our new house on this day in 2009. What a journey it has been! Opening and Blessing of the Divine Master Centre, White’s Cross, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland 15 th of August 2009 “If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do the builders labour” ( Psalm 127:1) Two years of planning and hard work, 65,000 bricks, 60 tonnes of cement, a Delegation of enthusiastic sisters with their praying communities plus one very big act of faith later saw the solemn opening and blessing of the Divine Master Prayer Centre on the 15 th of August 2009, liturgical celebration of the Assumption of our Lady. The Eucharist was presided over by Rt. Rev. Bishop Dr. Eamon Walsh, Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin, who was joined by concelebrant priests from   the surrounding areas of Dublin, various parts of the country as well as from Italy, India and Africa. So too, family members, religious sisters and bro

The following is a guided holy hour prepared in occasion of our silver jubilee of presence in Dublin, celebrated this year. The Holy Hour follows the method of prayer given to our Pauline Family by Blessed James Alberione- to honour Jesus as Way, Truth and Life. Song: Open the eyes of my heart, I want to see You, I want to see You (x2) To see You high and lifted up, shining in the light of Your glory Pour out Your power and love, as we sing holy, holy, holy Guide: We pray before Jesus as we behold the mystery of the God who became flesh out of love for us. We gather here to pray and spend time wi th the Lord, in silence, in prayer and in song . Each of us have a different story but tonight Jesus has united us in mind and in heart just as He did with the early Christian communities. In   Acts of the Apostles we read: ‘they were all of one mind and one body’. This evening we let our hearts enter into communion with the Lord Jesus and with our brothers and sisters. Let us op

St. Clare (artist unknown) Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Clare. As part of  my ministry in the Office for Religious in the Archdiocese I have the opportunity and privilege to visit the monasteries of enclosed nuns, of which we have 7 in our Diocese. Yesterday evening I had the blessing of celebrating the Transitus of Holy Mother Clare with Evening Prayer and Benediction, followed by some light refreshments with the Poor Clare Sisters here in Dublin. As thousands gathered across the road for the Dublin Horse Show, the chants of the psalms rose up to God amidst commentators calling horses into the showground and commentating the jumps. In a way this was fitting, because just as St. Theresa found God 'among the pots and pans', so too we were recollected in prayer as life went on around us. The little oasis of prayer and solitude is a stop-off point for many people who entrust themselves and their families, especially in times of difficulty, to the prayers of the nuns. Th