Knock 2010

I'm back in Dublin today after a super weekend at the Knock Summer Festival.

Several hundred young people from all over Ireland gathered for the festival which started on Friday evening with a presentation by our communications director, Andrew O'Connell.

A highlight for me was the chance to listen to and meet Sr Helen Prejan (left). You might remember her from the movie "Dead Man Walking".

It really was a great sign of hope for the future of the Church in Ireland.

All in all it was an amazing few days.

Below:
1. With friends from the Legion of Mary.
2. With Sr Eileen Linehan and Sr Maureen Condon of Vocations Ireland.
3. With some friends from Cork.

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Life after Lourdes...

I'm back at my desk again after an incredible week at Lourdes.

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Like many pilgrims, I struggle to find the words to adequately describe the experience of the past few days.

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There is an atmosphere of prayer at the shrine which I've experienced no where else.

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It's also a place to go to if you need your faith in young people restored. There are hundreds of them there- helping others.

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And it's a place where the sick are treated like VIPs.

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Here are some pics from the week...

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In Lourdes...

I'm not at my desk this week. I'm on pilgrimage in Lourdes with the Irish Pilgrimage Trust. A group of 35 have joined the IPT from St Joseph's Parish in Glasthule.

It's my first time there so I'm excited.

I promise to remember those of you who are discerning your vocation in life at the Grotto.

More on my return!

At Prayer...

Prayer is a central part of my life as a brother. Each morning we spend some time in private prayer in the chapel in our house. Then we pray the Divine Office together as a community.

We also start the day with Mass. I often find that these couple of hours in the morning help me to get through the toughest parts of the day ahead.

We're very blessed to have the Blessed Sacrament in our chapel. It's wonderful to be able to pay a visit at different times throughout the day.

If the life of a religious brother interests you, feel free to get in touch by emailing me at prescall@eircom.net