A Brother's Work is Never Done...

Doing a job I never did before...

The Presentation Brothers here in Dublin are very involved in our local parish, St Joseph's Glasthule.

Br Majella helps out in the sacristy and I assist at weekends with the family mass group. All of the Brothers in our community attend mass daily in the church.

At the moment, I'm helping out with preparations for a little party scheduled for the end of Lent for the children of the parish. Today that involved painting strips of paper onto balloons...don't ask...

All I know is that these are the very small ways that as a Brother I help other people. Sometimes trivial tasks like these slow us down a little and help us to reflect on the idea of service- of giving our time for others in small ways.

Giving our time to others in small ways is a big part of being a Brother.

Lent begins...

Take a look at this video with a reflection for the beginning of Lent.

It's hard to believe that Lent is here again. It's late this year. We almost got used of a springtime without fasting and prayer.

The Church here in Glasthule was packed this morning as people attended Mass to receive their ashes.

"Repent and believe the Good News" - there's a challenge for all of us.

I'm not sure yet what my own Lenten resolution will be. But I think it will involve a renewed focus on prayer. Life is just so busy nowadays that time and space for prayer can too easily be forgotten.

Speaking of prayer- please keep in mind a few men I am in touch with who are currently at the early stage of discerning a religious vocation.

And don't forget to pray for those of us who journey with them.

Happy Lent!