tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8452598831744627252024-03-05T16:59:14.929+00:00The Blogging BrotherThe blog of the Vocations Director of the Anglo Irish Province of the Presentation Brothers.Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.comBlogger339125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-31912928335175894652018-05-01T19:23:00.003+01:002018-05-01T19:32:47.773+01:00Blessed Edmund Rice Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cXiP3OGkSWlfPqZVejcofirgzU2LfGn1GPDlBj96rmWzrS9wZBZdudWwhLXsdtZAizikVq2SWhdrGBXUXzvqzspcaix-L-FhaQ8qSR-90xzjovrEQIDFCvSZKpIlUR8weps_EhHeMPpZ/s1600/Blessed+Edmund+Rice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="533" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9cXiP3OGkSWlfPqZVejcofirgzU2LfGn1GPDlBj96rmWzrS9wZBZdudWwhLXsdtZAizikVq2SWhdrGBXUXzvqzspcaix-L-FhaQ8qSR-90xzjovrEQIDFCvSZKpIlUR8weps_EhHeMPpZ/s320/Blessed+Edmund+Rice.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Greetings to all! Today, 5th May, is the feast of Blessed Edmund Rice, our Founder. I want to wish you all every blessing on this special day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Edmund was a man with a vision for his time but it is also for our time. Our values and norms are often focused on ourselves and not on those on the margins. We must be willing to put Christ back in our lives and follow both Him and Edmund so that we can be a beacon of light to the world around us-to our communities, our parishes, our families and our young people.</span><br /><br /><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">Let us focus today on the man called Blessed Edmund and see what we can do in the 21st century that would inspire more men to join us and continue the mission of Blessed Edmund.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">If you wish to learn more about the Presentation Brothers, don't hesitate to get in touch. I'm at; vocation@presentationbrothers.org</span></span></span></div>
Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-53748403030365684372018-05-01T19:12:00.001+01:002018-05-01T19:12:40.651+01:00May is Mary's Month<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Today is ‘la Bealtaine’ which translates as May
Day. It’s a day that goes back many generations in Irish culture and history.
It officially marks the arrival of summer ‘though it may not feel like it just
yet. It was a day when the cattle were released to summer pastures. At the
heart of Bealtaine is a reminder of growth and abundance at this time of year.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">The month of May has traditionally been a time of
special devotion to the Mother of God. A memory I have of growing up in a
loving, faith-filled home was of my mother erecting the May altar with a statue
or portrait of Mary, surrounded by flowers. Parish grottos were attended to and
there were May traditions in many parts of the country. I came to discover
later that we, Presentation Brothers, have a special devotion to Mary and are
named after the Presentation of Mary in the Temple. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Here in our community, in Glasthule, we have a series of three talks to
honour our Lady during the month of May. You are welcome to join us. (cf. events@presentationbrothers.org) <br /><br /><span style="background: white;">Let's seek her intercession for all those who are
discerning their vocation. Let today's young men and women echo her words,
"Be it done unto me according to thy Word".</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-43752466255013050612018-04-27T11:03:00.001+01:002018-04-27T11:03:07.184+01:00Saints needed...!<br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Here's a little reflection for you...It has
appeared on a lot of Facebook pages and is often attributed to Pope Francis. It
almost certainly wasn't written by the Pope but appears, at least, to be
inspired by him...<br />
These are the kind of people we need in the Presentation Brothers too! If you
would like more information, send me an e-mail
vocation@PresentationBrothers.org</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Saints</b></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">We need saints without veil
or cassock.</span></div>
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We need saints who wear jeans and runners.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><br /></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">We need saints who go to the movies,<br />
listen to music and hang out with friends.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">We need saints who put God in first place,<br />
but who let go of their power.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><br />
We need saints who have time every day to pray.<br />
We need modern saints, Saints of the 21 Centenary,<br />
with a spirituality that is part of our time.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">We need saints committed to the poor<br />
and the necessary social changes.<br />
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We need saints who live in the world and<br />
who are sanctified in the world,<br />
who are not afraid to live in the world.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">We need saints who drink cola and eat hot dogs,<br />
who wear jeans; who are internet savvy<br />
and who listen to CDs.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><br />
We need saints who passionately love the Eucharist<br />
And who are not ashamed to eat a pizza<br />
at weekends with friends.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">We need saints who like the cinema,<br />
theatre, music dance and sports.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">We need saints who are social, open, normal,<br />
friendly, happy and who are good companions.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">We need saints who are in the world</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">and know how to taste the pure<br />
and nice things of the world</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">but who aren’t of the world.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-7308444438024657782018-04-03T10:32:00.001+01:002018-04-03T10:32:29.361+01:00Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It takes only a few moments of reflection to realise that I
have to love something really deeply to bring it back from the dead. It is
self-hatred and disregard for others that keeps our world the way it is. It is
a lack of care on the part of some that imprisons communities and even nations
into endless cycles of poverty, neglect, starvation, unemployment and
hopelessness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">If I love sufficiently, our seas and waterways would be clean
again, stars would reappear, trees would be healthy and green. Moreover, the
strained relationships in families, work-places, offices and schools, the
strange distances between colleagues and family members need only a smile or a
word of love and acceptance to be healed. Who can love enough to resurrect our
world and all who dwell in it? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The only great love that can deal with all this is to focus on
the Easter celebration. It is God’s immense love for Jesus, the Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God demonstrated boundless love and affection
for Jesus in a resurrection. Jesus is swept up by God’s immense love and stands
alive with a new kind of life, proclaiming peace and acceptance to all his
friends, even to those who had denied and deserted him in his greatest need.
Jesus associates us with himself and elicits from God the same kind of creative
love that God has for him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Best wishes to you all for a blessed and peace-filled Easter!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-56715810916665195192018-03-06T21:36:00.001+00:002018-03-07T12:20:44.374+00:00Discerning in Lent!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Part of a regular medical
check-up is to have tests taken of your pulse, blood pressure, a heart check
and perhaps a blood test. With the season of Lent, there is the invitation for
a spiritual check-up – one that lasts for forty days!</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Just as many of us do not
like visiting doctors, many of us may not like the season of Lent. Perhaps it
is for the same reason. Are there issues I may not wish to face up to? Perhaps
I am not as well as I would like to be; perhaps changes in life-style will be
called for, when I would prefer to continue as I am. Nevertheless, in both
cases, I know it is for my benefit and I am being irresponsible if I avoid
looking after body, mind and spirit. I don’t know about you, but the above
certainly applies to me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Lent can perhaps be seen as
a check-up on how well we have been transformed into the mind, heart and vision
of God. St. Paul puts it like this: do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern the will of
God – what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2) </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Let us use the remaining time
of Lent to examine our minds and hearts and to commit ourselves to
transformation and renewal so that we truly can “discern the will of God” – what
is good, acceptable and perfect”! </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you wish to learn more about the Presentation Brothers, don't hesitate to get in touch. I'm at; vocation@presentationbrothers.org</span></div>
<br />Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-82092373630169943702018-02-14T09:21:00.004+00:002018-02-14T09:21:37.803+00:00St. Valentine<div class="date-outer" style="background-color: #111111; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5px;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees";">Wednesday, February 14th, is of course St Valentine's Day, a day when we talk about love more than usual. A lot of the discussion you hear today will be light-hearted and fun.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees";">But who was St Valentine? There are some conflicting accounts but we know he existed and his remains have been identified in the catacombs of Rome. This feast day has been celebrated for 15 centuries!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees";">Three things you need to know:</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees";">1. He was a Catholic <b><span class="StrongEmphasis">priest</span>. </b></span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees";">2. He was <span class="StrongEmphasis"><b>arrested</b></span></span> <span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees";">for tending to the needs of the persecuted Christians of Rome. </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees";">3. He was <span class="StrongEmphasis"><b>executed</b></span></span><b> </b><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees";">for refusing to renounce the Catholic faith during the persecution of Roman Emperor Claudius.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees";">For men and women discerning a vocation, then there is an obvious resonance here.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees";">For a start St Valentine answered the call to serve by embracing a religious vocation. Secondly, he served those in need and risked his own life to do so. Finally, he refused to deny his faith and has since been remembered as an icon of love. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees";">It's ironic that at a time when celibacy and chaste love are dismissed, the day on which the world celebrates love is in fact a day in honour of a priest who died for his faith!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees";">(Take time to read this beautiful reflection below)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Fall in Love</span></b><br /><i><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Attributed to Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ (1907–1991)</span></i><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Nothing is more practical than</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees"; font-size: 10.5pt;">finding God, than</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees"; font-size: 10.5pt;">falling in Love</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees"; font-size: 10.5pt;">in a quite absolute, final way.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees"; font-size: 10.5pt;">What you are in love with,</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees"; font-size: 10.5pt;">what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees"; font-size: 10.5pt;">It will decide</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees"; font-size: 10.5pt;">what will get you out of bed in the morning,</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees"; font-size: 10.5pt;">what you do with your evenings,</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees"; font-size: 10.5pt;">how you spend your weekends,</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees"; font-size: 10.5pt;">what you read, whom you know,</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees"; font-size: 10.5pt;">what breaks your heart,</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees"; font-size: 10.5pt;">and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Fall in Love, stay in love,</span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial, tahoma, helvetica, frees"; font-size: 10.5pt;">and it will decide everything.</span><br /><br /><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="post-author vcard" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 1em;">Posted by <span class="fn" itemprop="author" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><a class="g-profile" data-gapiattached="true" data-gapiscan="true" data-onload="true" href="https://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689" rel="author" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration-line: none;" title="author profile"><span itemprop="name">Brother Rupert O'Sullivan</span> </a></span></span><span class="post-timestamp" style="margin-left: -1em; margin-right: 1em;">at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://thebloggingbrother.blogspot.ie/2017/02/happy-st-valentines-day.html" rel="bookmark" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration-line: none;" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" itemprop="datePublished" style="border: none;" title="2017-02-12T10:30:00Z">10:30 AM</abbr></a> </span><span class="reaction-buttons" style="margin-right: 1em;"></span><span class="post-comment-link" style="margin-right: 1em;"><a class="comment-link" href="http://thebloggingbrother.blogspot.ie/2017/02/happy-st-valentines-day.html#comment-form" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: nowrap;">No comments: </a></span><span class="post-backlinks post-comment-link" style="margin-right: 1em;"><a class="comment-link" href="http://thebloggingbrother.blogspot.ie/2017/02/happy-st-valentines-day.html#links" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: nowrap;">Links to this post</a> </span><span class="post-icons" style="margin-right: 1em;"><span class="item-control blog-admin pid-954075034" style="display: inline;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=845259883174462725&postID=8058084749712630940&from=pencil" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Edit Post"><img alt="" class="icon-action" height="18" src="https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif" style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: none !important; border-width: initial; margin: 0px 0px 0px 0.5em !important; position: relative; vertical-align: middle;" width="18" /></a></span></span><div class="post-share-buttons goog-inline-block" style="display: inline-block; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; position: relative; vertical-align: middle;">
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<span style="color: #333333;">MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017</span></h2>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="3403969378006958776"></a><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
<a href="http://thebloggingbrother.blogspot.ie/2017/02/a-culture-of-encounter.html" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration-line: none;">A Culture of Encounter</a></h3>
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Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-32522852979104016272018-02-02T09:29:00.000+00:002018-02-02T09:29:16.435+00:00The Feast of St. Bridget! <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">The beginning of February is traditionally associated with
the heralding of the start of spring and the arrival of fertility to
the land. The land dormant during the winter months begins to stir and new life
embarks on its journey towards the light. Precious seeds, deep within the soil
are germinating, awaiting the breath of spring to accompany them to the earth’s
surface.<br />
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These are days when we are invited into our own spring space – a space where
new life is stirring, awakening and becoming, a space full of potential and
possibility. These are days of rebirth and re-growth, of renewal and
resurrection. Then with their first appearance they adorn the earth with their
beautiful presence and remind us of resurrection.<br />
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The 1<sup>st</sup> of February marks the feast of St. Brigid,
patroness of Ireland, and we celebrate this great woman of prayer and her
great devotion to God and neighbour. She dedicated her life to God and to the
poor. She became known for her good works and many young women were inspired to
follow her.<br />
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The following day is the feast of the Presentation of the
Lord. We conclude a year of celebration for Consecrated Life as
we celebrated the many priests, brothers and sisters whose faith, devotion and
commitment influenced many of our lives. We remembered the young men and women
who continue to discern a call to priesthood or religious life. We continue to
pray for them all and thank God for their lives of quiet dedication.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">We also celebrate the feast of St. Blaise on the 3rd of February, whose
life was very simple and ordinary. He is known worldwide for his care of those
who were sick and particularly those with ailments of the throat. Many churches
will give a blessing on the day. If you can't make it to a church, then
our own quiet prayer to St. Blaise will be just as effective and
important. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><br />
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</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">At the beginning of
spring, maybe now's the time to go deeper in your discernment journey...<br />
<br />
I'm always available at </span><a href="mailto:vocation@presentationbrothers.org"><span style="color: #336699; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">vocation@presentationbrothers.org</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"> if you'd like
more information.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-14427695328271871782017-12-28T18:44:00.001+00:002017-12-28T18:44:36.957+00:00Cristus Natus Nobis, Venite Adoremus!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Advent has reached its end! The waiting is over! As we look at the infant in the manger we are not only reflecting on a wonderful moment in history - we are also challenged to find room in our hearts for the birth of Christ. A night of sublime comfort and extraordinary challenge!</span></i></div>
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Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-61795707586999628962017-12-03T10:55:00.001+00:002017-12-03T10:55:35.678+00:00Waiting in Joyful Hope!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 12pt;">These early days of December are marked by the beginning of our journey through Advent. It’s not a word you will find in many shopping catalogues. How many of us get excited about Advent and yet it is a season full of meaning and symbolism?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin “Adventus”, a name which means coming or arrival. The prayers of Advent touch on each person walking in some darkness and also awaiting and anticipating a great light. It is a time for us to hear those quiet whispers in our lives of a God gently calling us from darkness into light. Advent is a reminder of how we need this light more than ever in our own lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Life certainly moves fast and particularly in the run in to Christmas. Time appears to be going faster and everything takes on an air of urgency. Waiting for many of us may not be our greatest forte and we go directly to celebrating Christmas without getting in touch with that part of ourselves that is reflective, trusting and hoping.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">Joseph, the husband of Mary can only wait with her, loving and supporting her and their unborn child, but unable to accelerate the process. Unless we step aside from all of this and reflect on this great event and its relevance to us, take time to see where we fit into the bigger picture, we have failed ourselves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;">The season of Advent is an opportunity to step aside. The sheer speed of life today can literally choke and block out those beautiful, simple and ordinary moments that no money can buy. Advent gives us the chance to appreciate that we are indeed on a privileged journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="post-author vcard" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 1em;">Posted by <span class="fn" itemprop="author" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person"><a class="g-profile" data-gapiattached="true" data-gapiscan="true" data-onload="true" href="https://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689" rel="author" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration-line: none;" title="author profile"><span itemprop="name">Brother Rupert O'Sullivan</span> </a></span></span><span class="post-timestamp" style="margin-left: -1em; margin-right: 1em;">at <a class="timestamp-link" href="http://thebloggingbrother.blogspot.ie/2015/12/advent.html" rel="bookmark" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration-line: none;" title="permanent link"><abbr class="published" itemprop="datePublished" style="border: none;" title="2015-12-05T16:26:00Z">4:26 PM</abbr></a> </span><span class="reaction-buttons" style="margin-right: 1em;"></span><span class="post-comment-link" style="margin-right: 1em;"><a class="comment-link" href="http://thebloggingbrother.blogspot.ie/2015/12/advent.html#comment-form" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: nowrap;">No comments: </a></span><span class="post-backlinks post-comment-link" style="margin-right: 1em;"><a class="comment-link" href="http://thebloggingbrother.blogspot.ie/2015/12/advent.html#links" style="color: #6699cc; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: nowrap;">Links to this post</a> </span></div>
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Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-7964177162165869472017-11-18T13:53:00.000+00:002017-11-18T13:53:36.024+00:00Happy Presentation Day!<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">November
21</span><sup><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">st</span></sup><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt;">, the feast of the Presentation of
Our Lady - is the feast day of the Presentation Brothers and
Presentation Sisters. It is an occasion each year when we celebrate our call
and mission as religious men and women in
the Presentation Congregations. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZ7g8KLylU-sbqyTY6tYEj8NpwFIZ_AYwbdouAiN3jwqDIqz7GK1FXCthfu00c7gKKPcajTVcNYst98K74-vXycfXWFbLYA2FKDYXHcz2WPl6jP8jg_xErw2qziipiQhYdHf0ZI6aJ1-e/s1600/Presentation+of+the+BVM+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="411" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJZ7g8KLylU-sbqyTY6tYEj8NpwFIZ_AYwbdouAiN3jwqDIqz7GK1FXCthfu00c7gKKPcajTVcNYst98K74-vXycfXWFbLYA2FKDYXHcz2WPl6jP8jg_xErw2qziipiQhYdHf0ZI6aJ1-e/s320/Presentation+of+the+BVM+2011.jpg" width="247" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The feast recalls a Jewish
custom whereby young Jewish men and women went to the Temple of Jerusalem to
dedicate their lives to God.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">In this feast we remember that
Mary <b>PRESENTS </b>her life to God. Mary in turn <b>PRESENTS </b>Jesus
to the world. This is the ideal of the Presentation Brothers and Sisters - to
do their best to present Jesus Christ in the world today by the example of our lives. The
mission of the Presentation Brothers is </span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Forming Christ in the Young</span><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Christmas ads are already appearing
on our television screens. They remind us of a time of year that is fast
approaching. Part of Christmas is the giving of gifts. The challenge for those
of us as Presentation religious is to present our lives as a gift to
others. Each one of us is blessed with many gifts, we may not think so but we
are a gift to others. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“Never doubt the power of a small
group of committed people to change the world, for indeed, it’s the only thing
that ever has.” – <b>Margaret Meade</b> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">During the week the Presentation
family around the world celebrate the Feast of the Presentation. All associated
with the Presentation Family, communities, schools, friends, and young people
are invited to join with the Presentation Brothers in celebrating this great
feast.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">For those of you informing yourselves
about your future careers, I encourage and challenge you to keep the option of
serving others as a Presentation Brother or Sister among your list of options.
Do not be afraid, have courage, be risk takers and explore this option. I
believe people need the witness of Brothers and Sisters in a world where there
is so much suffering, pain and division. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">For those of you discerning your
vocation in life - know that you on this special Feast dedicated to Mary our
Mother, are held in our thoughts and pr</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">ayers.</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-43869648160369696612017-11-01T11:28:00.000+00:002017-11-01T11:28:32.861+00:00In November we Remember!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXg_3De1ztRRRpvgjOHHbYkGz-RLE70JAgoUuK1VWJPllB6i49vqDXHeUN1NMzHwtE1_R4HFFKTkWHahlmSGDjoWFK453t4lsYnjeIfqqinM3xzPOV_nR1wuWZ0SEEnKAl7hxmqJo5teyd/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="170" data-original-width="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXg_3De1ztRRRpvgjOHHbYkGz-RLE70JAgoUuK1VWJPllB6i49vqDXHeUN1NMzHwtE1_R4HFFKTkWHahlmSGDjoWFK453t4lsYnjeIfqqinM3xzPOV_nR1wuWZ0SEEnKAl7hxmqJo5teyd/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 13pt;">We celebrate the feast of All Saints
on November 1</span><sup style="color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">st</sup><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 13pt;"> which reminds us that October 31
truly is All Hallows Eve. It is the beginning of the last month in the
Church’s Year so we call on all the saints of all time to intercede for us
before the Lord. We have many saints in the Church calendar. The Church devotes
the month of November to prayer for our loved ones beginning with All Souls Day
on November 2</span><sup style="color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">nd</sup><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 13pt;">. Often overshadowed by the two days preceding it,
Halloween (Oct. 31st) & All Saints Day (Nov 1</span><sup style="color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting";">st</sup><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 13pt;">), All Souls Day
is a solemn celebration commemorating all of those who have gone before us!
Indeed, the Church encourages us during the month of November to take time to
pause, remember and pray for all our loved ones. </span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-line-height-alt: 11.15pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">But the month is not limited to the
many saints whose names are in the calendar and are celebrated at an
appropriate date with a feast day and memory. It includes all the faithful
departed who have gone before us and are now in the presence of the Lord. The
vast majority of these are not canonised but are known to those with whom they
lived and loved. We all know many good people whose lives were exemplary and a
testament to all those around them. During the month of November, we have all
of these in mind as we remember with confidence our saints.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-line-height-alt: 11.15pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Many people pay a visit to a cemetery
with a flower or a night light. ‘<i>It is a holy and a wholesome thought to
pray for the dead that they may be freed to eternal life’</i>. In prayer
we are in God’s presence and we believe we are in some way in communion with
our loved ones. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-line-height-alt: 11.15pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">We may wish of course to avoid
talking about death, we don’t like being reminded of our mortality. Woody Allen
famously quipped, “I’m not afraid of death; I just don’t want to be there when
it happens.” It strikes a chord because that is how many of us deal with death.
We joke about it while keeping our real thoughts and fears to ourselves.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-line-height-alt: 11.15pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Some of our deceased relatives we got
to say goodbye to, while others left us before any goodbyes could be exchanged.
By remembering our deceased in prayer or by visiting their resting place is an
attempt at saying we haven’t forgotten them and that they will always be a
special part of our lives. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-line-height-alt: 11.15pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">It’s a custom too in Ireland to
abstain from alcohol and or cigarettes during the month of November. Fasting
and sacrifice help us to focus our mind on prayer. ‘I’ve given up alcohol. And,
yes, it’s tough!’ As we spend the month recalling the example of people of
faith who went before us, spare a thought for your future too. Would life as a
religious help you to be the saint that you are called to be?</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-line-height-alt: 11.15pt;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">May all our loved ones who have died,
rest in peace!</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-6680929054552781972017-10-21T11:42:00.000+01:002017-10-21T11:42:18.699+01:00Happy Halloween!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6gIPIJKrbGLfhk5PFrgv9ZUYOYuhYPstxE8A6eHu5p34AjpLBsWKBQfaBS9er079QIPCKiRlwq66aMUvvsOQyGlVrgvZRXwBF00cXaOQApv4_no94vXzKY_f7Pr-8fw2pTpN2ADRqLq8/s1600/Halloween.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc6gIPIJKrbGLfhk5PFrgv9ZUYOYuhYPstxE8A6eHu5p34AjpLBsWKBQfaBS9er079QIPCKiRlwq66aMUvvsOQyGlVrgvZRXwBF00cXaOQApv4_no94vXzKY_f7Pr-8fw2pTpN2ADRqLq8/s1600/Halloween.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt;">We are about to move from the month
of October to November and there is a sense of time slipping by very quickly. A
reminder of that is in the shops and at the entrance to our houses. They are
awash with ghoulish and macabre Halloween outfits and accessories. Grinning
skulls, skeleton costumes and fake tombstones can be purchased. Witches’
broomsticks and wizards’ wands are accompanied by various images and symbols
marked with an RIP. It’s all very different from the simple
Halloween apples and nuts festivities of my childhood. Rightly so, time moves
on and social habits change. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><br />
The word Halloween has been corrupted with time. It's full title is ALL HALLOWS
EVE, which means 'the evening before All Saints'. 'Hallow' is another word for
holy or saint. We meet it in the common version of the Our Father. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Halloween has its origins in Celtic
times associated with the ancient Gaelic festival of '</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Samhain</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">', which was a celebration of the end
of the harvest season and take stock of supplies and prepare for the winter. It
was at this time of the year a celebration of the transition from light to
darkness was ritualised. Our Celtic ancestors also believed that the boundary
between our world and that of the dead was very thin; they believed the spirits
of the dead returned. The veil between this world and the next was at its
weakest, demons crossed over from the beyond and extracted their revenge on
those they felt scorned by, carrying you or yours back to hell with them.
People wore masks and costumes to mimic or appease the spirits. I wonder if the
death-themes in our Halloween celebrations are an attempt to recapture the
spirit of the Feast of All Souls, on November 2, when Christians remember and
pray for their deceased relatives!</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">We may think Halloween is silly
nonsense driven by commercialism and a waste of money. In recent times, it is
very much a children's feast with their custom of dressing up in various scary
costumes and visiting the houses in the neighbourhood. At the door they shout
'Trick or Treat' - implying that they would play some trick on the people
if they did not receive some treat from them. Children love it and always will.
Halloween has a lot to offer. It can put us in touch with the mystery of life
and that some things in life are often clouded in darkness. It puts us in touch
with the struggle between light and darkness and the struggle between good and
evil. Halloween may have pagan origins but it embraces the Christian message
too. It’s a simple Halloween message that God calms, encourages and reassures
us, especially when we struggle with darkness, evil, mystery and the unknown.
Enjoy a happy and safe Halloween
break! </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-72753275907564184042017-10-12T12:04:00.000+01:002017-10-12T12:04:25.300+01:00October we celebrate Mission Month<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJfFlWE3RNirfMgLaySjNR2CyNP4CRfvgr_It5qKt0sOi3nZKtlXc8JCTvQg0ABalydlqEygZ8ZAVeEbyacnJcpkfzYZ5e_GQYKpyQn_9HU23E1affmQxVjEaxLu2tHhNSUpL9zBOhpLX/s1600/Mission.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="167" data-original-width="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJfFlWE3RNirfMgLaySjNR2CyNP4CRfvgr_It5qKt0sOi3nZKtlXc8JCTvQg0ABalydlqEygZ8ZAVeEbyacnJcpkfzYZ5e_GQYKpyQn_9HU23E1affmQxVjEaxLu2tHhNSUpL9zBOhpLX/s1600/Mission.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 13pt;">Each year
the focus is put on mission during the month of October. In the past when we
thought of mission we thought of the thousands of heroic Irish women and men
who went all over the world giving of their time to work with people in
spreading the Gospel. There are in excess of 1,000 Irish missionaries serving
throughout the world. During the month of October, we celebrate the work of our
missionaries, remembering them in our prayers and asking God's blessing on the
good work that they do.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">However,
we have a wider sense of mission today. Pope Francis gives us the theme for
World Mission Sunday on 22<sup>nd</sup> October 2017, when he says, ‘Mission is
at the heart of Christian Faith’. In his message for World Mission Sunday, he
focuses on the need to gather round the person of Jesus and to heed his call to
“proclaim the Gospel of the love of God the Father in the power of the Holy
Spirit”. He also emphasises the Church’s role as being “missionary in nature”
and that “young people are the hope of mission”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Every
Christian is a Missionary. Today every country is mission territory, every
Christian, each one of us is called to witness to the joy of the Gospel in our
families, in the factories and on the farm, in offices and schools and in the
places where we socialise. Being a missionary in this sense can be as simple as
an encouraging word, a smile, reaching out to a neighbour in need, being with
people who grieve, encouraging or being patient with the young or the old. That
is how the Gospel is spread. And for most of us that ‘home mission’ is the
difficult challenge we face every day.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: BatangChe; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">If you
would like to be a missionary or wish to find out more about the Presentation
Brothers, don't hesitate to drop me an email at: vocation@presentationbrothers.org. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-34176257554649937202017-10-02T11:03:00.001+01:002017-10-02T11:04:10.153+01:00A Visit to the Ploughing Championships!<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida handwriting"; font-size: 10.0pt;">‘No one who puts their hand to the
plough and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God’ Lk. 9:62.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqneIOt7qUnOzPRNKJs960RARfD1OI0GQHYsGftJ8KpRvZTCv_ICzyPPQ5z4Zo6-4RH1DZbV4N_bcv4A_r47N18fWHzli2VU0zaVWya_lHmMLZgQBnXRvr81nc1Yx519g1dSDn2M1DWdhO/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="620" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqneIOt7qUnOzPRNKJs960RARfD1OI0GQHYsGftJ8KpRvZTCv_ICzyPPQ5z4Zo6-4RH1DZbV4N_bcv4A_r47N18fWHzli2VU0zaVWya_lHmMLZgQBnXRvr81nc1Yx519g1dSDn2M1DWdhO/s320/image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida handwriting"; font-size: 12pt;">I always enjoy a day at the ploughing championships maybe because of the
happy memories I retain from growing up on the family farm. The world and his
mother beat a track to the ploughing every September. It is Europe’s largest
outdoor event with in excess of 280.000 visitors attending this year’s event in
Screggan, Tullamore. Local farmers provided 600 hundred acres of their land to
meet the requirements for the ploughing events, parking and approx. 2,000
exhibits. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida handwriting"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I was representing Vocations Ireland. I shared a stand with Franciscans
OFM. NET Ministries Team joined us for the three days. We were kept on our toes
with the footfall to our stand which was very encouraging. People were
requesting prayers of all kinds; children were seeking prayer cards for their
pets and animals. Farmers a blessing for their land and others a prayer for
sick friends. Wrist bands and crosses were also in great demand. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida handwriting"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It is said that people who are close to the earth are close to God and
to the beauty of God’s creation. Jesus uses many images from the
land in his stories in the Gospels. He uses the image of the plough. “No one
who puts their hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of
God”. The person who is constantly looking back will get nowhere. Too much time
is wasted and lost in looking back. Nothing can change anything we have done in
the past. Getting it right now gives us much more control in doing things
better. God wants us to move focus on the job at hand and move forward in hope.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida handwriting"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If you are interested in finding out about the Presentation Brothers,
don’t hesitate to email me at the following address</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt;">;</span><a href="mailto:vocation@presentationbrothers.org"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12.0pt;">vocation@presentationbrothers.org</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt;">.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-21234962377721667832017-09-26T21:44:00.000+01:002017-09-26T21:46:44.478+01:00Vocations Ireland NET Team<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BW5N8zkDzNin9GNsrAuPJwosdp0UQR1vFLd7D-rS56CqyN-9nUC8Ld4olLdXhYnzSgZxzCn6syOPHrw3MbPWTcyMXXVrEof-9Iow0rCPQ-7VWkv4CcIzNDoBLjg5ab1e1yqF7qmiL_Qv/s1600/Capture+-+Copy.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="890" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BW5N8zkDzNin9GNsrAuPJwosdp0UQR1vFLd7D-rS56CqyN-9nUC8Ld4olLdXhYnzSgZxzCn6syOPHrw3MbPWTcyMXXVrEof-9Iow0rCPQ-7VWkv4CcIzNDoBLjg5ab1e1yqF7qmiL_Qv/s320/Capture+-+Copy.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14pt;">NET Ministry
(National Evangelisation Team) is an international voluntary movement
consisting of teams of young adults. Their mission is to share faith through
personal witness of God’s love for them and invite young people with whom they
engage to get to know God’s love in their lives. They do this by giving of
their time, nine months possibly in another country as a NET Missionary. It was
a privilege to meet with the NET Teams in Rossnowlagh, in August and especially
with the team who are now working with Vocations Ireland.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">The NET Ministry
volunteers spend six weeks in preparation for their mission sharing their own
faith journey and building team relationships. They engage with thousands of
youth each year in schools and parishes throughout Ireland and elsewhere. A
team of six will work in schools and parishes in Kilkenny, in parishes in Dublin
and Dundalk. They will work with the Presentation Brothers Evangelisation
Programme in Glasthule, Co. Dublin and use the centre for some of their activities.
The Team members are; Conor and Vanessa from Canada, Rachel and Rene from the
U.S. Pierce from Ireland and Alex from Scotland. They will be with us ‘til May
2018. </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Their ministry is
to Parish groups as well as doing encounter days in schools, facilitating
retreats and engaging with youth. They also initiate Sunday morning Family
Programmes in their associate parishes. They work with young adults from their
Parish to prepare them with the necessary skills to continue the programs once the
NET Team departs. They are a lovely, talented, inspirational and happy group of
young people and well worth getting to know.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">(</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida handwriting"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Should you
wish to contact the team, you can email them at; vocationsirelandnetteam@gmail.com) </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-67137368788706943022017-09-10T19:33:00.004+01:002017-09-10T19:33:49.283+01:00New Beginnings<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44YjJu8UZR0KUPN2SslCk8Lw-0u4mFpRiJgYlyr7s-EAtLO9l8p2a3-WaEfrPpewmx0mqu6wFlcPnEr9-LAAGTlZTs69-IvMYasRONtqvVfeNSrjE2-1qr2D4QvBJb8iAplNMKL2k6sTc/s1600/nenw+beginnings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44YjJu8UZR0KUPN2SslCk8Lw-0u4mFpRiJgYlyr7s-EAtLO9l8p2a3-WaEfrPpewmx0mqu6wFlcPnEr9-LAAGTlZTs69-IvMYasRONtqvVfeNSrjE2-1qr2D4QvBJb8iAplNMKL2k6sTc/s1600/nenw+beginnings.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The words of
St. Augustine, “If you aspire to great things, begin with little ones, remind
me the summer holidays are over” thus signalling a return to work, to school
and the halls of academia. The return can be both a stressful and an enjoyable
experience. Much will be achieved but always in small steps.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As we welcome the month of September, my hope
is that all of us, irrespective of age or disposition will be open to new
beginnings and to new possibilities in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I enjoyed a visit to Rossnowlagh, Co Donegal
recently to meet with forty passionate, enthusiastic young people in their
faith from NET Ministries (National Evangelisation Team). They are an
international voluntary movement consisting of teams of young adults. They were
preparing to embark on mission to selected schools and parishes during the next
nine months. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">They were
spending six weeks in preparation for their mission sharing their own faith
journey and building team relationships. They will engage with hundreds of
fellow youth in schools and parishes throughout Ireland and elsewhere. It was a
privilege to meet with the team who will be working with Vocations Ireland for
the coming year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Lord grant
me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the
things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Blessings
for the year ahead! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-8763176058782014532017-07-09T10:54:00.003+01:002017-07-09T10:54:48.378+01:00Summer is here.<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoVqpSS3tfRti8oSVNYvzV2V-fA3tvvxGYFR4Wn7TqDm9zY9OF8ZItuU1-AYfu5wVFI8p6Pk7tAuTC5HGpaCpAc8L9JqKxTVx48go7swn_rhQa2quZ_vxP9EUszqQ8bv_k0u3Eo8ySobl/s1600/download+%25281%2529+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoVqpSS3tfRti8oSVNYvzV2V-fA3tvvxGYFR4Wn7TqDm9zY9OF8ZItuU1-AYfu5wVFI8p6Pk7tAuTC5HGpaCpAc8L9JqKxTVx48go7swn_rhQa2quZ_vxP9EUszqQ8bv_k0u3Eo8ySobl/s1600/download+%25281%2529+-+Copy.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Summer
holidays are in the air. Our weather is warm and sunny. Days are long and
bright, airports are busier than usual, strawberries and ice-cream is popular
again - all announcing that summer is here. The schools have closed until late
August or early September, and university exams are all but over. Families are
making plans to get away to the sea-side or take a break. Despite what St. Paul
seems to be saying in </span><i style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Romans 8:9, 11-13</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">,
we really do owe a debt to the flesh, in the sense that we have a
responsibility to care for the bodies with which God has blessed us. Our
bodies, minds and spirits all need to be renewed and refreshed from time to
time, and, for most of us, summer is the traditional time for that.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Paul’s focus is on a theme he often repeats: If
we engage in dull, destructive, repulsive pastimes, we’ll naturally end up
dull, deadened and repulsive. And that’s hardly an expression of appreciation
to the God who loved us into life. The debt we owe to the flesh is to revive
its energy, to bolster it up, to prepare it to encounter life’s stress.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
Mt. 11, 25-30, we hear Jesus’ invitation to rest. And it’s an invitation that is supported by
his action. The Gospel writers make frequent references to his going off by
himself to rest and pray. Without rest
and renewal, we do, in fact, reduce our productivity, and become irritable,
prickly and testy. All too often, rest and holidays fall into the category of
privilege rather than necessity. I am
reminded of a cartoon that depicted a family on a beach outing, all in swim
wear - dad is sitting under an umbrella tapping away at his laptop, mum is seriously
talking on her I-phone, and two teenage children are fully engrossed in electronic
games. Even on holidays, we feel the need to be constantly connected with the
business and people we have left behind, through emails, texting, What’s App,
Facebook and other social media. Perhaps we might need to consider that rest
for the weary and heavily-laden is as much a matter of justice as of anything
else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">What’s
more, we may well benefit from reflecting on some of the implications of
accepting Jesus’ invitation: “Come to me, all you who labour and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.” Is it an invitation we accept with eagerness? When
did you and I last respond to it with joy? In reality, I can use busyness as a
means of keeping myself away from a personal encounter with Jesus, of keeping
God at a distance. Accepting Jesus’ invitation implies getting close to him,
and that can make me uncomfortable. I
may have to ponder some of his questions and reflect on his challenges.</span>Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-82677797470579081002017-06-21T12:15:00.000+01:002017-06-21T12:15:22.563+01:00Eucharist Procession <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmlnU4VpzKrE-zSvI-1H5tFiD_c7m6sO5c0v-XC4MkF9V9tmNMo67vYJtcof-OxvFw-GD5uD86Xn-OAiiR0LKcKRMHSb7ycyVp8FyxMbZ7NWdTFNs2ankWFKZ-2rLylslSwaPsGD48J-i/s1600/download+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="327" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsmlnU4VpzKrE-zSvI-1H5tFiD_c7m6sO5c0v-XC4MkF9V9tmNMo67vYJtcof-OxvFw-GD5uD86Xn-OAiiR0LKcKRMHSb7ycyVp8FyxMbZ7NWdTFNs2ankWFKZ-2rLylslSwaPsGD48J-i/s320/download+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">The sun
reigned on the ninety second Annual Eucharistic Procession on Sunday 18</span><sup>th</sup><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
June, 2017. It is a significant part of Cork’s Religious Heritage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
procession takes place on the Sunday afternoon nearest to the feast of “Corpus
Christi”. People walked from the North Cathedral of St. Mary’s and St. Anne’s and
gathered in Daunt Square. Bishop Buckley, of Cork brought the Blessed Sacrament
from the Cathedral to Daunt Square where there was a religious service
consisting of prayers, readings and hymns. On arriving in Daunt Square, Bishop
Buckley first blessed the sick and infirm in a special reserved area near the
altar. Bishop William Crean, Bishop of Cloyne preached the homily.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The idea of
a Eucharist Procession through the City of Cork is that it is a public witness
to faith. It celebrates the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist and also in
people today, when we gather as a community of brothers and sisters and reach
out to people in need. Many Catholic groups who contribute to the life of the
city attended the procession. Cork’s multi-cultural nature was on display
during the procession, with members of the Asian, African and East European
communities in the city in attendance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The ceremony
was live-streamed to facilitate households, patients in hospitals, nursing
homes and Cork people around the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Bishop
Buckley thanked the City Council, the Gardai, the Civil Defence, order of Malta
and St. John Ambulance brigade for their assistance with the procession. He
thanked the Church of the Incarnation choir for their singing, particularly
soloists Jessica O’Connell and Ramelo Gregorio, and paid tribute to the
organising committee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-89571328817769805572017-06-11T20:41:00.002+01:002017-06-11T20:41:50.275+01:00Remembering All Students Doing Exams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-34w1ASFr9GEBe6V_suviPbdU-N3yAQ58PjO1Lm3QBQphZuBNW575kLZiduMTo4yakFQdQflqEOaaPgCgMLLRoHOobkkoMzEs0-F1ZX_zeKcIQDmkskomp4_gaPcP3wO0KCqkq3NMMkJ/s1600/Students+exam+pressure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="90" data-original-width="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-34w1ASFr9GEBe6V_suviPbdU-N3yAQ58PjO1Lm3QBQphZuBNW575kLZiduMTo4yakFQdQflqEOaaPgCgMLLRoHOobkkoMzEs0-F1ZX_zeKcIQDmkskomp4_gaPcP3wO0KCqkq3NMMkJ/s1600/Students+exam+pressure.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">Lord, today I am just really
stressed. You know, Lord, that I am having some trouble with the test I am
about to take. I know it's probably not the biggest world problem, with people
starving, people turning away from you, people in wars, and more. But, Lord,
it's what I'm facing right now, and I need you in this time. I know that no
problem is too big or too small for you to handle, and I need to turn this
stress over to you to help me with.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Lord, I just need to be able to
focus. I need your help to look at this information so I can remember and apply
it well on my exam. I need you to help me feel more confident going into the
test and relax a bit so I can concentrate. Lord, please help the people around
me to understand that I need to focus and study.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Also, Lord, help me when I walk into
the exam. Give me the peace, when it is all said and done, to know that I
walked in and did my best. I pray, Lord, for your guiding hand as I take the
exam, and I ask for your welcome calm when I walk out of the classroom after.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14pt;">Lord, thank you for all the blessings
you have placed in my life. Thank you for being here in this time when I feel a
bit overwhelmed. Thank you for always being there and allowing me to rely on
you. Praise your name. Amen.</span></div>
Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-43005439907051215492017-05-28T14:49:00.002+01:002017-05-28T14:49:35.686+01:00Chapter 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Gvyo_f8LepmzPiVNj6C8On4EjlWjf8DX2JQrkLTGWvbgCpyeX_Hm2OgjkczIjsdkEd_SLjOKwsCmeGBzvrOivLJJgwzlekZgiAAVXxjJGr1kA-sV8TliV5SwV7ZrC3qE7T5AVuj4aYzT/s1600/Chapter+Logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="123" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Gvyo_f8LepmzPiVNj6C8On4EjlWjf8DX2JQrkLTGWvbgCpyeX_Hm2OgjkczIjsdkEd_SLjOKwsCmeGBzvrOivLJJgwzlekZgiAAVXxjJGr1kA-sV8TliV5SwV7ZrC3qE7T5AVuj4aYzT/s1600/Chapter+Logo.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-size: 12pt;">The curtain came down on our Chapter (Assembly) after Easter in Rome. A sense of quiet satisfaction reigns as Brothers reflect
back on the two weeks and allow ourselves the credit of a job well done. Guided
by the facilitator, Sister Catherine Ryan, a direction for the next six years
was charted.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">It was a good experience being at
Villa Palazzola. It was an opportunity to meet with Brothers from other units
around the congregation. It was for me a prayerful, reflective time and a time
of inspiration and openess. I enjoyed the sense of Brotherhood, the communal dimension
of shared meals, laughter, negotiating the stone stairways, the walks and
beautiful scenery, the various liturgies, and the opportunties to share faith, A
graced time! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">On the final day, participants
departed by taxis for the various airports or other places. We were happy that
the Chapter was a graced moment and a wonderful experience. Jesus was among us and
the Spirit was present in many moments of invitation and challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #555555; font-family: "inherit",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">A Chapter Statement will eventually
be shared more widely and its inspiration will inform decision-making across
the wider Congregation of the Presentation Brothers. We wish the new Congregation
Leadership Team success and many blessings. They will be supported by the
prayers and good wishes of many. For updates from the Chapter, you are welcome
to visit; <i><u>chapter
2017.presentationbrothers.org</u></i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-21773292984873401342017-05-28T12:44:00.000+01:002017-05-28T12:44:04.457+01:00“It Spreads like Wildfire” <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ub809HYZct1Tb97BzeV4DlGwMDOFkfD0oSnbLc6Xc3nNoHRw31OU1btHJj-A6AIuk5k_pivT-VnR2UIVNtYfJy9-g_BNQy6JmFozTBDk0MNb4Hv59mFkXXhC8h6t8d_bGKYW5lVmq-ei/s1600/21-days-of-the-holy-spirit-blog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="261" data-original-width="576" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ub809HYZct1Tb97BzeV4DlGwMDOFkfD0oSnbLc6Xc3nNoHRw31OU1btHJj-A6AIuk5k_pivT-VnR2UIVNtYfJy9-g_BNQy6JmFozTBDk0MNb4Hv59mFkXXhC8h6t8d_bGKYW5lVmq-ei/s320/21-days-of-the-holy-spirit-blog1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida handwriting"; font-size: 12pt;">When I read the account of the coming
of the Holy Spirit from the Acts of the Apostles, I think our God has a sense
of humour! It seems that the coming of the Holy Spirit on the early Christians
at Pentecost was by no means a quiet or gentle event; it was a noisy, chaotic
and somewhat disorganised affair! Certainly, I think that if many of us were
given the responsibility for the official “launch” of the Church (which is what
Pentecost is about), I think we would organise it far more efficiently –
noises, tongues of fire, people speaking different languages – no way!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida handwriting"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The poem “Pentecost” by the 19<sup>th</sup> century
poet William Blake captures some of the power of the scene, with the repetition
of the phrase “catch fire”. When a piece of news or gossip gets around quickly,
we say it “spreads like wildfire”! By its very nature, fire jumps from one
thing to another, burning more intensely the more it spreads as was evidenced
in the West of Ireland recently.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida handwriting"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The symbol of tongues of fire is apt
then. The arrival of the Holy Spirit propels the apostles from the room where
they were huddled out into the street. They cannot contain themselves as they
begin to preach and spread the Good News far and wide – like wildfire.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "lucida handwriting"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Perhaps what Luke (the author of
Acts) wants to convey to us is that God does not always act in a way that is
humanly reasonable. God does not meet our expectations! Our God is a God of
surprises! The feast of Pentecost should teach us to be open to the wonderful
and amazing things God can do in our lives. There is noise, chaos, many
different languages in our world and in our Church today and as disciples of
Jesus, this is our time. We are called to engage and embrace this diversity in
a positive way. The <i>Catholic</i> Church is at its best when it is
precisely that – truly <i>Catholic, </i>with a welcome and a place
for everyone. So, let us not be afraid of entering into the confusion of our
times – there we will find God.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-7924067226265827062017-04-08T21:59:00.000+01:002017-04-08T21:59:20.728+01:00Be Patient! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I find the readings at Mass during this Easter season joyful and life-giving.
Aside from the beautiful Gospel readings on Sundays there are other very interesting
passages. They are very relevant to those of us who live in the Western
World where the Church faces many pressures.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">The Acts of the Apostles reminds us that times were difficult also for
the first Christians. The early Church faced challenges from
within and without. Challenges from within were of hypocrisy (Acts 5:
1–3); murmuring (Acts 6 – 1) and doctrinal questions (Acts 15: 1).
The major external challenge was one of persecution (Acts: 4: 1-3; 5:
17–18). The challenges that face us as we follow Christ are both internal
and external. Persecution of Christian minorities is all too common today. The
threat to Christians and Christian places of worship is now a worldwide
phenomenon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">In reflecting on the readings of these weeks I also think of the
question, “Who will roll away the stone?” posed by the women on their way
to the tomb. I find an answer from St. Paul when he reflects on the
struggle that is part of human life in Romans 7, telling us, “It is the Lord!”<br />
<br />
The stone is rolled away and we are opened up to new possibilities, new life
and seeing things radically differently. This is accomplished by God. Our
task is to allow it to be done.<br />
<br />
The strange thing is that on entering the tomb the women learn that Jesus is
risen, but at this stage they don’t see or experience the risen Lord. They must
wait awhile. For each of us Jesus may be risen but we may have to
wait awhile before we come to experience this as a lived reality.<br />
<br />
Patience is an important virtue for all of us but especially for men and women
who are discerning religious life. Maybe, when discerning our future, we too
must be patient until we see and experience where the risen Lord may be leading
us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">Perhaps, as we approach the Church’s Holy Week when Our Lord himself was
crucified, we, his followers shouldn’t expect to be treated otherwise. With
hope, we await the Resurrection. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">P.S. I will be in Rome for our Chapter Assembly ‘til the end of April.
The blogging brother will return in early May. A Blessed Easter to all my
followers! For further updates on our assembly cf. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.presentationbrothers.org/utube"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;">www.presentationbrothers.org/utube</span></a></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-IE;"> channel link. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-45847111547414313772017-03-31T09:15:00.000+01:002017-03-31T09:15:15.273+01:00 Living forward – understanding afterwards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxekoczwWsJu7rnGw-C83K88_ILo3cnAa6rqxlV94uThpruhJ3cpwmQ35nxvatBFhL0lInv8qE2SJ0rbwfcyat_k0ZQ1Tr28QL70SVH5yY4AyRA97xaWsUwuhnj3NAAIQe3kNfoLR6TaH2/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxekoczwWsJu7rnGw-C83K88_ILo3cnAa6rqxlV94uThpruhJ3cpwmQ35nxvatBFhL0lInv8qE2SJ0rbwfcyat_k0ZQ1Tr28QL70SVH5yY4AyRA97xaWsUwuhnj3NAAIQe3kNfoLR6TaH2/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Not a day
goes by without our being confronted with the reality of death. We receive
phone calls informing us of the death of friends, relatives and colleagues. We
reach out to neighbours who have lost a loved one through illness, suicide or
accident. Our T.V news networks show us graphic pictures of terrorist
atrocities that claim scores of lives. In the face of all that, this story
assures us that God’s love, reflected in so many ways by prophets, saints and
ordinary, decent human beings, is stronger than death. The clear message is
that God favours not death but resurrection. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Coming as it
does on the Sunday before Holy Week, the gospel story of the raising of Lazarus
from the grave is effectively a preview of the resurrection of Jesus. I often
wondered, did Jesus know of events in advance? Was it all kind of “mapped-out?”
I don’t think so. He felt deeply the pain of people and he took part fully – he
was not like an actor passively going through the motions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Did Jesus
know as he stood (4 days late) before the tomb of Lazarus – “that will be me
not long from now? A stone, even a few guards and precious few to mourn.” Did
he know how things would turn out?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I always
like the child’s statement in class who said that this is a story of Jesus
bringing us back to life no matter how “stinky” we become. I agree. It would be
nice if we realised that there is life before death as well as after. I do not
believe that we have to wait until our physical death to experience
resurrection on some level. If you like, our entire life is a series of deaths
and resurrections. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What Jesus
is asking us to do in this story is to look at living and dying in a completely
new way. We have to look at it not just in reference to the last day, but in
relation to the present, to the deaths we experience in our daily lives, when
we lose people close to us, when our close relationships fall apart, when
family members just don’t come home, when others laugh at us, when we fail to
live up to our own values and expectations, when our human frailty gets the
better of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Belief in
Jesus and his message strengthens us to see all those kinds of “deaths” in a
new way. That kind of trust and belief in Jesus helps us to see that
resurrection is already here. So, instead of complaining, instead of lapsing
into grief, depression and despair, I am encouraged by Jesus to trust the power
of God’s love at work in me and see God’s love and unfailing source of renewal
and life. The words that Jesus addresses to Lazarus: “Unbind him, let him go
free” are meant to resound beyond today’s reading into my life. Jesus invites
me out of the graves in which I can so easily bury myself; out of the graves of
anger, self-pity, bitterness, desire to get even, or anything else that binds
me from experiencing the richness of God’s life and love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">As a
consequence to that, as a disciple of Jesus, I am urged to free other people
from their graves of embarrassment, shame, fear, addiction, or whatever is
keeping them bound up without freedom, life or hope.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-50730159168014124642017-03-26T17:38:00.003+01:002017-03-26T17:38:43.176+01:00 Every Day is Mother’s Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ge2oL23mDkCn_WBeedPadJA7yq8Pkcvf62ktDmNe5zJnfWwz28KaYFbbrySZl9gcmOS7NqjKzri5tY1Ib_Kcj-PloBKXEjLoQENAwTUkeBADKxF6lBqN-MIXj7-Zgisydl8MDH45nPCa/s1600/download.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ge2oL23mDkCn_WBeedPadJA7yq8Pkcvf62ktDmNe5zJnfWwz28KaYFbbrySZl9gcmOS7NqjKzri5tY1Ib_Kcj-PloBKXEjLoQENAwTUkeBADKxF6lBqN-MIXj7-Zgisydl8MDH45nPCa/s1600/download.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Who was
there when you were born – to wrap you up and keep you warm,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To stroke
your cheek and change your nappy – to bring you home and make you happy?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Who was
there to wipe your nose – to sing you songs and tickle your toes,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">To make you
polish your shoes – to wipe your tears or mend a fuse?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Who was
there to open the door to tidy your room and wash the floor?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Who was
there to comb your hair and mend your clothes and give you a chair?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Who was
there to open the door to welcome you home from school at four?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Who was
there to share your joys, who was there to mend your toys?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Who was
there to make you warm when you were caught in a terrible storm?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Who pushed
the swing – who loaned you a penny when you had none?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Who sang you
to sleep, who played hide and seek?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Who taught
you to talk and helped you to walk?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Who came to
your aid in the midst of a crises?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Who saw you
grow, offered advice or sat by the fire when you went out at night<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Who saw you
get married and leave home for good – to make a new start like everyone should?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Who saw your
first-born and felt terribly happy! To know they would have the pleasure of
changing a nappy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">God gave us
a mother right down through the ages – so she deserves mention in life’s book
of pages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(Bridget
Kerrigan; Isle of Man)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-845259883174462725.post-1308232844599118262017-03-19T11:50:00.000+00:002017-03-19T11:50:42.330+00:00Daffodil Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiq7fkutt16J5soY5XvI0U6I-fVBVME3fpLAvF0Or5vvswzek5LFRO5KqjTRtesX0HZcEdPZ7DP_JBcKq8wXF10EKDkac42n4sFRq0xXHF2ijPhVCjxoBzJoFvXBb5BpL2TClSn94NcbPl/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiq7fkutt16J5soY5XvI0U6I-fVBVME3fpLAvF0Or5vvswzek5LFRO5KqjTRtesX0HZcEdPZ7DP_JBcKq8wXF10EKDkac42n4sFRq0xXHF2ijPhVCjxoBzJoFvXBb5BpL2TClSn94NcbPl/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 0.48cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Lucida Handwriting"; font-size: 12pt;">Daffodils
are blooming in parks and in the country side as winter gives way to
spring. They symbolise renewal and new life, promise and hope which
makes them significant in Lent, and approaching Easter. As a child I
loved their scent, maybe because of their calming effect on me.</span></div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.48cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">We
have come to associate daffodils with the Irish Cancer Society.
Daffodil Day takes place on Friday, March 24<sup>th</sup>. Various
events take place nationally throughout the month of March. It is the
biggest fundraising event for the Irish Cancer Society. Thousands of
volunteers sell daffodil pins and flowers on the streets, in
businesses, homes and shopping centres to raise money for the Irish
Cancer Society. </span></span></span>
</div>
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</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.48cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cancer
affects us in so many different ways. As a child growing up in rural
Ireland, I recall people referring to it as the “The Dreaded C”
or the “Big C”. It was an illness of which little was known with
no immediate known cure. We often hear of sad stories but we are
aware too of stories with happy endings.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">This
Daffodil Day concept originated in Canada six decades ago.
Representing the first flower of Spring, it is used for its bright,
life-giving qualities and it is seen as a symbol of hope. The Irish
Cancer Society was founded in Ireland by Professor Austin Darragh. He
was inspired to start the Society in 1963 after being shocked by a
statistic that 100 people in Ireland died each year from curable skin
treatment. </span></span></span>
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</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.48cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Our
f</span></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">undraising
efforts help cancer patients at every stage of their journey.
Patients are given information and support </span></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">from
the Society’s Nurses </span></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">on
line or in one of the </span></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Society’s</span></span></span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> Centres throughout the country, to being driven to and from
chemotherapy treatment by the Society’s Volunteer Drivers, to
receiving emotional support through their professional counselling
service. Fundraising for the Society makes sure cancer patients can
access these services free of charge when they need it most.</span></span></span></div>
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<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.48cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It
is the Society’s Night Nursing service which is synonymous with
Daffodil Day and which supports patients at the end of their cancer
journey. The Night Nursing Service operates every night of the year,
providing palliative care to cancer patients so they can stay in the
comfort of their own home. The Society’s Night Nurses give end of
life care, offering support, advice and reassurance to their
patients.</span></span></span></div>
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</div>
<div style="line-height: 0.48cm; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Lucida Handwriting;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">So
when you buy a daffodil, support Daffodil Day or participate in an
event organised in your local area, know that you are supporting a
great cause, helping patients and families affected by cancer. We
pray for all affected by cancer, we pray for doctors, nurses and
carers who are bearers of God’s healing to all who are affected by
cancer! </span></span></span></div>
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Brother Rupert O'Sullivanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409152018049619689noreply@blogger.com0