Ruah kicks off in Galway

This past weekend my travels took me from Cork to Dublin Airport to meet with two Presentation Brothers from West Africa - Alban Besigrinne and Wilfred Angko. 

I accompanied them to Galway for the start of the RUAH programme which is taking place on the university campus there from June 14th to 27th. Ruah is a Hebrew word which means “Spirit”.

Alban and Wilfred are participants in the programme along with 50 religious sisters, brothers and lay people from across the worldwide Edmund Rice and Nano Nagle networks. 

The Ruah Team has drawn up an exciting programme of events. The first week is facilitated by Margaret Silf, a well-known writer and retreat director who will help the participants awaken to the "Encounter with Mystery" in their lives. 

During the second week participants will engage with the stories of Venerable Nano and Blessed Edmund in those places hallowed by their memory: Callan, Waterford, Ballygriffin and Cork.   

Edmund Rice is the founder of the Presentation Brothers and Christian Brothers and Nano Nagle is the founder of the Presentation Sisters. By reflecting on their stories, participants will hopefully discover new insights and come to an awareness of how the Holy Spirit may touch their lives too. I look forward to meeting up with them again on the last day of their pilgrimage which concludes here at Mount St Joseph in Cork.

If you wish to know more about our vocation as followers of Blessed Edmund Rice , don’t hesitate to shoot me an email: vocation@PresentationBrothers.org

Searching for Alice...

 Julianne Moore in Still Alice

I went to the cinema recently with a friend (yes, Brothers do go to the cinema occasionally) to see Still Alice. After viewing this well-produced film, I was left in no doubt about how challenging life is for people with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia.

Julianne Moore who played the part of a housewife suffering with the illness captured how the disease creeps up and eventually controls life. Still Alice also did a good job of portraying the effect the illness can have on a family.

It was very engaging. It left me with a feeling of helplessness and at times it brought tears to my eyes. That’s the power of good cinema. It connects us at a deep level with the humanity of the character on the screen. Strangely, we often seem to be able to connect faster and more deeply with these fictional characters and strangers on the big screen than real people in real life.

We know that the challenge of the Christian life is to see each person as our brother and sister, to see their pains as our pains. But that's not an easy task – we all have busy lives full of distractions.

Perhaps we empathise more readily in the cinema because we manage to block out the noise of the world. In that dark cinema theatre, it’s just you and the screen. We can focus. We can listen. We can become involved in another person’s story.

The trick then is to find moments of silence in our own lives where we can pause and reflect on what the people around us are saying.

Religious life, when lived well, affords us the time and space for reflection during which we can identify, at a deep and meaningful level, with the needs of other people. 

It gives us a chance to ask: "Who, of all the people I met today, is in need of a word of encouragement or support?" It’s a challenge to break from the orbit of our own ego and self-interest and notice others…but that's the challenge...

And, believe me, when you stop to look, you’ll see many around us who could do with a little help or support…And, to be honest, that's one of the reasons I'm a religious brother.

If you would like to learn more about life as a Presentation Brother, get in touch on vocation@PresentationBrothers.org

Christ on the streets of Cork

Some of the teenagers who took part in this year's Procession in Cork.

I took part in the Eucharistic Procession, now in its 90^th year, here in Cork city on Sunday. It takes place annually on the Feast of Corpus Christi - The Body of Christ. 

There was a great group of young people from S.H.A.R.E. with us in the procession. We assembled in the grounds of the Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne and processed to Daunt Square in the heart of the city. 

Bishop John Buckley followed the procession with the Blessed Sacrament. We were accompanied along the way with prayers, reflections and hymns. 

Archbishop Kieran O'Reilly of Cashel and Emily, who is a past pupil of the Presentation Brothers, was the guest preacher this year.

A Eucharistic Procession is a public witness to the faith. It celebrates the presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Our faith does not belong in the safety of the church. We are expected to take our faith into the world. The Procession reminds us of that challenge. 

If you would like to follow Christ as a Presentation Brother, get in touch with me at vocation@PresentationBrothers.org 

Renewing Vows in Kerry...

I travelled from Cork to Killarney on Thursday afternoon for a special ceremony at our International Novitiate. Br. Thiventhiran (Theiva) Pillai from Sri Lanka was renewing his vows as a Presentation Brother. Theiva made his First Profession last year and for the next several years he will re-commit to his vows.

The vows are Chastity, Poverty and Obedience.

Brothers and friends gathered in the novitiate chapel for the occasion. Two more young men from Sri Lanka, Colins and Duglus, led us in music and song. Colins and Duglus are novices. Novitiate is the name given to an important period of spiritual preparation before First Vows.

After the celebration of the Eucharist by Fr. Jim Lenihan we shared some lovely food provided by friends of Theiva. Theiva will soon make his first return visit to see his family and friends in Sri Lanka. It is important for a Brother to maintain contact with his family during his formation programme.

He will then return to Ireland where he will commence studies. Best wishes to Theiva for the future!

If you wish to learn more about the Presentation Brothers, don’t hesitate to get in touch. I'm at vocation@PresentationBrothers.org

Exam time!

I'm sure many of you who follow this blog are preparing (or are in the middle of) exams these days.

Know that you are remembered in the Brothers' daily prayers during these weeks.

Here's a simple prayer I found which might help...

Loving God, as I begin my exams,
Help me to stay focused,
Help me to study with dedication and vigour,
Give me a clear mind to perform to the best of my ability,
Grant me the calmness to process the knowledge I have obtained.
Let me sleep peacefully at night, so that I am refreshed and renewed.
Be with me, loving God, during these days.
During the moments when I want to quit and give up, please sustain me.
Holy Spirit, guide me during times of trouble.
Protect me from feelings of anxiety and frustration.
Help me be satisfied with the work I have done.
And guide me in Your ways into the future.
Amen.

Lough Derg anyone?

If you are discerning a religious vocation, you will know that the need for time to reflect on God's call is very important.
On Friday, June 26th, the Presentation Family will be making the three-day, traditional pilgrimage to Lough Derg in County Donegal.
This pilgrimage is a unique spiritual experience that has endured for centuries.
It's nice to do the pilgrimage as part of a group

Learn more about our pilgrimage here