Consider Consecrated Life as a Capuchin Friar
A sincere word of thanks to the Irish Catholic Newspaper for their two page feature on the Irish Capuchins as part of a special edition on Consecrated Life. Called to a life of Prayer and Service as Brothers of St Francis of Assisi We are the Irish Capuchin Franciscan Friars and we have been ministering…
Consecrated Life as a Capuchin Franciscan Friar
The Irish Catholic Newspaper will feature a two page spread on the Capuchin calling in their upcoming supplement on Consecrated Life.
Br. Padráig O’Cuill OFM Cap
With great sadness we announce the death of our Capuchin confrere, Br. Padráig O’Cuill OFM Cap. Br Padráig joined the Capuchin Order in 1957 and was ordained to the Priesthood in 1967. During his years as a Capuchin Friar, Padráig ministered as an Irish language teacher, hospital chaplain (Richmond & Beaumont) and chaplain to Dublin…
New Padre Pio Apostolate Team
A development from our recent Provincial Chapter was to create a new Padre Pio Apostolate Team to enhance the great work already done on Padre Pio ministry in Ireland. For the last three years, Fr Bryan Shortall has been the National Director of Padre Pio Ministry in Ireland. We now have a Team in place…
Br Kevin Crowley OFM Cap.
With great sadness we announce the death of Brother Kevin Crowley OFM Cap.
Franciscan Sunday 2025, Knock Shrine
All roads lead to Knock Shrine on Sunday 30th of June 2025 for the annual Franciscan Pilgrimage.
New Provincial Minister and Provincial Council are elected
With great joy we announce the election of our new Provincial Minister and his Council.
Chapter 2025
As we gather in Chapter, we ask for your prayers and please be assured of our prayers for each of you.
God’s Invitation to us (Matt 22:1-14)
Today’s Gospel is a parable about being invited to a wedding, not just any wedding, but the royal wedding of the king’s son. This parable of invitation and rejection was originally addressed to the chief priests and elders of the Jews.
Those who were invited to come to the wedding banquet did not accept. One went off to his farm, another to his business. I’m sure they regarded these as good excuses. Did you ever hear anybody saying, “I have a poor excuse”? It’s always a good excuse! There is great wisdom in the Irish word for an excuse, leathsceal, which literally means half a story. The full truth of this parable is that they were not interested. As the story proceeds, apathy turns into violence as servants of the king were maltreated and killed.
The Joy of the Gospel
Let us move forward to our own time. Pope Francis, in his Apostolic Exhortation called The Joy of the Gospel, begins with God’s invitation to us. “The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus.” As in the parable of the royal wedding, Pope Francis highlights[Silvester1] some excuses causing people to be uninterested in God’s invitation: consumerism, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures and blunted conscience. “Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades. Many fall prey to it, and end up resentful, angry and listless. That is no way to live a dignified and fulfilled life; it is not God’s will for us, nor is it the life in the Spirit which has its source in the heart of the risen Christ” (Paragraph 2).
A Daily Encounter
Pope Francis proceeds to invite all Christians to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ and to do this every day. “Now is the time to say to Jesus: ‘Lord, I have let myself be deceived; in a thousand ways I have shunned your love, yet here I am once more, to renew my covenant with you. I need you. Save me once again. ... See MoreSee Less
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Our Vicar Provincial and Vocations Director, Br Martin, recently gave an interview to the Faith Alive programme on Midwest Radio speaking about St Francis, the Capuchin vocation and our life in fraternity. Thanks to Monica Morley and Midwest Radio for organising the interview. You can copy the link here to listen on SoundCloud :
on.soundcloud.com/vOCZHWqD4DdSEzZRew ... See MoreSee Less
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Blessings to all on the feast of our Holy Father, St Francis of Assisi. May the Lord bless you and keep you always. St Francis, pray for us, for peace and for our world. ... See MoreSee Less
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Some news from Ards ... See MoreSee Less
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The homily given by our Provincial Minister, Br Richard Hendrick OFM Cap at the celebration of the Transitus of St Francis of Assisi, 2026. ... See MoreSee Less
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Some images from this evening's celebration of the Transitus from the Conventual Franciscan Church in Fairview Dublin. This celebration concludes the three nights of preparation for the feast of St Francis. ... See MoreSee Less
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Details of how St Francis of Assisi Priorswood are celebrating the Feast of St Francis. Jubilee Mass on Sunday at 11.30am celebrated by the Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell. ... See MoreSee Less
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We gathered this evening in the beautiful setting of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Merchant's Quay for the second night of three in honour of the 800th anniversary of St Francis death in 1226.
The evening began with a pilgrim walk from St Mary of the Angels, Church Street to Merchant's Quay to bring the image of St Francis and our peace candle. These symbols are a focal point for each celebration. It was a powerful experience to walk silently through the streets of Dublin in the pouring rain. Many people stopped on their way to bless themselves, pause a moment or to take a photo of the fifty strong pilgrim group.
Inside the church at Merchant's Quay, we heard readings from the life of St Francis interspersed with beautiful music and song. The ceremony came to a conclusion with the blessing of Dublin City echoing the way in which St Francis blessed Assisi before he died.
A truly blessed evening in so many ways. Thanks to all involved. ... See MoreSee Less
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Thanks to all who joined us in St Mary of the Angels, Church Street for the Mass for the Care of Creation last evening. This was the first night of three nights for St Francis in Dublin City Centre. We were honoured to welcome the Italian Ambassador to Ireland as well as the Italian Minister for Health to Church Street for the celebration. Minister, Professor Orazio Schillaci, spoke of the enduring importance of St Francis in Italian life and culture as well as the deep friendship between Ireland and Italy.
Principal celebrant: Br Richard Hendrick OFM Cap (Provincial Minister).
Homilist: Br. Martin Bennett OFM Cap (Provincial Vicar).
Principal concelebrant: Br Kevin Kiernan OFM Cap (Guardian, Church Street Friary).
Music: Brazilian Catholic Community ... See MoreSee Less
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