Br. Paul O’Donovan RIP
Today we celebrate the funeral of our brother, Paul O’Donovan, who passed to the Lord earlier this week at the Bon Secours Hospital, Cork; a Cork man born in Bandon, he was in his 72th year. Br Paul joined the Capuchin Order in Rochestown friary being received there on the 3rd October 1961. In 1962…
Br James Ryan RIP
With sadness we regret to inform you that our brother, James Ryan has died; a Cork man born in Mitchelstown, he was in his 89th year. James joined the Capuchins in Rochestown, Co. Cork, on 31st October 1956. He made first profession a year later and perpetual profession on 12th November 1960 in Ard Mhuire,…
Capuchins to lead Vespers in Clarendon St Church
As part of the Year for Consecrated Life, we have been invited to lead Vespers in Clarendon Street Church (Off Grafton Street) Dublin on Thursday 17th of September at 6pm. This is also the Feast of the Stigmata of St Francis of Assisi.
Be-sandaled brothers! The reasons for bare footed friars
Perhaps the question we are most often asked as friars is, “Why do you wear sandals and go barefoot in all weathers?” Monastic and Franciscan tradition gives three answers to this: Firstly, to ground us in this moment in recollection and to remind us that we are pilgrims on a journey, “abiding not long in…
Feast of St Michan of Dublin:
Today we keep the feast of one of the old Celtic Saints, St. Michan of Dublin! The parish under his patronage is ministered to by the Capuchin community from the Church St. friary and is the oldest parish in Dublin, traditionally serving the inner city markets community. Our Parish Priest and Guardian, Fr. Bryan has…
St. Maximillian Kolbe, Franciscan Martyr of Auschwitz: a witness to hope!
Today we Franciscans keep the feast of our brother St. Maximilian Kolbe, martyr of Auschwitz who died on Aug.14, 1941. He was a Polish Conventual friar, well known for his immense love of Our Lady, who provided shelter for thousands of Jews in his friary and was an active voice against the Nazi violence. He…
Blessed Mark of Aviano the Cappuccino Capuchin!
Feast of our brother Blessed Mark of Aviano today, a friar who cemented our Capuchin connection to coffee forever! He passed to the Lord on this day in the year 1699 after an extraordinary life of service, prayer, preaching and miracles that saw him act as envoy of the Pope to the Emperor while…
Passing to the Lord of Br. Noel Winston 18th December 1937 – 7th August 2015
Dear friends, Please pray with us for the eternal repose of the soul of our brother, Noel Winston, who passed peacefully to the Lord yesterday evening in St. Francis Hospice, Raheny in the presence of his sister Kay and the friars. May he rest in peace. Brother Noel (Athanasius) was born in Co. Roscommon, on…
A decaf moment: Stormlight
Stormlight: Storms bring their own light; sharp lined and lightening cut, by which old truth assumes the beauty of the new and Mother Earth eden breathes again, if only for a moment. Their rain, drilling down, brooks no opposition, gives no quarter, and must be simply received and submitted to, abandoning any pretense at…
Be not Afraid (Matt 10: 26-33)
In today’s Gospel, Jesus continues his instruction of the Apostles. Three times, Jesus says “Do not be afraid.” This is a phrase repeated 365 times in the bible.
Once upon a time, it took courage of a sort not to go to church in holy Ireland. People who did not go to church were regarded as odd, or maybe worse. How things have changed! Now it takes courage to witness to Christian beliefs and ideals. One has to swim against the current of popular opinion stirred up by social media brain-washing and cynical agnosticism. God knows how fear can paralyze us so he continually exhorts us to have courage, to have confidence. If people opposed Jesus and called him diabolical names, why should we be surprised if we have to put up with a little mockery? We are in good company when we are with Jesus.
Here’s a story about Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Her Missionaries of Charity spend an hour in prayer before going out to help the poor. One morning, a young Sister going out looked very sad. Mother Teresa gently called her aside. “Did Jesus say ‘Go before me,’ or ‘Follow me’?”
Sister’s face changed and she smiled. To follow Jesus is to walk with him, filled with the great, much needed virtue called hope. You may be familiar with this hymn.
“Do not be afraid, I go before you always. Come follow me and I will give you rest.”
And there is song by Rodgers and Hammerstein in Carousel: When you walk through a storm hold your head up high and don’t be afraid of the dark.
At the end of the storm is a golden sun and the sweet silver song of the lark.
Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart and you’ll never walk alone, you’ll never walk alone.”
The Good News will triumph
Pope Francis, speaking to a group of newly ordained priests compared them to aeroplanes: they make news only when they crash! The News never reports that nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine planes landed safely today. The wonderful contribution of the Church to education, culture, medical care, feeding the hungry, working for justice and peace, etc. is being airbrushed out of history. Jesus tells us not to be afraid. ... See MoreSee Less
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Great work happening in Ards ... See MoreSee Less
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Lord we thank you for the beauty of your Creation. May we always approach it with wonder, awe and respect. #LaudatoSi #stfrancis #capuchin #vocation ... See MoreSee Less
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A busy day around the country for the Friars today. Br Seán and Gofrey on duty at Knock Shrine. Today was also the Brazilian Catholic Community pilgrimage to Knock Shrine accompanied by Br Severino (Dublin) and Br Bernard (Cork).
Br. Antony Kurian concluded the triduum in honour of St Anthony of Padua held in the Capuchin Friary Raheny. Great numbers attended each evening. Br Anthony blesses with the relic of St Anthony of Padua as people.leave the Friary Church. ... See MoreSee Less
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Br. Bryan Shortall OFM Cap blessing the lilies on the feast of St Anthony in Merchant's Quay Church Dublin. Bryan was the main preacher at this year's novena. ... See MoreSee Less
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Today is the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. A beautiful feast in the liturgical calendar. A day for us to emerse ourselves in the burning Love of God manifest in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Love we receive from God we, in turn, are called to radiate into the world. The eternal cry of the soul is simple and heartfelt: O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place ALL my trust in you. (Picture: Stained glass image of the Sacred Heart, Capuchin Friary, Church Street, Dublin 7) ... See MoreSee Less
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The harvest is rich, the labourers are few (Matthew 9:36-10:8)
Today we return to Matthew’s Gospel which is constructed around five great sermons. Firstly, the Sermon on the Mount outlined the masterplan of the kingdom of God. Today’s Reading is from the second sermon, which is the instruction of the apostles.
Jesus always urged us to see what is good in people rather than what is bad. “Blessed are the pure in heart they shall see God.”
Jesus practised what he preached. He had an extraordinary ability, the eye of an artist, to see potential in unlikely people. By the grace of God, Simon Peter, a man with a fiery temper, who once pulled out a sword to slice off the ear of a soldier, was chosen to be the first pope. The brothers, James and John, were known as the Sons of Thunder. Once, they offered to call down fire on a Samaritan town which rejected Jesus. The cheek of these brothers! They did not ask Jesus to call down the fire but they would do it! Yet Jesus saw their potential. James became the first of the apostles to be martyred. John lived longer than the others and became the contemplative who inspired the Gospel of John and other writings. Simon, a nationalist zealot, learned how to work with Matthew, who collected taxes for the despised Romans. An unlikely team became wonderful missionaries.
A motto in advertising is to think globally but act locally. The missionary strategy of Jesus was to work with the small group in the limited area of Galilee and Judea. The mission would extend worldwide after Pentecost.
The harvest is rich, the labourers are few
I was ordained a priest sixty years ago. The first Sunday I faced a congregation, the Gospel was the one we have today. Jesus felt sorry for the congregation because “They were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.” I can still remember a strange feeling when I looked at the congregation. Would my life be for people who are harassed and rejected? “The harvest is rich but the labourers are few.” And we are ageing. Pray earnestly for vocations to the priesthood.
Christ is counting on you (Cursillo motto)
Br. Silvester O'Flynn OFM Cap. (Sunday Reflections) ... See MoreSee Less
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The Friars in the Capuchin Friary Raheny (D05T9E4
) host the annual triduum in honour of St Anthony of Padua and SFO retreat beginning tomorrow evening (11th of June) at 7pm. The main celebrant and preacher this year is Br. Antony Kurian OFM Cap. Br. Antony is the Vicar in Church Street, Vocations Promotor and Co-Mission Secretary. Originally from Kerala in India, Br Antony was ordained a Priest for the Irish Province in 2025. Blessing of lilies on the last night and blessing with the relics of St Anthony and the Franciscan Saints each night. Parking and seats are limited so come early! ... See MoreSee Less
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Three Capuchins taking a cappuccino break in Ards! The Wild Garden Cafe is now open daily for the best coffee and cakes for miles. #ardsfriary #ArdsFriaryBeach #ardsfriarywalk #ardsfriarytrail ... See MoreSee Less
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