Decaf Moment: Spring Breath
Spring Breath: Spring whispers in; defying frost with the gentle strength of a crocus who, hearing the ancient summons, and unperturbed by iced air and frozen earth, simply stretches sunwards and skywards, while, from its saffron gold heart, it hymns the seasons wheel to turn anew. So too, the soul, when awareness dawns of Divine…
Decaf Moment: Entering the Desert
Entering the Desert: Go within, to the deepest place of your heart, and find there the lenten desert places; the spaces of non-beginning, perished growth, old wounds, and, sins… Once there, in the searing honesty of soul’s sight, feeling its unforgiving heat, drought driven and bowed by the burden of being, simply cry, “Mercy!” and…
Decaf Moment: First Friday of Lent
First Friday of Lent: In silence and stillness humble yourself and enter in to the Holy of Holies where, at the deep centre of your heart, Divine Love dwells. Once there, anchor yourself with the stability of breath and, with quiet tears of true knowing, invoke mercy from the One who IS compassion and love….
National Board Child Safeguarding Audit
AUDIT BY THE NATIONAL BOARD 2015 The National Child Safeguarding Board of the Catholic Church in Ireland will, over several days, in the month of March, 2015, review the manner in which the Irish Capuchin Province has received and dealt with all allegations of child sexual abuse made against its members since 1975. The reviewers…
Decaf Moment: Following the Path of the Breath
Close your eyes and, following the ancient path of breath, come to rest within yourself, and, find there the still centrepoint of perfect peace where Divine Light dwells. Abide there, in open hearted attentiveness, and, make your dwelling in that infinite spaciousness that exists in the Eternal Now, between the in-breath and the out-breath, and…
Decaf Moment: Finding God in the Present Moment
It is only in the present moment that we truly encounter the other. The past and future are filtered through a fog of emotions, anxieties, guilts, regrets, plans, prejudices and fantasies. Only in the present moment do we truly meet the other… and this is especially true of the OTHER we call God. For God…
February 9th Blessed Brother Leopold of Alpandaire: A modern Capuchin Saint
Blessed Leopold of Alpandeire – February 9 (1864 – 1956) Religious Leopold was born on June 24, 1864 and was given the name Francisco Tomas of St. John the Baptist. He was the first born to Diego Marquez Ayala and Jeronima Sanchez Jimenez, simple industrious peasants. He was a hard worker, working in the fields…
We wish our brother well as he begins this new ministry in service of the Church. ... See MoreSee Less
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Today we celebrate the Queenship of Our Blessed Mother, Queen of Heaven and Earth. This is also the day that we Capuchins take up our new assignments. We ask you to keep us in your prayers. We pray for all our communities in Ireland who may be welcoming or saying goodbye to Friars today. Pictured is Br Dermot Lynch who says slán go fóill to Knock as he takes up his new appointment in Holy Trinity, Cork. We wish all our brothers every blessing. ... See MoreSee Less
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A message from Archbishop of Dublin, Dermot Farrell:
Unprovoked attacks on members of the Indian community in Dublin
Statement of Archbishop Dermot Farrell
August 11, 2025
Recent attacks on members of the Indian community in Dublin have been truly shocking. These unprovoked attacks on people, including a child, who were apparently targeted solely because of their ethnic identity have generated understandable fear and alarm among the Indian community.
The truth is that the Indian community in Dublin comprises many people who have come to Dublin to make an important and valued contribution to our society. We are all familiar with the vital presence of Indian professionals in our healthcare system, without whom many healthcare needs simply could not be met. Others apply their skills in other important sectors of the economy and also contribute to funding public services through their taxes.
It is not only through their work lives that our Indian neighbours and fellow citizens are enriching our society. The diversity of Indian culture and traditions add to the vitality of life in Dublin. In particular, many Indian families are playing an increasingly prominent role in the parishes and school communities of the Archdiocese of Dublin. Indian priests, religious and lay volunteers are an increasingly important presence in the pastoral life of the Church in Dublin. That gives the lie to the vile and blasphemous claims of some who spread the poison of racial hatred on social media and otherwise that their views are somehow protecting Christianity.
It is time to call out those who peddle racial hatred. It is time to stand up to those who seek to divide our community through rumour and malice. Our parishes and school communities have already given a warm welcome to Indian families who have made their homes here. I urge them to strengthen that spirit of solidarity, not only with Indian members of parish communities, but with all our Indian neighbours. I call on everyone to support the Gardaí in every way to confront and defeat those whose actions have contributed to the fear now being experienced in the Indian community in Dublin.
Dermot Farrell
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Today we celebrate the feast of St Clare of Assisi. We offer our blessings to the Poor Cleares, Sisters of St Clare and all who follow her path. You can find out more about the life and Spirituality of St Clare thanks to Franciscan Media:
Saint Clare of Assisi | Franciscan Media share.google/eU0jePNoqNQQzkML3 ... See MoreSee Less
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Would be hard to put this reflection on the Our Father any better than this: God will you use us as part of the answer? ... See MoreSee Less
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Today is the anniversary of the ordination of Padre Pio. He was ordained Priest on the 10th of August 1910 in the Cathedral of Benvento, Italy by Archbishop Paolo Schinosi. #prayhopeanddontworry vocations@capuchins.ie ... See MoreSee Less
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Brother Antony Bibin Kurian helping out at the Vocations Ireland stand at the Youth 2000 Summer Retreat in New bridge College. ... See MoreSee Less
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Around this time 17 years ago I began as a Postulant with the Irish Capuchin Franciscan Friars. I took a years career break from my job in financial services to try it out. For nearly two years before the moment captured here, I had been trying to figure out what God was asking of me.
When I was younger, I had a great desire to be a priest however over time this desire seemed to move to the background. The death and funeral of St John Paul ll had a deep affect on me in a very unexpected way. Like so many others I was glued to the TV coverage. As I watched the crowds gathered in St Peters, those old familiar feelings and desires about priesthood began to come to the fore and really caught me by surprise. I had a life beyond all that, where was this coming from? It's often strange what ignites, or reignites, the spark of faith and vocation. This time, the feelings didn't go away. So over time I plucked up the courage to send an email to a group of men called the Capuchins. I discovered their website while sifting through the various religious orders on the Vocations Ireland site.
Why these men and not a different group? Well, there was something about them that seemed to draw me to them. I'd never met one of them at this stage and I'd never been to a Capuchin church or friary. However, the images of them in their habits, the way in which they seemed to bring the message of St Francis alive in the ordinary things of life and their commitment to be men of prayer, really attracted me. To cut a long story very short - 17 years later I'm the Guardian of that Friary I which received that Tau Cross (The Tau Cross is an ancient Franciscan symbol worn by all Franciscans. It reminds us of our call to be living witnesses to the Gospel and it was used by St Francis as his signature). Each day is an opportunity to figure out what God asks of us.The big difference between then and now is that each day I now discern the Will of God together with my Capuchin brothers, as brothers of St Francis.
I just wanted to share this short memory from Facebook and a little of its background story. You never know how the Lord might use it to ignite the flame of vocation and faith in someone reading it. If you'd like to get in touch to find out more about the Capuchin Franciscan vocation, email vocations@capuchins.ie.
Peace,
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Today we celebrate the Feast of our Holy Father St Dominic. Greetings to all our Dominican Sisters and Brothers. Here's a little more about his life thanks to Franciscan Media's - Saint of the Day: Saint Dominic | Franciscan Media ... See MoreSee Less
Saint Dominic | Franciscan Media
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Saint Dominic became aware that the preacher had to practice what he preached and connect with the people of God. He and a few Cistercians formed what was the beginning of the Order of Preachers, bett...0 CommentsComment on Facebook