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…
Decaf Meditation Moment
“In books we seek God, in meditation we find Him!” Padre Pio Let us sit, breathe deep, and be still, and then we will find within us the presence of the One who IS Love and whose light filling our mind and heart transforms and blesses!
Meditation in action…
Always remember… There is no job so seemingly small or humble, that will not build the kingdom of God’s love and compassion when done with heart, with mindful awareness, and with right intention… This is meditation in action… This is the contemplative way… From our sitting in meditation we ourselves are changed and healed by…
February 4th Feast of Our Capuchin Saint Joseph of Leonessa
Almost martyred, offering himself in exchange for the freedom of slaves, known as the companion killer for his indefatigable missionary zeal that often left other brothers gasping in his wake, climbing mountains barefoot and a deep contemplative and miracle worker to boot; our brother, St. Joseph of Leonessa, deserves to be more widely known! The…
Blessing of throats in Raheny
Join us in Raheny as we celebrate the Feast of St Blaise and the ancient tradition of blessing of throats. Blessings are available in our Chapel, Capuchin Frairy Raheny, Dublin at the following times ONLY: 7.30am (following 7am Mass); 10am / 11am / 12pm / 1pm / 2pm / 3pm / 4pm. NOBLESSING AT 5pm…
Adoration Group for Young People begins in our Kilkenny Friary
Our Brothers in Kilkenny are commencing an Adoration Group for Young People who wish to take time out and pray before the Blessed Sacrament. It runs each Sunday night in the Friary Church from 8.30pm to 9.30pm. All are most welcome
Congratulations Rochestown College
Rochestown College, Cork have won Semi Final of the Harty Cup 4-11 to 1-17. our sincere congratulations to all involved. Go RoCo!! You can read about their journey to this historic final HERE
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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Wishing Br Terence a very happy birthday today. He's 70 plus 10 years old. God bless from all the Friars. ... See MoreSee Less
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The Feast of Corpus Christi (John: Chapter 6)
Today’s Gospel is taken from John Chapter 6 which tells us about three kinds of bread… bread for bodily hunger, bread to nourish faith, and the divine bread of the Eucharist. With the first bread Jesus fed a multitude through the miraculous multiplication of five loaves and two fish.
Next day, people came back to him, perhaps for another free dinner! In John’s Gospel, miracles are regarded as signs to advance in faith. So, Jesus then asked his audience to move on from ordinary bread to the bread that endures to eternal life. The second kind of bread will satisfy the hungers of the spirit. “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never hunger; whoever believes in me will never thirst.” To believe in Jesus means a commitment to follow his ideals and teaching … as the way, the truth and the life. People who knew Jesus from childhood found it hard to make this commitment. (John 6:42-43)
After bread for the body and the bread of faith, Jesus raised their minds to the third bread (John 6: 51-58). He spoke in the future tense because this bread had not yet been given. “The bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.” It is no surprise that the people were deeply puzzled by this. “How can this man give us his flesh to eat.” So, Jesus repeated his promise in seven further statements. Seven is always the divine number in John’s Gospel. People were still puzzled but Jesus explained that they would understand this future bread only in the light of the resurrection. “What if you should see the Son of man ascend to where he was before”(John 6:62). It is the Risen Lord whom we meet in the Eucharist. On the night before he died, at the Last Supper, he gave the blessed bread to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, given up for you.” And giving them the cup of wine, he said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood poured out for you.”
For some thirty years the Son of God was on earth in a human body of flesh and blood. Now he is embodied in the consecrated bread and wine. “In the Eucharist Christ gives us the very body which he gave up for us on the cross which he poured out fo ... See MoreSee Less
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A great start to our First Friday Sacred Heart Devotions in St Mary of the Angels Church Street. Well done to Br Antony and his team. There is Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after 7.30pm Mass on the 1st and 3rd Friday's of the Month, with Sacred Heart Devotions on the 1st Friday. ... See MoreSee Less
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This evening we gather for our First Friday 'mini-retreat' with the Sacred Heart in the Sacred Heart Hall of St Mary of the Angels Capuchin Church, Church Street, Dublin 7. Begins at 6pm with some tea / coffee followed by a reflection on the Sacred Heart devotion as an act of love by Br Martin Bennett. Mass at 7.30pm followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and litany of the Sacred Heart with the Act of Consecration. Our intentions are for vocations and peace. ... See MoreSee Less
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Join the Friars and Secular Franciscan Order in Raheny for the annual triduum in honour of St Anthony of Padua. This year's celebrant and preacher is Br. Antony Kurian (Vicar in Church Street Friary, Vocations Promotor and Co-Mission Secretary). Blessing of lillies on the final night. This event is always very well attended so make sure to arrive early to get a seat. All are welcome. ... See MoreSee Less
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Tremendous work in Ards. Congratulations to all involved. ... See MoreSee Less
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