Happy Birthday Brother Anthony !
This weekend, Brother Anthony Boran OFM Cap., celebrates a very signifiant birthday as he turns 99 years of age. We wish Anthony well and give thanks to the Lord for his many years of service to the people of God. We hope you have great day!
Holy Week and Easter Schedules 2022
Holy Trinity, Cork Holy Thursday Mass : 7.30pm Good Friday Stations: 12.00noon Commemoration of the Passion: 3.00pm Holy Saturday Vigil Mass: 7.30pm Easter Sunday: 8.00am; 9.30am; 11.00am; 12.30pm Rochestown, Cork Palm Sunday 10:00 am Blessing of Palms and Mass (College Chapel) Mon- Wed 8:00 am & 10:00 am Mass in Friary Chapel Holy Thursday No…
Blessings on the Feast of St Patrick
The Irish Capuchin Franciscan Friars would like to wish you every blessing on the feast of St Patrick. Thank you for your continued generosity and support. As we honour our National Saint – let us pray for Christ’s protection for Ireland, the World and especially Ukraine at this time. Christ with me, Christ before me,…
The Capuchin Friars ministering in Ukraine
Since our very foundation in 1525, the Capuchin Friars have been called to serve the people of God in some of the most difficult and challenging situations including times of plague, famine and war. Today is no different. Our brothers ministering in Ukraine are sheltering the displaced who have come to them for help. Their…
Brother Silvester speaks to The Echo about the upcoming closure of Rochestown Friary
Recently Brother Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap (Guardian of St Francis Friary, Rochestown, Cork) spoke to Donal O’Keeffe of The Echo to tell a little of the history of the Capuchins in Rochestown and how news of the closure has has been received. Read all about it here: Evening Echo Article 15 Feb 2022 (Rochestown)
Celebrating Consecrated Life
The week’s issue of the Irish Catholic Newspaper contains a feature to mark the World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life on the 3rd of February – Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. This feature contains an interview with Brother Martin Bennett OFM Cap. (Parish Priest and Provincial Director of Communications for the Irish…
Brother James Connolly OFM Cap. – The Irish Catholic Newspaper
This weekend the Irish Catholic Newspaper featured an insightful and inspiring article on Brother James (Jim) Connolly who has spent most of his life serving as a missionary in Zambia. You can read the article in full here : Jan27, pg34
Statement from the Provincial Minister concerning the closure of Friaries
Statement of our Provincial Minister, Br. Seán Kelly, on the forthcoming closures of St. Anthony’s Friary, Carlow and St. Francis Friary, Rochestown and the withdrawal from residency in St. Francis Parish, Priorswood. Dear brothers and sisters, Every three years the Capuchin friars gather in what we call Chapter. We do this in order to…
Christmas Blessings
On this most holy of days, we wish you and yours every blessing this Christmas. We pray that this will be a time of peace, joy and love for you and that you will experience the closeness of our God who is with us. God bless you
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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