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Visitors to our Church Street Friary, Dublin

Despite the snow, over the last two weeks, we had three young men visiting our Friary in Church Street.

Two came in response to our Vocations Weekend advertisement. These young men are discerning a vocation to religious life and took some time out to come and see what Capuchin life was like. We ask you to keep them in your prayers.

We were also very happy to welcome Roger, who is a Postualnt (first stage of Capuchin life) in our British Province. Roger joined in the life and prayer of our Church Street Friary over the weekend. Hailing from South Africa, Roger has lived in London and worked in Finance for the last five years before coming to the Friars. After initial contact with our Brothers across the water he made application to become a Postulant and joined the community in Erith, Kent last September.
We see him here (left of photo) enoying a fraternal moment at breakfast with Brothers Terence (Vocation Director - centre) and Bryan (Guardian of Church Street - right)

It was a great joy for us to welcome these young men to our Friary. If you would like some more information on our way of life, please do not be afraid to take the first step and contact our Vocations Director

Br. Terence Harrington OFM Cap.,Capuchin Friary,Church Street,Dublin 7.Tel: 086 3230638 we would love to hear from you.

Pax
Br Martin
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Sunday, 5 December 2010

Pat Kenny Programme highlights the work of our Centre for the Homeless in Dublin

Hi
This is an excellent expose of the work, volunteers, staff and visitors to our Centre in Bow Street Dublin. It highlights very well the Franciscan response to who may be considered the 'lepers' of our time.
It is a very moving piece of great depth and honesty.

Pax
Br Martin
http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2010/pc/pod-v-02121017m49stodaywithpatkenny.mp3

Wednesday, 1 December 2010

Wall Street Journal Report on The Capuchin Day Centre, Dublin

Wall Street Journal 27 November 2010

Hi

We had the Wall Street Journal in our Day Centre last week as well as news agencies from Portugal, Britain and France. Here is the Wall Street report with an excellent video on the Centre and the work done there.

Remember collections in aid of the Day Centre are on this Saturday (4 Dec 2010) at the GPO Dublin

Pax
Br Martin

Who Are We?


This video, produced by the Capuchin Province of Mid-America, is a slide show presentation of images set to music with quotes from both the Rule of St. Francis and the Constitutions of the Capuchin Friars Minor. It is meant to serve as an introduction to our way of life.

Irish Capuchin Friars at work in California

http://www.olacapuchins.org/

Hi

The Irish Province has friars living and ministering to the poor in Zambia, South Africa, South Korea, New Zealand and California. This is the page of the Western American Province with a great video of Irish Friar, Br Peter Banks at work

Enjoy

Br Martin

Annual Collection for the Capuchin Homeless Centre, Dublin 04 Dec 2010

The annual collection in aid of the Capuchin Day Centre for the Homeless, Dublin will be held THIS Saturday at the GPO. If you are in town please come over and say hello and, if you can, please support what is an excellent and worthwhile cause.

Over 60% of the funding for the Day Centre has to come each year from donations. Without the support of very good people it would not be able to function.So thank you in advance on behalf of the Day Centre and all the Homeless of Dublin




Words from St Francis' Canticle of Brother Sun


We Praise you Lord, for all your Creatures

Especially for Brother Sun, who is the day whom through you give light
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendour !

We Praise you Lord, for Brothers Wind and Air, fair and stormy, all weather's moods,
by which you cherish all that you have made.

We Praise you Lord for Sister Water, so useful, so humble, so precious, so pure.

We Praise you Lord, for Sister Earth, who sustains us with her fruits, coloured flowers and herbs.


        

Monday, 29 November 2010

Order of Capuchin Friars Minor - South Korea

Order of Capuchin Friars Minor

This is the website of the Irish Capuchin Friars living and working in South Korea. They now have a number of Korean Brothers. It is an excellent site with some great photographs and Capuchin Vocation information

Advent themed Blog

Hi

We have altered the appearance of our blog to reflect and acknowledge the great season of advent.

We now have a candle (!)  and the page colours reflect the purples that we see used in the liturgy during Advent.

Peace

Br Martin

Capuchin Vocation Project 2009



A great little video made by our Capuchin Brothers in the United States. It gives a great insight into our life as Capuchin Friars

Enjoy

Br Martin

Martin Bennett makes his simple vows as a Capuchin .MOV



Hi There

Here is a short video of yours truly making my first profession in the Chapel of our Friary in Raheny, Dublin

Pax

Br Martin

Cloister Garden Church Street






I see His Blood Upon the Rose
I see his blood upon the rose
And in the stars the glory of his eyes,
His body gleams amid eternal snows,
His tears fall from the skies.
I see his face in every flower;
The thunder and the singing of the birds
Are but his voice—and carven by his power
Rocks are his written words.
All pathways by his feet are worn,
His strong heart stirs the ever-beating sea,
His crown of thorns is twined with every thorn,
His cross is every tree

Advent Meditation



Happy New Liturgical year everybody!!

Today we celebrate the first Sunday of the Season of Advent. Br Pawel, a Capuchin Friar visiting Church Street, preached at Mass this morning about Advent as the season of Preparation. Just as business owners prepare well in advance for the Christmas season in order to receive the best 'income' we too, who are to receive the ultimate 'income' - the coming of the Lord Jesus into our world - should use the coming weeks to prepare, renew, revisit and revitalize our relationship with Christ and others.

A nice video with some lovely Gregorian Chant

Enjoy

Pax to all on this cold day, keep warm and well

Br Martin

Thursday, 25 November 2010

Capuchin Day Centre for the Homeless attracts International Media

Wall St Journal, BBC Radio Ulster, The Sydney Morning Herald today at our Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless in Church St.


 International interest in those using the Centre because of the economic downturn. Many donating to support the work of the Centre. 550 people for dinner today. Its because of the goodness of so many ordinary people that Br. Kevin and his team can continue. Good News for a change. www.homeless.ie

Tuesday, 23 November 2010

5 Minute Franciscan Meditation

Here is a 5 minute meditation filmed in the Cloister Garden of our Friary in Church St, Dublin. The meditation is centred around the ‘Peace Prayer’ attributed to St Francis of Assisi and is a great way to prepare for a time of prayer or as a prayer in itself.

I hope you enjoy it – Pax to all

Br Martin

 

Saturday, 20 November 2010

Solemnity of Christ The King

Hi
Tomorrow we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. I have attached a short clip which I find helps to remind me of all the we owe to Christ and that we may use this great feast to say a heartfelt - Thank You
Peace be with you all
Br Martin

Vocation Video




This is an excellent video produced in Ireland for the Year of Vocations, offering sound advice on vocation discernment

Tuesday, 16 November 2010

Franciscan Vocation Discernment Weekend (3rd - 5th of December 2010)

Hi there
We are delighted to announce that we are hosting a Franciscan vocation discernment weekend here in our Church Street Friary for any young men who may be considering a vocation to our way of life.
Before joining the Capuchins I attended a number of these events in our Raheny friary and found them excellent. I would encourage any of you out there who may like to know more about our way of life following St Francis of Assisi to consider coming along.
The weekend revovles around experiencing what our community life is like and you will have an opportunity to participate in our daily prayer, which is at the very heart of our life, as well as meeting the friars, hearing about what we do and get some advice on discerning your call.
All the details are on our website (www.irishcapuchins.com) and facebook (irish capuchin franciscans) pages or you can contact our Vocation Director Br Terence Harrington on 086 3230638
We very much look forward to hearing from you
Pax Br Martin

Welcome to our new Blog

Peace be with you all !

You are very welcome to our new Capuchin Franciscan Vocations blog for Ireland. My name is Br Martin and I am responsible for keeping you all up to date about our life, ministries, vocations as well as some reflections and thoughts as we journey together through the Church's year.

Please visit us on www.irishcapuchins.com or on Facebook (Irish Capuchin Franciscans) and very soon on Twitter.

Br Terence Harrington is our full time vocations director dedicated to helping you as you discern what the Lord is asking you to do with your life. Every couple of months we run discernment weekends. These are a great opportunity to come meet the friars, see what friary life is like and, in a very supportive environment, talk about what the Lord is asking of you.

Vocation to religious life is essentially God asking you a question, namely " Will you come follow me?", as he did to the Apostles. We are here to help you find an answer to that question.

So for now peace and blessings to you all
Br Martin

Thursday, 19 August 2010

VOCATIONS WEEKEND

We are having a weekend for those interested in finding out more about our way of life as followers of St. Francis in these times. The weekend will be on from the 24th to the 26th of September in our friary at Church Street, Dublin 7. If you want to find out more information or would like to come along please contact Br. Terence on 0863230638

Br. Evangelist Kelly R.I.P.

Our brother Evangelist Kelly, a Capuchin originally from Ireland, passed from this life into the Kingdom of God on the 26th. of March 2010. Br. Evangelist spent his priestly mimistry working in the Western American Province. Check out the video on our blog, titled "Inspired by St. Francis", where Evangelist spoke of his inspirations and his journey