Why did you choose the Capuchins?

Peace to you!!

I have attached a video made by the New York Province which asks some of their Postulants (1st year) 'why they chose the Capuchins?'. One of the great beauty's of our Order is that it is truly universal. The principles and call to Capuchin Life for these men in the US are the same for us here, in Ireland.

Our call is to Fraternity, Prayer and Service to the Poor. If you feel that this could be your call too, please feel free to contact our vocation director, Br Terence on 086 3230638 or at tharr@eircom.net.

Pax
Br Martin

We are Brothers

"We are Brothers. We pray together." (Pope Francis)

This is what Franciscanism is all about - brotherliness and prayer.

What a time to be a Franciscan.

 

Pope Francis has generated a huge interest in St. Francis and the Franciscan way of life.  St. Francis is a facinating saint; Pope Francis a facinating Pope. If you are interested in the Franciscan way of life and would like to spend a weekend or longer living in one of our Capuchin communities you can contact me at any time. Email tharr@eircom.net. or 086-3230638.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Br. Terence Harrington OFM. Cap.

(vocations director)

A Day in the Life of a Capuchin Student Friar

Peace to you!!


This is a nice documentary type film (13 minutes) following a student friar in America. It gives you a taste of what life is like......

If you feel inspired to make a radical and valuable difference in the life of the world by following St Francis as a Capuchin Friar. Listen to the words of the Angel to the Shepherds and to Mary: 'Do not be afraid'.

Listen....Hear....Respond to Christ's call to you. It's a unique call that nobody else can respond to.

Contact our Vocation Director, Br Terence on 086 3230638 or at tharr@eircom.net

Pax
Br Martin

Poor Clares Discernment Day

Poor Clare Monastry,Graiguecullen, Carlow
God's path for your life is made especially for you and no one else but you can travel it.
To you who are at the crossroads of life; you who are seeking what to do with your life and to know which vocation is yours.
Pope John Paul II said:
" I would like to ask each one of you; What will you do with your life ?
What are you plans ?
Have you ever thought of committing your existence totally to Christ ?
Will you offer yourselves to Christ, telling Him you are available ?
To learn more about the Poor Clares way of life, consider visiting them on Saturday 23rd March from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Check out http://www.poorclarescarlow.ie/welcome.htm for more information
or Contact: Br. Terence Harrington, OFM,Cap at tharr@eircom.net or 086 3230638

Welcome to Pope Francis !!!!

Here is the text of a nice blog post on our new Pope and his stance on Justice and Peace from http://camdenlifejustice.wordpress.com. This is a great occasion for the Church, a new Springtime and we pray that St Francis will guide and support this holy and humble man with his intercession.

Tonight we here the call of Christ to St Francis of Assisi once more 'Francis, go repair my Church'.
I feel this humble man from South America's response is that of Samuel 'Here, I am Lord, I come to do your will'

Habemus Papam! And this new Pope we have is one who hails from the developing world, took public transportation to work, decided to live in a small apartment in Buenos Aires instead of the Archdiocesan palace, and cooked his own meals. A Pope who, when he was made a Cardinal, asked people from Argentina not to fly to Rome for the ceremony, but to instead donate the money to organizations working with those in material need.

Habemus Papam!

He has stood with the poor and marginalized throughout his ministry. John Allen reports, for instance, that he visited an HIV/AIDS hospice in 2001 and washed and kissed the feet of 12 AIDS patients.

Some quotes:

“We live in the most unequal part of the world, which has grown the most yet reduced misery the least,” Bergoglio said during a gathering of Latin American bishops in 2007. “The unjust distribution of goods persists, creating a situation of social sin that cries out to Heaven and limits the possibilities of a fuller life for so many of our brothers.”

And:

The bishop’s fidelity to the Gospel and his love for the spirit of poverty lead him to a special option in favour of the poor who are at the central core of the Good News of Jesus. The bishop walks with them.

In this area of missionary activity the Synod fathers pointed out the bishop as a prophet of justice. Nowadays the war of the powerful against the weak has created an abyss between the rich and the poor. The poor are legion. Before an unjust economic system with strong structural inequalities, the situation of the marginalized is worse. Today substantial groups of people suffer hunger. The poor, the young and the refugees are victims of this “new order”. Women in many places are looked down upon and are the object of a new hedonist culture. The Bishop must never tire of preaching the social doctrine which comes from the Gospel and which the Church has made explicit since the times of the early Fathers.

Finally, for now, the warmth and apparent humility Pope Francis I displayed when he was introduced was moving and powerful — highlighted for me when he asked the gathered thousands to pray quietly for him before he blessed them. I’m excited for the journey ahead for all of us, church! Viva il Papa!

Francis & Clare

Peace!!

I was delighted to find a link on You Tube to one of the very best depictions of the life of St Francis and St Clare. It was made by Rai Uno for Italian TV. It is in Italian but has been dubbed in English in this version. This is the full movie and tells the story of Francis and Clare as they discover God's plan for them

For me this is a very inspirational film and brings Francis alive in a very real way. I hope you enjoy it too.

If you feel that you are being asked by God to make a difference in the World today by following in the footsteps of St Francis well then one of the first steps maybe to watch and learn some more about him.

You are welcome to contact our Vocations Director , Br Terence, at tharr@gmail.com

Pax
Br Martin

One of Padre Pio's favourite sayings

Pray, hope, and don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.        St. Padre Pio

 

 

 Interested in being a Capuchin Franciscan?  Contact me at any time. Mobile 086-3230638 Email tharr@eircom.net.

Br. Terence Harrington.

Our Prayer For The Conclave

 

God of Our Hope

At a moment when the Church

Must look at the world with new eyes,

We, your people, from every walk of life,

Unite in solidarity and hold in prayer those entrusted

With the responsibility of electing the one

Who is to be shepherd of us all in these times of uncertainty.

Behind the closed doors of the Sistine Chapel,

Cardinals will discern the future direction of our Church.

We pray that in that sacred room,

They will carry the hopes of the poor, the oppressed and the outcast.

May the promptings of Your Spirit bring to light Your truth.

There is neither East nor West.

At the table of our faith, where all chairs are of equal height,

There are neither divisions nor judgments, only love and respect.

All are welcome.

We are all one in Christ.

And when that white cloud of smoke announces the new pope,

May he be a man for all peoples,

A man who will stand for truth and justice, equality and accountability,

A man who will welcome all to our table of faith.

Let him walk the streets of this earth with the humble, the lost and the destitute.

Let him be a true beacon of hope in their eyes.

We ask this in the name of the One

who lived and died an outcast in this world.

Amen.

PRAYER

1 / 1 By Dianna Ortiz, OSU l Copyright © 2013, Center of Concern