Celebrating the Year of Consecrated Life

An interesting video launched to mark the beginning of the Year of Consecrated Life!  It captures the charism of five Religious Orders, including the Capuchins. It focuses on vocation discernment. If you are interested in discerning your vocation with us, the Capuchins, you can contact me at 086 3230638 or tharr@eircom.net. Visit our website:  www.capuchinfranciscans.ie.

Capuchin Franciscan Vocation Experience, Kilkenny 5th - 7th December 2014

 

                                                       

We are the Capuchin Franciscan Friars. We serve God, the Church and those in need. This is what it means to live a 'Gospel life'. It is a life of Brotherhood to each other and to all those we encounter. A life centred on Christ is a life filled with the 'Joy of the Gospel'. 

To spend a weekend experiencing what it is like to live and minister as a Capuchin Friar, contact our Vocations Director, Br Terence Harrington on 086 323 0638 or e-mail: tharr@eircom.net. 

The Last Mass of St Pio of Pietrelcina

                                          

"After my death I will do more. My real mission will begin then." (Padre Pio)

If you happen to be interested in the Capuchin way of life and would appreciate some support in discerning your vocation you are welcome to contact me at 086 3230638 or email capuchinvocation@gmail.com.

We provide an opportunity for those interested to spend some time living in one of our communities, so as to experience Franciscan life at first hand.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Br. Terence Harrington. 
Director of Vocatins.
www.capuchinfranciscans.ie.

Blessed Pope Paul VI

Pope Paul VI who was Pope from 1963 to 1978 was beatified this morning by Pope Francis in Rome. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was in attendance for the ceremony which was held at the end of the extraordinary Synod on the Family. 

Today the church celebrates World Mission Sunday. It is fitting that Pope Paul (named after St.Paul who travelled all over Europe to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ) is beatified on this day as he was the first Pope to travel overseas and the first Pope to travel by aeroplane. 

Among the countries Pope Paul visited was The Holy Land, The United Nations in New York, Uganda, and the Philippeans... In all this, he took the papacy to the people in a new way. It also paved the way for further Apostolic journeys by John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and lately Francis. 

Blessed Paul VI - Pray for Us. 

Welcome to Anthony and Daniel...our Postulants!!

Peace to you all!!

Last Saturday (11th October 2014), in a very simple, yet joyful ceremony, we officially welcomed Anthony Mahon and Daniel Pervan into our Postulancy Programme.

(L-R) Br Mike, Guardian; Anthony Mahon, Daniel Pervan, Br Philip, Postulant Director

These two men will spend the next nine months sharing the life of the Friars in Raheny as began to discern God's call, at a deeper level.

The Postulancy is the first stage of initial formation and consists of living in community, classes on catecethics, Christian and Franciscan spirituality, prayer, personal development as well as some experience of  pastoral ministry in our Capuchin Day Centre of Homeless People.

We ask you to keep Anthony and Daniel in your prayers over the coming months.

Pax

Br Martin OFM Cap.

The Solemn Profession of Brother Martin Bennett OFM Cap 27th of September 2014

'In the Lord I'll be ever thankful, in the Lord I will rejoice. Look to God, do not be afraid, raise up your voices, the Lord is here...' 

To the sound of this Taize chant we processed into the Oratory of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Raheny, as I prepared to take vows which will commit me to life as a Capuchin Franciscan Friar, until death. The ceremony was heavy with symbolism and the air rich with a palpable energy, as surround by Friars, family and friends, I made my vows into the hands of Brother Adrian Curran OFM Cap, our Provincial Minister.

I am immensely grateful and humbled to be counted as a Brother of St Francis of Assisi and pray that the life of St Francis will inspire more men to come and follow Christ as a Capuchin Franciscan Friar.

Here are some images of the day.
Pax et Bonum!!
Brother Martin OFM Cap.

Brother Bryan and Brother Iggy

Brother Lucjen (British Province) with Brother Bryan

Sublime and moving music provided by the Taize Community

Brother Kevin (Church Street) and Brother Pius (Halston Street)

Brother Jeremy (Rochestown, Cork)

Brother Adrian (Provincial Minister), Brother Martin and Brother Bryan (preacher)

Brother John (Carlow) and Brother Jeremy

Brother Martin lies prostrate on the floor as the Litany of the Saints is chanted 

'In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity, I Brother Martin Bennett...'

'Into your hands, Brother Adrian...'

Solemn prayer of Consecration

After Brother Martin is consecrated as a Capuchin Friar for life, the assembled Friars exchange a sign of peace with him

Brother Tom (Holy Trinity, Cork) and Brother Kevin

Brother Sean (Kilkenny) and Brother Eustace (Raheny)

In the presence of the Provincial Minister and two witnesses, Brother Martin signs the Solemn Profession register

Brother Bryan (Guardian, Church St), Brother Adrian (Provincial Minister), Brother Martin & Brother Mike (Guardian, Raheny)

Brother Richard (Church St) and Brother Martin

Brother Sean Kelly (Raheny) & Brother Martin

Brother Anthony at 92 years young!

The Exaltation of the Holy Cross

There were raised eyebrows when Jesus tells Nicodemus in John's Gospel that the Son of Man is destined to suffer, and to die on the cross. What he was saying didn't make sense to the disciples and to Nicodemus. They all felt that the promised Messiah should fit into their category - that of saviour who would be powerful and influential in the eyes of the world. God's ways are not our ways. 

The language Jesus speaks is at variance with the language the world speaks. Pilate couldn't understand why Jesus seems to be indifferent to whether he could save him or condemn him. "Don't you know that I have the power to set you free or to crucify you?" "You would have now power over me if it had not been given you from above." This attitude of Jesus rattles Pilate. Jesus is on a mission and is unconcerned about himself. He wants only what the Father wants. He is interested in God's will and nothing more. 

The shadow of the cross is something that many people live with today. Parents of sick children, people coping with the loss of a loved one. Those who are living with a new reality following a health scare, and families making a decision to leave home to find work elsewhere. The homeless and those who are marginalised. Innocent people living in the crossfire of warring factions in places crippled by war and injustice. The cross of Jesus Christ is there to show all who struggle that their sufferings are not ignored and that God sees this clearly. And he sends generous people to help make a difference. At fist glance the cross of Jesus is a symbol of pain and shame. But look deeper and the cross is the theatre of redemption. 

St Francis of Assisi Full Movie

New Postulants.

Seven new candidates begin their formation with the Capuchins of St. Conrad Province. We wish them well and will keep them in our prayers. Please pray for vocations, daily, if possible.

 

"Pray the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into the harvest."

Capuchin Vocations: Discernment Reflections

If you think God might be calling you to religious life and would like help in discerning your vocation I will be only too pleased to support you in your discernment. If you so wish you can come and spend some time in one of our communities so as to experience for yourself what our life is like. You can contact me at 086 3230638 or tharr@eircom.net.  (Br. Terence Harrington, Vocations director)

Capuchins release new video.

We Franciscans need you

 

Saying YES to God can be daunting especially when it involves a total giving of yourself to Him. But God will never be outdone in generosity. Just trust Him and all will be well. Are you discerning your vocation at present? Would you like some support and accompaniment? Contact me (Br. Terence Harrington) at 086 3230638 or capuchinvocation@gmail.com.

 

We Franciscans need you.

 

 

Cpauchin Franciscan Vocations Weekend: 6 - 8 June 2014, Raheny, Dublin.

Compelled...

"No one can come to me, unless drawn by the Father who sent me." John 6:44

Br. Bryan Shortall ofm.cap.

I've been reflecting on these words of Jesus from the Gospel of today's Mass and in particular as another back-drop to Vocation's Sunday tomorrow.

People often ask me the question; "What made you become a Capuchin?" And the truth is, it was like I had no choice, I was compelled in a sense. Like Jesus, immediately following his baptism by John in the River Jordan, he was compelled to go into the desert. I was drawn by Jesus Christ to the Capuchin Franciscan family.

 

I joined the Capuchin Order in September 1987 and made Perpetual vows in September 1994. Through those initial years, I studied Philosophy and Theology and worked in different ministries like in our Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless, Young Franciscans, and Second-level School Chaplaincy training. I also had the opportunity to study French in Paris over a summer time in 1992 and during the Summer of 1993 I worked with one of our Friars who was a part of the Irish Chaplaincy in London.

 

 

I was Ordained Priest in June 1997 and following some post-graduate study, I worked in School Chaplaincy in Dublin and Cork from 1997-2007, and then Hospital Chaplaincy, 2007-2010. I am currently in Parish Ministry in Dublin City's Market's Area right now.

 

Recently, I celebrated 25 years in the Order and I'm grateful to God that I was compelled to follow Jesus Christ as a Capuchin Franciscan. I'm also thankful that so many have inspired me and continue to do so as I go along. Could it be that God might be calling you too? Echoing the words of Jesus Christ; Pope Saint John Paul II often said; "Do not be afraid!" And he also quoted the powerful words of Saint Catherine of Siena at World Youth Day in 2000; "If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze."

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the message of eternal life..." (John 6:68)