Nashville Dominicans visit Saint Saviour's, Dublin.

A large number of people gathered in Saint Saviour's Dominican priory in Dublin this evening to meet with some members of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia (better known as the Nashville Dominican sisters). In an uplifting and joyful presentation, the sisters talked about their congregation (which is over 150 years old), their life and ministry. They also talked about the New Evangelisation and their understanding of their role in the promotion of this as a congregation.

One of the sisters who was at the meeting is a postulant in the congregation and hails from Wexford. Clare Kavanagh (on the left in the photo above) joined the sisters last year having studied pharmacy in Dublin. For this blogger, it gave great satisfaction to hear Clare's vocation story. It was a brief entry on the Nashville Dominican sisters on this blog that prompted Clare to contact the sisters in the first instance. Later in the summer, she hopes to become a novice in the Order.

There was a lively question and answer session with the sisters followed by informal chat over tea and refreshments to conclude.

I have met a number of Nashville Dominicans over the past number of years. The one thing that always strikes me about them is their joy. It is clear that that joy which they radiate is deeply rooted in a love for Christ. It is quite infectious and it is easy to see why they attract so many vocations. May God continue to bless them and their powerful witness to Dominican life.

For more on the Dominican sisters of Saint Cecilia, please visit: www.nashvilledominican.org

Irish Dominican Friars - Provincial Chapter 2012

 Saint Mary's Dominican Priory, Tallaght, Co. Dublin.

The 2012 Provincial Chapter of the Irish Dominican friars runs from today, June 4th 2012.

Taking place in St Mary's Priory, Tallaght, Dublin 24 (pictured above; link to the priory's website: http://www.stmarys-tallaght.ie/portal/), thirty members of the province, comprising some local superiors and other brothers elected democratically as delegates, will take part in the chapter which is due to elect a new provincial at the conclusion of Fr Patrick Lucey's two terms in that position.

The chapter will also include a brief "assembly" of all the brothers of the province who wish to take part in it as a lead-in discussion before the work of the chapter begins in earnest.

A provincial chapter, which in every province of the Dominican Order is usually held every four years, not only elects a new provincial, it makes appointments to some of the major positions in the province such as the Regent of Studies, the Moderators of local centres of studies, Masters of students and novices, bursar (concerned with economic matters) of the province, Director of Vocations, among others.

It is also possible for a provincial chapter to choose to discuss and make decisions on important projects and developments, new ventures or to discontinue some present endeavours.

Please pray for the success of the 2012 Irish Dominican provincial chapter.

Conclusion of Academic Year 2011-12 with Apostolic Nuncio

 The student brothers pictured with the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland and the Regent of Studies and Master of Students

The current academic year for our brothers in formation has come to a conclusion today, June 2nd, 2012 with the celebration of the Eucharist. The principal celebrant and homilist at the Mass was the Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland, his excellency Archbishop Charles Brown. In his remarks during the homily, Archbishop Brown thanked the Irish Dominican friars (particularly the prior provincial, the prior of Saint Saviour's and the Regent of Studies for the Irish Dominicans) for the kind invitation to mark the end of the academic year with them. He also noted the many Dominican influences on his life and encouraged the younger brothers of the Irish province in their vocation. He said that the Dominican vocation was essential to the life of the Church. He also asked for the prayers of the brethren gathered at the Mass to pray for him and his ministry in Ireland.

Now that the student brothers have completed their academic year, they will be involved in pastoral engagements throughout the summer months along with some time for holidays. More immediately, they will take part in the assembly of the provincial chapter of the Irish Dominicans which begins next week and then be involved in the 50th Eucharistic Congress which takes place in Dublin in just over a week.

Please continue to pray for all our brothers in formation and for vocations to the Dominican friars in Ireland.

'Are You Happy'?

The monastery of Saint Catherine of Siena, Drogheda, Co. Louth

The reflection below in italics from one of the community of Dominican nuns at Siena monastery in Drogheda, Co. Louth deserves to be shared with as many as possible. The reflection is a response to a questioner at the recently held Dominican family vocations day in Saint Saviour's Priory in Dublin on March 24th last. It captures the essence of the vocation of the contemplative Dominican nun, but also should prove helpful to anyone considering the Dominican way of life. Here is the reflection, which can also be accessed at the blog of the Dominican nuns http://www.dominicannunsireland.blogspot.com/

Some weeks ago now, there was held in Dublin, a vocations day for the Dominican Family, at which one person from each ‘branch’ (i.e. friars, sisters, nuns and lay Dominicans) – spoke a little on their path to where they now are. One of the nuns (this one) I don’t know what happened to her, but not to be remembered if at all possible. It caused one of the listeners to ask ‘Are you happy?’ and I don’t know if I even answered the question – rather helplessly, I’m afraid. Something along the lines of ‘our life is needed’! Very lame, like a saturated sponge, pretty awful.



That was a while ago, and obviously not far from my mind since, but here during our retreat, I was dreaming with the Lord in the garden – which is not unusual – and in God it was that my answer was found.


We don’t ‘go out’ as such; our whole life here is lived here, for the most part lived within the walls and garden of the monastery. If you were to ask many of the sisters here, they would tell you that they all have a missionary heart within them. To go where there is need and bring the Lord with them, to the poor and the sick and the troubled in whatever way. It’s in a sense peculiar, but there it is – true none the less.


I am not God, nor am I like Him – even remotely – but I love Him and through baptism, I am in Him. My whole life here is lived in God, in the heart of the Lord – He is everywhere, at every moment. I was smelling the sea, and we are very far from the sea here; but the breeze carried it to the garden, and that sense came over me, which has done so before – a realisation that I don’t have to be everywhere; only here, in God. I can’t go everywhere for God, but if I remain in Him, and He is with me, He makes everywhere to be where I am. He brings everywhere to me.


My favourite place in all the world is off the west coast of Ireland, so whenever He brings the sea to me, I am there – out in the middle of the ocean, on a small little island that nowhere can compare to. Out in the middle of the wild, unpredictable ocean – often disturbed and stormy; very often restless and even angry. It depends on the weather.

If you are still with me … it made me wonder about ‘we Irish’; even not only Irish, but ‘we who live on the land of Ireland’ – we are used to unpredictable, disturbing, angry, restless weather, are we not? I think we could easily translate the weather outside to the history of the country through which we are living now – even in the Church. The storm is quite violent, and it seems to be attacking us at our very roots; even deeper – on the floor of the ocean – down there where it’s as though the earth’s plates are rubbing against each other, wreaking chaos.


And that seems to me to be the answer to the question asked those weeks ago – a part of the answer – about our life here; for us who so so love the Church, and long so much more than can be put into words, for her unity and healing – our life is to be the offering of our living blood, that it may sink into that foundation, to fall between the plates in a sense, the blood that can fill in the cracks and join them, if that makes sense. As we were reminded during the week; we belong, as a Church, out in the middle of the storm, not safely tied up at the harbour (I’m not a sailor, don’t know the language, sorry) – if we stay faithfully there, Jesus will come to us, as He did to the disciples: ‘It is I: do not be afraid’. Col. 1:24 – 26 (making up all that has still to be undergone by Christ, for the sake of his body, which is the Church) - I don’t think you could call it a question of happiness; definitely an aching desire that the world may come to know the joy of Christ; the wonder of His mercy and love. There is nowhere in the world I’d rather be. For Him. …. and for you.

A note from Vilnius

At the invitation of the Dominican friars of the regional vicariate of the Baltics, I have arrived in Vilnius - the capital of Lithuania. Over the weekend, the friars of this region are hosting a series of conferences and meetings to promote Dominican life in this area. The situation is fragile with a total of just fifteen friars in the three Baltic states of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. There is a small number of contemplative nuns in the area and some lay Dominicans. The upcoming conference is an attempt to showcase the Dominican family and to try and raise the profile of the Order.

Given that the Dominican family in Ireland has over the past number of years hosted vocation days, I look forward to sharing with the members of the Order in this part of the world something of the collaborative effort that exists in Ireland.

The warmth of the welcome from the Dominican family here has been superb and I hope that we can reciprocate in the not too distant future.

Pope Benedict encourages US bishops to foster vocations

As the American bishops conclude their 'ad limina' visit to the Holy Father, Pope Benedict in his final address to them stressed the need for them to promote and foster vocations. His words are important for all of us to hear - especially in Ireland. The text of Pope Benedict's address regarding vocations is in italics below:

"At the present time, too, I urge you to remain particularly close to the men and women in your local Churches who are committed to following Christ ever more perfectly by generously embracing the evangelical counsels. I wish to reaffirm my deep gratitude for the example of fidelity and self-sacrifice given by many consecrated women in your country, and to join them in praying that this moment of discernment will bear abundant spiritual fruit for the revitalization and strengthening of their communities in fidelity to Christ and the Church, as well as to their founding charisms. The urgent need in our own time for credible and attractive witnesses to the redemptive and transformative power of the Gospel makes it essential to recapture a sense of the sublime dignity and beauty of the consecrated life, to pray for religious vocations and to promote them actively, while strengthening existing channels for communication and cooperation, especially through the work of the Vicar or Delegate for Religious in each Diocese."

Spanish vocations video causes a stir!

This very popular video on YouTube has caused a good deal of comment in European vocation circles. The video is an initiative of the Spanish bishops' conference which was produced to mark that country's 'Seminary Day' which took place on March 19th last. As you will see, it features nine diocesan priests who tell in a dramatic way what the priesthood is.

Some of the controversial comment surrounds the language used - most notably that the priesthood is a 'steady' job. This is in a country where unemployment is very high. Many are questioning whether the rise in numbers entering seminary in Spain (up almost 5 per cent in the past year) are related to the high levels of unemployment among the young. A similar line of questioning emerged in Ireland around 2009-10 when numbers of vocations were on a temporary increase. It was clear in the Irish context that the economic downturn had little if anything  to do with the increase of entrants to seminary and religious life. The debate in Spain, however, has taken a more interesting turn. This increase, albeit modest, reflects a noticeable return of Spanish Catholics to the church.

Some of the factors in the upturn in vocation numbers in Spain are attributed to a renewal of fostering vocations primary, secondary level schools and also at universities. The World Youth Day event in Madrid last year is also cited as having a strong impact where the fruits of that will be seen in the coming years. This buoyancy in new vocations has prompted this video being launched by the Spanish bishops.

You can make up your own mind about the video and its contents. For me, anything that highlights priesthood in a positive fashion and that underlines that the priesthood is about bringing Jesus Christ to the world can only be good. Irish ecclesiastical authorities, please take note!