Blogging With Purpose

Etty Hillesum was a vital, life-giving presence in the midst of darkness and evil.  Through the months in the concentration camp, as her contemplative heart attended to her inner life more and more, she developed a deep sense of solidarity which her people, and she found she longed to care for the weakest and most vulnerable. She interrupts the scoffing ...

The three approaches that I would indicate are: holiness, as a calling that gives meaning to one’s entire life journey; communion as the fertile soil for vocations in the Church and vocation itself, as a keyword to be preserved and “conjugated” with others – “happiness”, “freedom” and “together” – and finally “declined” as special consecration.   Holiness Talking about vocation always leads to thinking of young ...

The Vatican has released the text of the Pope’s message for Vocations Sunday which will be celebrated this year on Sunday 12 May on the theme ‘The courage to take a risk for God’s promise’.     Dear Brothers and Sisters, After the lively and fruitful experience of the Synod devoted to young people last October, we recently celebrated the ...

There is something  about the juxtaposition of death and life in Holy Week that seems to be mirrored in these times, against a world landscape of events where it is as if the stability and certainly of all things that we took for granted ‘as always being there’ is being pushed to its limits. I had a conversation with a ...

As I sit down to write a short reflection about my time as a Presentation Sister in India I notice there’s a supplement to the Irish Independent (8th March 2019) on the table where I am working. It has a  headline about practices to follow in order to show respect for the National flag – the flag should normally be displayed ...

Presentation Sister  Mary Turley has over a number of decades served the Flax Trust as a founding director. Besides supporting the work of a Housing Association that builds houses for both communities, the Flax Trust has financed Ulster Community Investment Trust for the purpose of supporting Socio-Economic activity in both communities in Northern Ireland. The Flax Trust has also developed the School of Social Entrepreneurs of Ireland which promotes leadership in both communities in Northern Ireland through graduate programmes. ...

This time of extended light and emerging buds (bachlóga) allows one to notice and stop in wonder at each semblance of new life appearing out of nature’s harvesting of autumn fruits with their seeds, and their hidden, slow nourishment during winter days. It is a thankful, hopeful, expectant and inspirational period as we look outward and forward. Not surprising then ...

“Experts in Communion”, that is what Pope Francis calls us to become! The standard to reach is high: experts are people who are top masters in their field of competence and who are able to guide others since they are usually ahead of others in their field…Experts in Communion? We would rather describe ourselves as “walking towards communion”, since we ...

Do not forget to show hospitality, for by so doing some people have welcomed angels without knowing it. (Hebrews 13:2)   After The pilgrimage of trust, organised by Taizé community in December in Madrid, brother Alois proposed a reflection on several aspects of hospitality. First proposal: Discover the source of hospitality in God From the beginning of the universe, God ...

I love Christmas Eve, in fact I think it is my favourite part of Christmas. The expectation, the smells of the ham cooking and the Christmas candle in the window to guide Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. Growing up on a farm in the countryside I don’t think I was really aware that homelessness and marginalization were an integral part ...