“Wherever I shall be, I intend to imagine myself to be together with all the creatures in the Cenacle in Jerusalem where the Apostles received the Holy Spirit. I shall remind myself to renew this desire often. As the Apostles Continue reading QUEEN OF APOSTLES→

Summertime, the grass grew tall down the long back garden at home where my mother would spread out the newly washed white bedsheets to dry, sheets that were often made of flour bags sewn together. The days seemed sunnier then Continue reading PEACE: From the hand of a child to the heart of a man→

Homily for the funeral Mass of Fr. Noel O’Connor, SAC, 16th May 2019. A very warm welcome to our Community chapel, we gather here several times daily to pray and to celebrate Mass. We are gathered for our final Mass Continue reading FR. NOEL’S FUNERAL: Homily by Fr. Derry→

Judas leaves the warmth and light of the Upper Room, separates himself from the grace of the Eucharist, and goes out into the cold night to betray Jesus for whom this must have been one of the most difficult moments Continue reading JOY BEYOND SORROW: Mental Health Awareness Week→

It’s one of those moments when solitude bites – that most blessed gift of God that I treasure. It’s when loneliness overwhelms me and there is no one there to absorb it with me, no human face-to-face physical presence. And Continue reading REMEMBERING NOEL: A Child at Rest→

Our brother Noel died peacefully in the Hospice in Blackrock this afternoon at 15.15. Noel was transferred to the Hospice on Tuesday of last week and he spent the last days surrounded by care, compassion and companionship. Michael Irwin and myself, along Continue reading FR. NOEL O’CONNOR SAC R.I.P.→

She is one of the most beautiful expressions of womanhood I have ever met and in that she was also a most beautiful expression of who God is. With her I felt safe and redeemed, loved and admired.  As I Continue reading Helen Mahon UAC R.I.P.→

When I was small we all looked forward to the first of May – long before the Bee Gees wrote their beautiful song – when the leaves were fresh on the trees and the sun seemed to shine most of Continue reading FIRST OF MAY: When I Was Small→

Red the life vest of the oarsman. Red the wide-rim hat of a smiling cyclist.  Red the lips, the dress of a woman walking into the sun. Red the fluttering shirt of a young man running.  Red the coat of Continue reading 40 Years Red→