Update from the KM Office 

Dear members of the Kildare Ministries community,

Firstly, let me say that each of our Boards, our Leaders of the Community Works and our Principals have been exemplary in the way they have managed their responses to the COVID19 pandemic. Not only have they communicated clearly and calmly to their own communities, but they have also been a great source of supported and wisdom for each other.  I am in deep admiration for their compassion and care, their ability to navigate this space and their professionalism.  Further, their ability to respond appropriately and strategically when time is really working against them, has been a lesson for us all in collaboration, team work and shared responsibility.

To switch gears and to transfer to electronic learning in a matter of weeks is no easy task.  So many contingencies need to be considered.  Thank you to every teacher and support staff in schools who have had to navigate this new challenge. Leaders of our Community Works have had to reassess their business model and make difficult decision in terms of what services can still be offered to the most vulnerable in our society. There is a great comfort in knowing, that for the moment, each of our ministries has worked to  secure the employment of their staffs.   

Like you, we have been discerning the best way to respond in this critical time and like you we have considered the health and wellbeing of our community in making these decisions. As a general rule, we have cancelled/postponed all face to face gathering until the end of Term 2. We are looking at some on-line options for the network meetings but will communicate this in time.

Tentative new dates for the Living Justice Conference are 28-30 April 2021 and the Pilgrimage to Ireland is postponed to 2022.  

Cancelled until further is the Board Directors and Stewardship Council Seminar scheduled for the 9th May at Marian College Sunshine West. The Founding Grace Retreat 13-15 May is postponed until later in the year – date to be advised.

Please refer to the calendar at the end of the newsletter on the status of other formation programmes.

Recruitment for the Mission Leader

Renee Oberin’s secondment has been extended until the end of the year. We are most grateful to Michael Delaney, Principal of St Joseph's for granting Renee leave and to Renee for agree to work with us until the end of 2020. This extension allows us stability in terms of the delivery of our formation programme as well as an opportunity to explore and develop on-line resources. 

We hope to advertise in July/ August but it will depend on the impact of this pandemic if we still go ahead with this plan. 

Mission and Ministry Team

As of Tuesday 24th March we will be working from home until further notice. We can be contacted via mobile phone and via email but be mindful that there will be no-one in the office. Thank you for your understanding as we all try to work through this together.

Let’s not forget the grace of Easter

This morning I was reading a post from Brené Brown.  She says it so eloquently:

This pandemic experience is a massive experiment in collective vulnerability. We can be our worst selves when we’re afraid, or our very best, bravest selves. In the context of fear and vulnerability, there is often very little in between because when we are uncertain and afraid our default is self-protection. We don't have to be scary when we're scared. Let’s choose awkward, brave, and kind. And let’s choose each other.

It really does feel that we are entering, the wilderness and the unknown like Jesus’ 40 days in the desert. Pope Francis says,  “If we enter the desert with Jesus, we will leave it at Easter when the power of God's love renews life, and just like those deserts that bloom in spring with buds and plants suddenly sprouting from the sand, if we follow Jesus, our deserts will also bloom."

Let us focus on being hopeful, supportive and community minded and may we feel the strength of our unity through this crisis at the end.

Finally let’s try to  share the good news stories and the acts of kindness which might easily be dwarfed in the fear. If you send htem to me, I will be happy to distribute to others. 

Take care of yourselves and others and go gently my friends.

Erica Pegorer

Executive Director