Editorial

A Time to Transform.

Kildare Ministries Pilgrimage 2019

According to Dr Noelia Molina, Lecturer at SpIRE (Spirituality Institute for Research and Education), while on pilgrimage, we surrender ourselves to mystery, wonder, and revelation, thus being open to a transformation from within.

I am sure that I speak also on behalf of the other pilgrims when I say our experience was truly one of transformation, and thus, a true pilgrimage.

Through the places we visited and the speakers who enriched us, we journeyed through the lands and gained an understanding of, the Celts and the early Irish Christian communities, before making our way to the streets of Nano and Daniel.

From the outset, Br Denis Gleeson asked us to stop, be still, and listen to the voice of God in our hearts. This really set the scene for the journey that was to come.

The pilgrimage called us to be fully aware of the presence of God in our lives, and in that which is all around us. But, we were also called to be open to the ways that God touches us and so we were encouraged to ensure that we move the spiritual from the edges of our lives to the centre.

Overwhelmingly, this was the experience for all of us. We allowed ourselves time to stop, to be still, and to listen to the voice of God from within. Our journey took us to spiritual heights, physical challenges, and emotional openings.

I would like to thank Andrea, Erica and Paul for the work that went on behind the scenes to help make this experience one of incredible worth. I would also like to thank the Trustees for their support and endorsement of the pilgrimage.

The pilgrimage, however, is not over. Having experienced a transformation of the heart, our challenge now is to have the courage to bring our experiences into the lives of those in our ministries and ensure that the mission of Jesus is real, and well and truly alive in our communities.

 

 

Check out the Kildare Ministries' Formation and Meeting dates for 2020 in the calendar section of this newsletter!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nano,

Your heart yearned to embrace the world,

But your ways were held within narrow streets.

Each day’s pilgrimage was walled. You fared

Beyond no far seas to share God’s Word.

No, you kindled fire on homely hearts,

Small sparks of hope against the dark.

But within …. Ah, within …. There blazed such fire,

Such beacon of desire to see the dream of God

Made real on earth, that still it flames

To kindle other hearts afar in space and time.

And we, whose steps are held in walled

And narrow ways, ask only this:

May we burn with like desire while here we seek

To bring the dream of God alive today

In this small corner of our yearning world.

(Raphael Consedine pbvm Mission Home)

 

 

Enrico Caprioli

Assistant Principal Religious Identity and Mission

Kildare College