Living with Strength and Kindliness
Anam Cara
A couple of weeks back I attended a Catholic Identity Professional Development run by the spiritual director for the Diocese of Sandhurst. I attend many of Catholic Identity Professional Developments but there were a couple of key features of this one that really stuck in my mind. The reason I went to this Professional Development was because we have been working on our new staff ‘Onboarding’ Program and we are navigating what our ‘new people’ need to know about our Catholic faith and how it influences the culture of the school as they embark on their journey as an employee at St. Joseph’s College. This is definitely important work as it helps us to achieve the Vision and Mission goals of our College in a collective way, with everyone onboard.
I have been part of Brigidine culture since 1984, which seems like a really long time. But I had never heard of the concept of a ‘soul friend’ before. We have, most likely, heard of the concept of a soulmate, but it is not really the same idea.
Anam Cara (soul friend) is closely associated with the Celtic tradition and with St. Brigid in particular. Brigid herself is known for being a wise soul friend who was a mentor, guide and companion to many on their life journey. A soul friend was considered indispensable.
A person without a soul friend is like a body without a head. Attributed to St. Brigid of Kildare.
Soul friendship is marked by self disclosure and vulnerability, by mercy and understanding, and its aim is to support growth in holiness and love. Soul friendship is distinctive because it is marked by a kind of love that is centred in joy, in sharing the bread of life in all the ways that it appears in our lives.
‘A soul friend will be a hearth where we may sit in silence and be warmed. A soul friend will be a place of belonging and rest. And a soul friend will help to kindle the divine fire within the soul.’
There’s a wonderful little story of St. Brigid that gives yet another glimpse of Anam Cara. One day Brigid saw a man walking in the valley by the bank of a river bent under a load. She felt pity for him and said to her nuns, “Let us go to the man and carry his load with him on our way.” And so they did.
Do you have a soul friend with whom you can share your load?
Is God calling you to be a soul friend to another?
I have been gifted with several soul friends over the years in my life. Every day I reflect with gratitude about how blessed I am to have these beautiful people around me. I am always struck by a soul friend’s ability to say gently what my soul may know. I am struck by a soul friend’s intuitive awareness to how I am going at a particular time. I am struck by a soul friend’s presence in times of great joy or at times of great grief. I know that having a soul friend makes me more fully human.
However we experience Anam Cara in the relationships of our lives, whether it be through a wise and compassionate friend or some other way it is Christ who is our deepest and truest anam cara, the one who knows us better than we know ourselves. Jesus says… “I no longer call you servants…I call you my friends.” And as our truest Anam Cara, Jesus invites each one of us to be a soul friend with him.
Brigid knew how important such a friend is in a person’s life. Anam Cara is not just a feature of Brigid’s time; it is a gift for all of us today!
Kirrilee Westblade
Catholic Identity Leader
Celebrating Fr. Des
All parishioners are invited to join Fr. Des for Mass as he celebrates his retirement.
St. Joseph’s College Oak Centre
9.30am Sunday 23 May 2021
Followed by Morning Tea
(No Saturday evening Mass May 22).
St. Mary’s Parish is privileged to be able to celebrate with Fr. Des as he begins the next chapter of his life journey. Fr. Des wishes to celebrate his time at St. Mary’s and
acknowledges that this is a fitting end to his ‘working life’. He wishes to be able to bring the parish community together for Mass, which is why we have waited until now for the big event. To meet Covid regulations, the Mass will be held at St. Joseph’s College.
As is always his way, he would like for everyone to be able to participate in the Mass. He asks that you take the time to reflect on our parish and what it means to you; how has the parish impacted in your life under his leadership?
Enclosed in the Bulletin this weekend are cards for you to write a note on. Please complete it in the coming weeks and bring it along to Mass on the day. All will be anonymous unless you wish to add your name.
There is no doubt that we have been blessed to have Fr. Des as our parish priest these past years and are grateful that we can finally thank him.
If you would like to read the first edition of the Faith in our Future 200 years of Catholic Education Magazine please click here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-kaFPURB9yC83fL0PM5slfnFjFBK8enP/view
Sandpiper and the Australian Catholics magazines have now gone digital!
Please see the link below to access: