Norah Balls and Nano Nagle: Here, two dangerous women, both of whom stood up and fought for what they believed was right – the education and recognition of girls and women. They gave their all to putting into action the words they heard in their hearts

Before Jesus returned to his Father in Heaven, he told his friends to go back to Jerusalem and wait for the the Holy Spirit. For 9 days, the Friends of Jesus waited with Mary. During this time, they prayed.

We now join in prayer for nine days, waiting for the gifts and fruits of the Spirit to be poured out again on us so that we can spread the good news of Jesus to others.

The Christian ceremony of Coronation was so reminiscent of Catholic tradition, not unlike Priestly Ordination in which symbolic garb is worn andVows expressed and signed.  Sacred, serious and poignant !

It’s a small museum tucked away on a side street in Ireland, and it focuses on the life of an eighteenth-century nun. But if that makes Nano Nagle Place in Cork sound like a backwater of a visitor attraction, think again. As well as being named Museum of the Year 2022 by the Council of Europe, it’s in the top 10 per cent of museums worldwide reviewed on Trip Advisor.

During Lent we walked the WAY of the CROSS, while in this time of Easter joy, we walk the VIA LUCIS-a pilgrimage of LIGHT. As the great Easter Vigil reminds us, we are invited to move from darkness to light as we journey with the Risen Lord. This experience of faith and what it is to be Church and a praying community, has radically changed our experiences.

On Friday, 21st April - there is a mass protect pilgrimage against fossil fuels. Many of us cannot be there BUT we can pray.

I would invite you all to cut out a green heart - perhaps write a prayer on it and hang it on a tree where others can see it.....

A turning away from sin and turning back to a forgiving, loving, ready to relent God is central to our lives of ‘prayer, fasting and alms deeds’ as we work our way through the Lenten season.  On receiving ashes on our foreheads on Ash Wednesday, we are encouraged to turn away from sin and follow the Gospel of love, compassion, fidelity, justice and peace. 

In the spirit of Nano Nagle, a weekly offering of hospitality in Nottinghamshire: “What is really important is that those who are serving and those who pop in to see how things are, provide pastoral care – someone who will sit and listen. This is just as important as the meal and certainly valued.”

God of all time, help us enter the New Year quietly, thoughtful of who we are to ourselves and to others, mindful that our steps make an impact and our words carry power.

God, be a smooth way before me,

A guiding star above me,

A keen eye behind me,

A presence within me,

A blessing about me,

Each moment of

each day and each night.

But God is calling each of us today, just as John the Baptist was called, just as Nano Nagle was called, I, too am called – to be a prophetic witness and a sign of hope – I am called to birth Jesus into our world.

On this most sacred of nights, we remember that the Risen Lord will ‘visit us to give light to those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death and to guide our feet into the way of peace’ (Lk 1: 79).

Today: bring your family and friends before God and NAME each one of them-perhaps you can light a candle for them

Today we pray with Mary and offer our full praise and thanks to God; concentrate on the good that you have received and offer those bad memories and experiences to a God who is walking with you today

Be kind, listen and give praise and thanks who help you along the Camino today: may your day move from grey to gold.

We shared today’s reading from Luke some weeks ago on the feast on the Immaculate Conception. However, reading it again, with only days before the great celebration of Christmas, the story of Annunciation seems more poignant and special.

Today: in this busy week leading up to Christmas Day, allow yourself the gift of silence

Today we can follow the example of Mary and see great things happen with just a little love, mixed with a little faith; Christmas is not something that happened to other people many, many centuries ago. Christmas can happen every day when we bring our faith together and say to God, “Take my life. Be it done to you and be it done to me according to Your word.”

Lord, I thank you for my heritage and my family history. Bless all my family, living and dead; may I play my full part and never discredit my family name. Today, Lord, bless us especially with your wisdom. AMEN

As we see in the great parable of Last Judgement (Matt 25: 31-46), Christianity is a call to be active and involved and not sitting around on the side-lines.