Upcoming Events

Finding Yourself On The Way

If you are looking for an altogether different experience this summer you can find yourself on The Way. For the first time we are organising a pilgrimage for young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 to walk along the Camino de Santiago de Compostela or the Way of St. James this June. It’s an outward and inward spiritual journey, where we take the time to walk together, reflect and enjoy an unforgettable experience that continues to draw people from all around the world.  

Our Camino pilgrimage will take place from the 18th to the 25th of June. We should have people coming from both the UK and Ireland, so the plan is that we’ll meet in Biarritz airport in the afternoon of the 18th. Flights from Dublin and London with Ryanair both arrive around 3:00pm. From there we’ll journey by train to St. Jean Pied de Port where we’ll have dinner together and then start our journey the following morning.  

On our first day we’ll walk through a wooded pass in the Pyrenees, crossing over from France to Spain. Then we’ll descend into the beautiful Navarra region of Northern Spain. Over the following six days we’ll journey along the ancient route that has been followed by pilgrims for well over a thousand years, as it winds its way through towns, forests, countryside.

 It’s an opportunity to take time out from a busy world and to walk in a relaxed manner. Each morning as the sun rises we will start with a simple prayer and reflection. Then shouldering our packs we set off for the horizon, meeting people along the way or perhaps walking in solitude, depending on what you feel like at the time. In the evening there’s an opportunity for Mass if you wish and then a meal with a glass of wine as the sun sets.   This first week of the Camino will finish in the ancient Roman town of Logroño, capital of the La Rioja region. For those who are planning to continue we’ve arranged the dates of this pilgrimage so that they should reach Santiago in time for the feast of St. James on the 25th of July. We plan to walk the next week of the Camino in the summer of 2014 and continue each year until we arrive at Santiago de Compostella.  

The cost of the pilgrimage is pretty reasonable. People will arrange their own flights and transfers to Biarritz and back home. Accommodation along the Camino is in Albergues or dedicated pilgrimage hostels. They cost around €10 / £8.50 a night. Then you need to account for food. The towns where we will stay offer pilgrim menus for around €12 / £10 for a simple three course meal. You can pick up other basics during the day in the many small stores along the route. Excluding flights and transfers about €40 / £35 a day should be more than adequate.  

If you’d like some insight into the Camino check out the film The Way released in 2010, starring Martin Sheen. It gives a good flavour of what you can expect.   If you’re considering it and are not sure feel free to email me or give me a call on (075) 26764236 (UK) or (086) 7857955 (Irl). People may be concerned about the level of fitness necessary. You don’t need to super fit, but a moderate level of fitness is desirable. 

 It promises to be an incredible experience. Find yourself on The Way.   Fr Alan Neville MSC, Vocations Director, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart.

God’s path for your life is made especially for you and no one else but you can travel it.

To you who are at the crossroads of life; you who are seeking what to do with your life and to know which vocation is yours.

Pope John Paul II said:

” I would like to ask each one of you; What will you do with your life ? 
  What are you plans ? 
  Have you ever thought of committing your existence totally to Christ ? 
  Will you offer yourselves to Christ, telling Him you are available ?

To learn more about the Poor Clares way of life, consider visiting them on Saturday 29th June from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Check out http://www.poorclarescarlow.ie/welcome.htm for more information

Explore God’s call for you…

exploreAway is a programme which provides the opportunity for young, single, men and women between the ages of 21-40, who are interested in exploring religious life and the priesthood in a reflective and prayerful environment.  exploreAway aims to provide input, support and accompaniment to participants who are discerning their call, be it to priesthood or to religious life.  Participants are invited to embark on this journey of exploration in the company of others who are also searching.  The programme involves five residential weekends based in Dublin.  The weekends will provide input on vocation call, discernment, prayer and religious life – its core values and the various ways it is lived. 

“A joy to spend time journeying with a group to discern how to live out God’s call” Rose 25.

If you are interested in finding out more about exploreAway, come and join us on Sunday 26th May 2013 from 2-6pm in St. Teresa’s Church, Clarendon Street, Dublin 2 to get a taste for what it is all about.  It promises to be an informative and relaxed afternoon with some good pizza and chat to follow!

Booking is essential, please contact Sr. Gabrielle on 087-3584447 or Fr. Alan on 085-7664480 to book yourself a place.

Check out www.exploreAway.net and www.vocationsireland.com for more information.