By Father Seán Coyle
In Ireland and Britain the robin redbreast appears on Christmas cards and decorations. This comes from Victorian times in Britain when mailmen wore a red uniform and delivered letters even on Christmas Day. The robin too is the only bird in that part of the world that sings right through the winter.
By Joey Puerta
The author, on mission with the Redemptorists in Ireland, is from Bacolod City. The team at Scala where he works has strong Filipino connections as it includes Angie Escarsa, a Columban lay missionary from Olongapo, Father Pat Reynolds CSsR and Fr Dan Baragry CSsR, both of whom have worked in the Philippines. Two of Father Dan’s uncles, Columban Fathers Dan and the late Frank Baragry, worked for many years in Mindanao.
by Fr Oliver McCrossan
Josefina pedals passengers like these through Ozamiz streets on his three-wheeled pedicap called a sika-sikad
By Ray Brady and Rory Thynne
We represented the parish of Castleknock and traveled with representatives of other parishes in the Dublin Diocese with Catholic Youth Care.CYC organizes youth activities, from day retreats to pre-marriage courses.
Homily of Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin, Primate of Ireland
Archbishop Martin was speaking at a special Mass on 5 January, the Eve of the Epiphany, in Dublin’s Pro-Cathedral. The congregation included Filipinos, Poles, Nigerians, Romanians, Indians, Latvians and Brazilians, some wearing traditional dress. Readings and prayers were in different languages and there was a multi-cultural choir for the occasion. Archbishop Martin hopes that next year individual parishes will have a similar celebration. Because of emigration,Ireland’s population in 1980 was about half what it had been in 1845. But since 2000 huge numbers have been migrating into the country. The Church in the Philippines observes the First Sunday of Lent as Migrants’ Sunday.
By Maricel Bedra
‘VENIMUS ADORE EUM!’ ‘We have come to worship Him!’ The World Youth Day (WYD) gathering of young (and old) inCologne, focused on faith that is centered on Jesus and the Eucharist, wasn’t for my group just a day event but twelve days of prayer, worship and friendship.
The author, from Victorias City, Negros Occidental, takes care of an elderly couple in Dublin, Ireland, where she is also actively involved with the Legion of Mary.
By Sister Mary Cynthia OCD
L-R Srs Concepcion, Rose Alice and Mary Cynthia
Years ago ‘mission’ was foreign to Filipina Discalced Carmelite nuns, since we’re contemplatives and normally stay for life in the community we join. Many Carmelite communities in Europe and the USA, because of the lack of vocations, are faced with the possibility of either closing down or joining together. To avoid that possibility, some European Carmels asked the Association of Monasteries of Discalced Carmelites in the Philippines for help. As a result of this, there are now Filipina Carmelite missionaries in France, Africa, Belgium and, most recently, in Ireland, where we are now. There are still requests from other countries.
By Sister Mary Concepcion OCD
White Christmas for Sr Rose Alice and Sr Concepcion
In His time, God fulfilled my desire to go on mission, although not to Africa. But His will be done.
When I was still newly professed in Baguio Carmel, our first Father Provincial, an Irish Carmelite, told the Association of Monasteries of Discalced Carmelites in the Philippines that a bishop in Ghana was asking for a Filipino Carmelite foundation of nuns. When this materialized after almost fifteen years I wasn’t permitted to go since we were only a few in our community.
By Sister Mary Rose-Alice Escote OCD
When I entered Davao Carmel, I thought that was the end. It was unheard of for contemplatives to go on mission. Besides, my health remained delicate although I wasn’t sickly.
By Annie Budiongan
My three year term here in the only Columban parish in Ireland, St Joseph’s, Ballymun, Dublin, gave me a great opportunity to get a glimpse of the life and culture of Travelers, an ethnic minority with their own history, value system, customs and a nomadic tradition, part of Irish society for centuries. Their distinct culture can be seen in their dress, language, accent, family structures and use of symbols. According to the Department of the Environment there were about 28,000 Travelers inIreland in 1999, nearly a quarter in or near Dublin, the capital.
