Connections A Message from the Province Leader This is the fifth - - PDF document

PRESENTATION BROTHERS

Connections

A Message from the Province Leader

This is the fifth edition of Presentation Connections: the annual newsletter

• f the Anglo-Irish Province
• f the Presentation Brothers.

We have good news to share in this issue about the vibrant Presentation Family community in which we are privileged to share faith and friendship. We are a lay community that includes Brothers, alongside men and women of all

• ages. We are a community that is motivated

by the Spirit given to Blessed Edmund Rice at another crucial moment in history. We are a faith community; our faith is in the risen Christ ‘who loved us and gave himself for us’. We welcome and value the contribution of every person. We held roundtable consultations recently in Cork and in Dublin, using the ‘World Café’ method. This process will continue as we move toward our Province Chapter in December 2016 and more importantly to the Congregation Chapter, to be held in Rome in April 2017. A Congregation Chapter is held every six years to review progress and plan for the future. The coming year will be a significant one for all of us. I thank everyone who is involved in our mission of ‘forming Christ in the young’. We go forward, trusting in the Holy Spirit who invites us to new challenges and encourages us ‘to be ambassadors for Christ’ where we live in 2016/17. Our Lady of the Presentation, pray for all of us.

Brother Andrew Hickey | Province Leader AndrewHickey@PresentationBrothers.org

Alpha returns to Dublin

Alpha is an informal, 10-week course, which explores the meaning of life. It’s all about building community through small groups, and has been running in Presentation Brothers Glasthule since 2012. One participant said: “I enjoyed the opportunity to take time out of a busy life to hear about, reflect on, and discuss spirituality in the company of people who are searching, in their own way, for the ‘truth’”. Another Alpha Course begins in Glasthule on Tuesday 13th September 2016, both as a morning and evening course. For more information, see www.presentationbrothers.org Newslettter of the Presentation Brothers | Autumn 2016

www.PresentationBrothers.org The Spring Alpha group had a wonderful experience

Young Adults Run Alpha

Three young adults represented us at the Run Alpha Conference in London in February

• 2016. They had an amazing experience, meeting other young people from Ireland and

the UK. One of the group said: “If you were not a believer in the deeper message behind Alpha before attending this conference, you were certainly a believer by the time it was finished!” They each returned enthused and primed to Run Alpha with us!

Three Alpha Amigos

Welcome Jemma Halpin!

We extend a warm welcome to Mrs Jemma Halpin, our new full-time Youth Ministry Coordinator. Jemma graduated from St. Mary’s University College in Twickenham with a BA Honours degree in Media Studies and Irish Studies, returning in 2009 to complete her Post-Graduate qualifjcation in teaching. Jemma taught in a Catholic primary school in London for 5 years before moving to Cork in 2015. She has expressed how excited she is to be working with the Presentation Family in growing our Youth Ministry even further. We thank Ms Silvia-Maria Crowley for all her hard work over the past year, Treise Lenihan for all she did from 2013 to 2015, and wish Jemma every success!

Youth Alpha in the Schools

Our PBYM group also brought the Alpha Youth fjlm series to two Cork schools during the year. Students from both Colaiste Chriost Ri and Christ the King Secondary Schools took the course, with much positive feedback received from the students. PBYM has been invited back again this year, and hopes to build

• n this great foundation.

PBYM Update

It was a busy year once again for Presentation Brothers Youth Ministry (PBYM), with many events taking

• place. There was Cork’s fjrst Youth

Day, along with Nightfever and the Cork Rally for Life. During Lent, PBYM also ran its fjrst Mondays at the Monastery series, featuring talks from John Lonergan, Fiona and Laura from St Nicholas’ Trust, Catriona Twomey from Cork Penny Dinners and Fionnbar Walsh – Donal Walsh’s

• father. Meanwhile, the ever-popular Movies with

Meaning featured a wide range of fjlms, from Noah to Robot & Frank via The Fault in Our Stars. Keep an eye on

• ur website and the PBYM social media for more great

events!

Edmund Rice Awards

The Edmund Rice Awards took place at the end of May in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. 5th Class students from the Presentation Monastery School in Killarney, Co Kerry, and from St Brendan’s Primary School in Birr, Co Offaly, gathered to remember and celebrate Blessed Edmund Rice. The Birr students engaged in a lively and poignant retelling of Blessed Edmund’s story, and spoke about how his memory still inspires their school today. The Killarney students’ presentation gave a fascinating insight into the history

• f their 178 year-old school, and, once again, how Blessed Edmund

Rice’s values still blossom in the community to this day. Br Andrew Hickey presented each student with a certifjcate, and congratulated them on the work they have done. The Awards will return next year.

Volunteering with PBYM

For PBYM to be successful, we always need volunteers. And our current volunteers say that they get as much out of working with PBYM as they give themselves. Grace asserts that “being a volunteer at PBYM is an extraordinary experience”, which has given her “a stronger faith”. Grace has much to say about the “PBYM Centre, which is a place of happiness and peace, a place that welcomes all”. Her sister Edel, a fellow volunteer, says that “in the last year I have become part of a team of the most amazing people you could ever meet. Each and every one of them has made my experience here so enjoyable and fun”. If you would like to have a similar experience, get in touch with Jemma!

Br Andrew welcomes Jemma The boys celebrating the Awards in style!

Vocation Team takes to the road

This year, the Presentation Brothers Vocation Team attended Youth 2000 retreats in Killarney, Ashbourne and Roscrea. The team included Vocations Director (& Blogging Brother) Br Rupert, our PBYM Coordinator,

• ur Evangelisation Offjcer and our novices. They were

also joined on the road by some PBYM volunteers! They each enjoyed these experiences, and look forward to attending more retreats and events around Ireland. If you’re out and about and see the PBYM hoodies, be sure to come and say hi!

Pilgrims rise from their knees!

The world-famous challenge of the 3-day Lough Derg Pilgrimage was conquered by eighteen Presentation Family pilgrims on the last weekend in June. Over the course of a wet and cold few days, the pilgrims endured the diffjculties of fasting and being barefoot, along with a 24-hour vigil. However, the experience was a positive one, with new friendships made and a deeper spiritual connection with the Lord being fostered, especially as it came during this Year of Mercy.

World Youth Day Pilgrimage

In July, three young adults travelled to World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, with Presentation Brothers Youth Ministry. They participated in the Birmingham Catholic Youth Service pilgrimage, which included a week’s hands-on ministry in a Polish parish, before they celebrated World Youth Day with Pope Francis, alongside millions of other young

• Catholics. It was an amazing experience for all involved. One of the young

adults Anthony spoke about how, through the experience, ‘I learned a lot about myself and how I can be of service to God and my neighbour’. Jennifer spoke of ‘an amazing journey that would inspire me to reach out of my comfort zone to leave my mark on this world’, while Sharon said ‘I will be forever grateful for the amazing spiritual experience I had in Poland’.

ERAC Camps Return

The Edmund Rice Action Camps were held in Cork and Cobh this summer. A group of energetic young volunteers ensured that these were positive and inspiring

• camps. Anne Cleary, Br Ultan

Rohan, Declan Davis and a fjne group of young leaders led the week in Cork, while Br Ray Dwyer and PBYM volunteer Jennifer Buckley worked alongside another group of young leaders in

• Cobh. A huge thanks to

everyone who participated, and a big congratulations on the completion of yet another successful programme.

Pres Bray Immersion Trip to Ghana

Students from Presentation College Bray have been working hard over the summer to fundraise for their Immersion Trip to Ghana, which is due to take place during the October mid-term break. In late August, they held a table quiz in Ashford, Co Wicklow. On Sunday 25th September, they will host a Benefjt Night with music and dancing in the Royal Hotel in Bray, from 7.30pm. Tickets cost €10 and can be booked with Br Ray. Please keep the boys and their efforts in your prayers.

Presentation Brothers Vocation Team Gathered around St. Patrick’s Statue on the mainland Jennifer, Anthony and Sharon had profound experiences in Poland The Pres Bray students who organised the table quiz in Ashford recently ERAC Volunteers from Colaiste Muire, Cobh this summer Cork’s ERAC Leaders from Colaiste an Spioraid Naoimh on pilgrimage in Lourdes

In the Footsteps of Blessed Edmund…

Thirty pilgrims of all ages braved the elements as they travelled from Cork and Dublin for Footsteps 2016. The fjrst stop was Callan,

• Co. Kilkenny, where there was a tour of

Blessed Edmund’s birthplace, before the pilgrimage then moved on to Mount Sion in Waterford, with a tour of the museum, quiet time around Blessed Edmund Rice’s tomb and Mass, celebrated by Fr Jim O’Connell MHM. More pictures from the day can be found on

• ur website’s Gallery Pages. A sincere thanks

to the Brothers’ communities in Callan and Mount Sion for the warm welcome.

World Café

We thank all who attended the Presentation Brothers’ World Café events in the Metropole Hotel, Cork and in the Lexicon Theatre in Dun Laoghaire in May and

• June. These gatherings were designed to share information about the mission of

the Brothers and Presentation Family, and to consult people about the challenges of being a Christian community in Ireland in 2016. The people who attended the sessions wanted to know more about the Presentation Family and particularly about our Youth

• Ministry. This newsletter is our fjrst response to those expressed needs.

Mercy at the Monastery

There were two series of Mondays at the Monastery talks at Presentation Brothers, Glasthule, Dublin, earlier this year, both focussing on the Year of Mercy. During Lent, Sr Helena O’Donoghue, Marianne Quinn, Sr Imelda Wickham and Noreen Mackey each examined mercy at work in the world today – from prisons to hospitals, in the Gospels and in everyday

• life. The series continued in May, with

John Waters proving extremely popular, as he spoke on the theme ‘Mercy is Unfair’.

• Br. Martin Kenneally talked on ‘Pope

Francis & the Revolution of Tenderness’, while Marianne Quinn explored ‘Mercy in Relationship: Family, Friend and Foe’. The always-popular series will return during Advent 2016.

Connect Group

Following on from its popular Alpha course, Glasthule piloted its fjrst Connect Group in January. This group of people who did the Alpha course meets on a Monday morning, every second week, for an hour and a half of food, fellowship and faith-fjlled

• discussion. There is also time for prayer.

This year, the group have been reading Matthew Kelly’s Rediscovering Catholicism book, which has provided interesting discussions and renewed commitment from the participants. Connect is open to anyone who has completed the Alpha Course, and is free to join.

Pilgrims gathered at Mount Sion in Waterford The World Café evening in Cork in May

CLEO Reunion Lecture

On Wednesday 15th June 2016 in Mardyke House, Cork, the Christian Leadership in Education Offjce (CLEO) hosted their Annual Reunion Lecture. This year’s speaker was Professor Mike Bottery, from the University of Hull Faculty of

• Education. Professor Bottery’s lecture

was on ‘The Portrait Approach: A Vehicle for Leadership Research and Professional Development’, and it was warmly welcomed by all in attendance. Pictures from the night are available on the website’s Photo Gallery page.

UK Update: House of Mercy

Sister Helen Ryan, Mercy Sister, was appointed Manager of the charity that accommodates twenty two homeless people in its three houses. She is doing an excellent job, and is supported by three Assistant Managers. The Sponsored Sleep-Out was held in June, and

• Br. Roy would like to thank all the supporters,

including the communities in the Anglo-Irish Province for their generous sponsorship. Over £2,000 was raised. The 32nd South London Charity Classic was held in early July. 86 golfers participated, and after the presentation of prizes, cheques for £2,000 were presented to four local charities.

Seven Professed Brothers

• n Pilgrimage

Not to be outdone by the novices, seven professed Brothers took to the Wild Atlantic Way Pilgrimage with Br Martin in June. Br Aidan has written a wonderful refmection of the experience, which is on the website, along with some amazing photos.

A Welcome Reunion

Cecil Killacky and his wife Helen had a reunion with Brother Cronan Loughrey in Blarney, Co Cork recently. The visit was facilitated by Br. Barry Stanton. Brother Cronan was superior at Pres. Bray while Cecil was between 5th Class and 2nd Year at Pres. Brother Cronan tutored Cecil for a County Council Scholarship, which he won in 1961 and which covered his tuition for the remainder of his secondary education at Pres. Cecil left Bray for the U.S. after the Leaving Cert in 1964. The academic foundation laid by Brother Cronan was strong enough to facilitate Cecil ultimately attaining a Doctorate from Harvard University. The visit with

• Br. Cronan was their fjrst since 1963 and

it was a happy and joyous reunion on a glorious morning in Blarney.

Vocations Update

Brother Theiva who is from Sri Lanka studied youth work this year and did his placement in our PBYM Centre. Br Theiva renewed his vows on Friday 10th June 2016 at the Presentation Brothers Novitiate in Killarney, during an intimate and prayerful Mass. Such a wonderful

• ccasion gives us a chance to be grateful

for Br Theiva’s continuing strength and courage in following his vocation. For more pictures of the day, see our website’s Photo Gallery page.

Ten Years of PresLink

Recently the PresLink Group celebrated its 10th anniversary. PresLink has done so much to educate students on developing world issues and to raise funds for the Presentation Brothers’ missions over the last decade. Congregation Leader Br Martin Kenneally this year met the 4th Year Student Committee in Presentation Brothers College Cork to thank them. The students presented Br Martin with a cheque for almost €17,000! These funds were raised by the students themselves from a range of very enjoyable and creative events. PresLink continues to have a great infmuence on the lives of everyone it touches

• not only those for whom the funds are raised, but for the Presentation College

Cork students who are involved and give so much of their energy to it.

Novices Travel Wild Atlantic Way

Our novices accompanied Br Martin Kenneally, Congregation Leader, on an Emmaus Journey on West Cork’s Wild Atlantic Way, last October. They visited Lough Hyne, climbed Knockomagh Hill for one of the best views in Ireland of the wild Atlantic, and took in a three-hour sea safari on Roaring Water Bay, among many

• ther things. Their journey was interspersed with some input on

discipleship of Jesus and refmections on Pope Francis’ Laudato Si.

Preslink students present Br Martin Kenneally with a substantial cheque Br Stanislaus at

• ne with nature

Br Cronan, Cecil and Br Barry Br Roy Kennedy welcomes a visitor Br Matthew Feheney, Prof. Mike Bottery and Dr Frank Steele

Check out our website, www.PresentationBrothers.org for all our latest news and

• events. Subscribe to our fortnightly e-letter and keep up to date!

Keep in touch!

Presentation Studies

Brother Matthew Feheney has published another edition of the popular Presentation Studies

• publication. Volume 26 of the journal for

members of the Presentation Family features 10 wide-ranging and fascinating articles. The majority of the articles refmect in a Presentation way upon Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’.

Presentation Brothers Family Day

There was a special Mass for the family members of Presentation Brothers at Mount St Joseph on Saturday, 7th May 2016. It was a wonderful celebration, and a great opportunity for the Brothers to say thank you to their families. A copy of Br Martin’s homily delivered at the Mass can be read on our website, while pictures from the day can be found on the Gallery Page of the site. Find us on Facebook (Presentation Brothers) for daily updates on our ministries. We are also on T witter: @EvangeliseIRL and @PBYouthMinistry

Council of Elders

• Br. Martin Kenneally invited Brothers over 80 to

form a circle of prayer, wisdom and support as the Congregation prepares for Chapter 2017. The inaugural meeting of the Council of Elders was held at Mount St. Joseph on October 14th 2015. Sr. Mary Dinneen (Presentation Sister) facilitated a sharing of wisdom and insights, which was followed by a beautiful lunch. GAA Commentator Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh was the guest speaker at the lunch. Micheál gave a wonderful input which was both entertaining and wise. Commentating on the day, one Brother wrote: “The gathering of the Council of Elders has taken place and, what was once only in our imagination, has become real. Hopefully in the months ahead we will be motivated in preparing for the Congregation Chapter, especially with the support of our prayers.”

in memoriam

Brothers Claver, Clement, Majella, and Nilus, RIP

This past year we said goodbye to four of our beloved Brothers. Br Patrick Nilus O’Regan (Kilbrittan, Co Cork), who spent 52 years in Birr, died there on 7th December 2015. Br Francis Clement McCarthy (Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick), who spent signifjcant years in Presentation College Bray and Mount St Joseph Cork, died on 17th February 2016. Br James Claver Flood (Redhills, Co Cavan), who spent most of his life in Milltown and Killarney in Co Kerry, died on 5th May. Br Francis Majella Burke (Whitegate, Co Clare), ministered in Dungannon for 36 years, and in Glasthule for 11 years, where he died on 9th May. All four men are greatly missed in the Presentation Family, and we pray that they may rest in peace.

Jubilarians Celebrate

We had a beautiful jubilee celebration on Friday, 12 August.

• Br. Justinian Collins celebrated 75

years of profession. Our diamond jubilarians are: Brothers Eugene Burke, John Hunt, Terence Hurley and Stephen O’Gorman. Br. Aidan McHugh celebrated his golden jubilee. The day began with Mass in Maiville celebrated by Msgr. Michael O’Gorman (Br. Stephen’s brother). There was a celebratory lunch at the Rochestown Park Hotel with speeches and presentation

• f Papal Blessings. Congratulations to all our Jubilarians!

Jubilarian Brothers John, Eugene, Stephen and Aidan Happy families celebrate together The Council of Elders