Happy St Patrick’s Day from the Margaret Aylward Centre. As we celebrate the feast day of our national patron saint, there is value in reflecting on the relevance of Patrick’s story for us in 2022. Patrick’s journey was one of separation, imprisonment, slavery and fear….
During a General Audience address on Wednesday, 23 February, Pope Francis invited everyone to make Ash Wednesday, a Day of Fasting for Peace in Ukraine. “And now I would like to appeal to everyone, believers and non-believers alike. Jesus taught us that the diabolical senselessness…
In the run up to World Day of Social Justice on 20th February, ATD Ireland, the Christian Brothers and Presentation Sisters collaborated with the Margaret Aylward Centre to create a series of workshops highlighting the Hidden Dimensions of Poverty. These workshops were hosted in the…
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany, marking the arrival of the Magi, or Wise Men to worship – and recognise – the infant Jesus as the Incarnation of the Divine. It is a feast which for many people marks the ‘end’ of Christmas,…
Dear Friends, As we journey towards Christmas, the days continue to get darker and the darkness of uncertainty and fear seems to be deeper than ever. But we journey towards a promise, the promise of a Light which will come into the world, which the…
Cry of the Earth…….. Healthy Planet, Healthy People Petition. Among the challenges posed to us by Pope Francis in Laudato Si’ was to become more socially and politically active. The Healthy Planet, Healthy People petition, to be presented to world leaders at the forthcoming…
2021 has been dedicated by Pope Francis as a “Year of St Joseph” for which Sr Marie Dunne CHF has composed a beautiful hymn “Joseph Ever Faithful”. Click on the link below for a moment of reflection on St Joseph’s care and protection as we…
Some of our Holy Faith sisters who worked in South Sudan in recent years will remember fondly Fr Tim Galvin, a Kiltegan priest from Brosna, Co Kerry, who has lived there since 1983. Fr Tim recently trained as a Laudato Si Animator and created THIS…
As we emerge from lockdown and begin to step out into the summer, its a good opportunity be grateful for all that we have been given. Had we been told in February 2020 that we were entering into more than a year of isolation, we…
On Saturday 22nd May, we gathered before Pentecost to reflect on the guidance of the Holy Spirit with our friend and guide Donal Dorr. Participants logged in from across this island, England, Scotland, America, Australia and from parts of Asia and Africa too. Much like…
Where is God in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic?How can church communities survive and even prosper in times of restriction?What will be the lasting effects on church life?A new book from Maynooth and published by www.messenger.ie offers a variety of reflections from the perspectives…
The Irish Catholic Church is holding a synod. This is monumental event that everyone can participate in. Naturally as a Centre for Faith and Dialogue we want people to engage with, inform and form part of the conversation!! So we invite you to engage from…
When the centre closed in doors in early March 2020, we imagined that a 12 week closure might be the worst possible scenario. Our first thought was how we might support both facilitators and participants on our courses in this challenging time. We decided to do three things To change our…
We were delighted to be asked to support Deirdre in a lovely project to share her music and spirituality with the world. Deirdre created a very special program, which you can watch back at churchservices.tv here: Watch
In May, we teamed up with Jane Mellett, a Laudato Si Officer with Trocaire, to offer a book club on the fifth anniversary of the publication of this groundbreaking document. Little did we realise the partnership we had created! The Margaret Aylward Centre has collaborated with Jane on 4…
Huge thanks to all who participated so enthusiastically in our recent events. Looking back to the start of Lent we were still unsure how lockdown might affect us all and for many, energy was low. So, to gather in small and large groups for prayer,…
Focolare Ireland recently invited Noirin, our director, to join Dr Lorna Gold (FaithInvest and Global Catholic Climate Movement), Jane Mellett (Laudato Si officer, Trócaire), members of the #DareToCare initiative and Folocare Ireland, to this lovely event in April 2021.The webinar is organised by Focolare Ireland…
Marie Dunne is ‘one of our own’ here in the Margaret Aylward centre – a Holy Faith Sister choir director, and composer of Liturgical Music amongst many other gifts. She is always a friendly, encouraging voice for us all, so we weren’t surprised when across…
As we begin again we want to offer our friends and community some gentle, encouraging events to lift our spirits. So we are delighted that Anne F O’Reilly has come together with Deirdre Ní Chinnéide to offer two courses for you, and that Martina Lehane…
This year was like no other so of course our plans at the Margaret Aylward Centre were different too. We very much missed welcoming Sr Hilda and the Golden Wonders from Coombe for their annual party and we look forward to a time when we…
We continue our Facebook series today here on The Digital Parish asking some questions of priests, religious, bishops, lay people, who have been using digital media before and during the Covid-19 pandemic to reach out online. As well as finding out how people are reaching…
On Sunday, 24 May 2020, we are celebrating! The Margaret Aylward centre is delighted to be part of the organising committee for the prestigious event “A Love Letter to the Earth”. An evening of music, poetry and song with internationally known speakers sharing hope!! Register…
This week is designated as Laudato Si week! It is the fifth anniversary of the publication of Pope Francis letter to all about caring for our common home. So as we start Laudato Si week today (16-24th May), I invite you to read one chapter…
Just sharing a recent sight that spoke, indeed is still speaking Hope to my spirit and brought unexpected Joy to my heart; a gift from “the God of Perpetual Surprises” (Pope Francis, Lumen Fidei 35). Having been ill and cocooned for roughly a month my…
It was a great joy to gather together a group of interested, invested participants for a day of reflection and challenge on the theme of eco-justice in our world this February. As a centre, we are convinced that the climate change conversation is the most…
