Latest news from Castletown Community
Miguel House Retreat
From Wed. 29th November to Friday 1st. December. 2023 Fr. Kieran Cronin OFM from the Franciscan Priory in Multyfarnham, Co. Westmeath spent three days in the Community. The Brothers, nurses and carers all enjoyed his welcoming presence among them. He took time to have a chat with each member of the Community and made it his business to be present for prayers and Liturgy of the Eucharist. His visit was very uplifting and enriching for all.
Coláiste Rís
This gathering of nine Leaders and two teachers was accompanied by 40 trainee leaders during the first week of December. All male students were being prepared for real leadership skills. Everyone was struck by the sincerity, seriousness and appreciation of these students. They were real ambassadors for Coláiste Rís in Limerick City. This College belonging to the Irish Christian Brothers have been regular visitors to our Pastoral Centre in Castletown - a group of young adults with their leaders that we cherish dearly. Their stay is all the more striking as Paddy Walsh who is our Director of Formation is a former teacher from the same school.
ENDEAVOUR
This new group of 12 Psychotherapists stayed with us for three days at beginning of December. Most of them came from Cork and were delighted to have such an ideal setting to discuss various issues arising in their field of activity.
World Wise Global Schools
WWGS is Ireland's national Global Citizenship Education (GCE) programme for post primary schools.
Funded by Irish Aid under the Department of Foreign Affairs WWGS, was set up in 2013 to provide a comprehensive range of supports to ensure the integration of quality engagement with Global Justice issues at post primary level.
Support provided includes a teacher community of practice, grant funding, CPO training and a dedicated Education officer within each geographic region.
The hospitality, venue and beautiful grounds in Castletown helped inspire very meaningful and in depth conversations.
Salesian Sisters
On 9th December, 2023, six Sisters that make up their Provincial Council, spent a night and full day in discussion. They come regularly to Castletown as they find our residence here a half way stop over between their Convents in Dublin and Limerick.
A story to conclude
I conclude with a story I came across recently and it has an important message for us:
A lady in a faded grey dress and her husband, dressed in a home-spun suit walked in timidly without an appointment into the Harvard University President's outer office. The secretary could tell in a moment that such backwoods, country nobody's didn't even deserve to be in Harvard.
"We want to see the President" the man said softly.
"He'll be busy all day" the secretary snapped.
"We'll wait the lady replied.
For hours the secretary ignored them, hoping that the couple would finally become discouraged and go away. They didn't and the secretary grew frustrated and finally decided to disturb the president.
"Maybe if you see them for a few minutes, they'll leave", she said to him. The president, stern faced and with dignity, strutted towards the couple.
The lady told him, "We had a son who attended Harvard for one year. He loved Harvard. He was happy here. But about a year ago he was accidentally killed. My husband and I would like to erect a memorial to him, somewhere on campus."
The president wasn't touched.......he was shocked. "Madam" he said gruffly, "we can't put up a statue for every person who attended Harvard and died. If we did, this place would look like a cemetery."
"Oh, no," the lady explained quickly, "We don't want to erect a statue. We thought we would like to give a building to Harvard."
The president rolled his eyes. He glanced at the poorly dressed couple and then exclaimed, "A building! Do you have any earthly idea how much a building costs? We have over seven and a half million dollars in the physical buildings here in Harvard."
For a moment the lady was silent. The president was pleased. Maybe he could get rid of them now. The lady turned to her husband and said quietly, "Is that all it costs to start a University? Why don't we just start our own?"
Her husband nodded. The president's face wilted in confusion and bewilderment.
Mr. and Mrs Leland Stanford got up and walked away, travelling to Palo Alto, California where they established the University that bears their name: STANFORD UNIVERSITY - a memorial to a son that Harvard no longer cared about.
..............................................................................................................................
in the happy moments--Praise God
In the difficult moments--- Seek God
In the quiet moments ---- Worship God
In every moment ---- Thank God.
Br. Albert O'Driscoll