Wednesday

Thanks to so many of you for your prayers for the success of our RE teachers Community Day  starting at 9 .30 this morning. I hope there will be about two dozen present and I pray that our speakers Martina Purdy and Elaine Kelly will inspire them with their own faith journeys and insights into Celtic Spirituality for folk today. Tina has done the working lunch sandwiches etc so her early mornings work will feed the five thousand !!   Charlotte and her team have the room all set up and will have the handout resource folders in each place for participants arriving.  Noelle and her staff are so generous and hospitable they actually set a great example about the true nature of Catholic Education and its key values.  Hold us in your hearts today that Gods work will help replenish faith and hope and that all leave blessed with renewed energy to share our faith with young people.  Bless you and your family.      Declan 👍👣

Thursday. 

Thank you all so much for your kind prayers yesterday. Attendance was good for our day and the atmosphere was peaceful and reflective. St John the Baptist College received us with open hearts and amazing hospitality. Thanks to Noella and her wonderful staff.  Charlotte had everything set up for us. Speakers and prayer together was really touching and inspiring. There was a real sense of God present to us in His Word , In His presence in each of us and as community there was Jesus amongst us as He promised.  During our prayer we venerated a penal cross dating from 1760. And later  a relic of St Oliver as it is his 400 th anniversary this year.  I was so aware you were praying hard for us and I know your prayers helped us enormously. So may you too be blessed for your generous support and care for us. Food made up by Tina at an early hour was fab as always and appreciated for the break and later for lunch.  These days are so important for realising your colleagues face the same issues and struggle with the same or similar choices. Often sadly lack of servant leadership can lead to the erosion of ethos and spirit.  Many of us arrived with empty jugs, hopefully leaving our jugs were refilled and spiritually recharged.   We were blessed too by four students from St Ciaran’s College who shared how they are involved in a charity that supports people with various life challenging conditions. I marvelled at their creativity and awareness that the Christian Message has to be lived. Full marks to them. You played an important part in all of this day by your prayers and wishes. I pray for all this you are greatly blessed.  Declan. 🙏👣

Good morning Fr Declan

We wanted to thank you again for inviting us to address your programme of teachers and to say it was a great blessing for us. What an experience – to have the penal cross and the relic of Oliver Plunkett added to the amazing graces that flowed from you and the teachers and the much-needed prayerful Taize and scripture session. We felt truly welcome and lifted up and the hospitality was superb. 

Thank God for you and for your generosity and the wonderful prayers.

Please be assured of our prayers for you and may God continue to fill you with his beautiful Spirit!

Much love

Martina and Elaine Rom 5:3-5

Feedback 

Hello Declan

Just wanted to say how much I enjoyed today’s RE  meeting. Our 2 speakers were wonderful and the whole ambience was great. A very uplifting day. Thank you for all that you do for us and have a lovely summer Deirdre. St Paul’s. 

A class day!! Raving about it 💓 you are the best x. St Catherine’s College 

Thank you for yesterday Declan.  What a wonderful day.  I hope that you had a great nights rest.  God bless, 😘Susan

Was a wonderful day – I really felt a bit revived last night and ready to finish off the year. 👏🏻. St J the B.   

Declan  these are lovely.   I have been inspired to have the blessed Sacrament adoration in our school chapel, after yesterday.  Fr Barry Matyhew, our school chaplain was in with us this morning and he will help us with it.  It will bring peace.  Thanks again for yesterday. Maria St Pats Armagh 

Well Declan- glad to hear all went well yesterday & the school girls got on well too 💪

No doubt all staff there have benefited- it is such a different type of day now – to be able spend a bit of quality time with other RE teachers.  Hope you are keeping well & looking forward to the summer break as well. Take care  Pascal.  St Ciarans.  

Well done Declan. I’m sure you were exhausted last night. Such a privilege to be back with colleagues Hope you have a chance to chill today xx. Roisin K. 

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