LAUNCH OF YEAR OF CONSECRATED LIFE – DUBLIN DIOCESAN ADVENT SERVICE – CHURCH OF ST. PIUS X TEMPLEOGUE
On November the 29th 2014 Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Dublin and Sr. Elizabeth Cotter, Vicar for Religious, invited each Congregation to bring an Advent Wreath with them to the Service and have it blessed by Archbishop Martin so as to launch the year of Consecrated Life. Sisters Antonia McGovern and Mary Foley represented the Sisters of Notre Dame des Missions. The Dublin Diocesan Choir provided the music and we were all asked to pray as follows “Star of new evangelisation help us to bear radiant witness to communion, service, ardent and generous faith, justice and love of the poor that the joy of the Gospel may reach to the ends of the earth” (part of the service)
Also in the words of Pope Francis we become “splendid witnesses, effective proclaimers, companions and neighbours for the women and men with whom they share a common history and who want to find their Father’s house in the Church” (Evangeli gaudium) After the Service we were given copies of “Keep Watch” and “Rejoice” to take back to our Communities. Archbishop Martin gave a short address and Sr. Elizabeth gave a much more meaningful talk on Religious Life. Our concluding prayer was that God of all creation would plant in us the seed of renewal; to leave behind what ties us down and so that we draw closer to Jesus. We brought our Advent wreath home to use in our chapel for the season of Advent.