Dear Friend(s),

Please watch the video above for an inspirational Presentation Day message from Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh, Bishopstown, Cork. It is indeed a hope-filled message for this time. Thanks to the community of Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh for sending us this message and blessings on all who contributed to it!

You are welcome to share this message widely, among family, friends, school communities etc., in advance of Presentation Day (21 November). Spread the good news!

With kind regards and prayers,

Br. Martin.

We will share any feedback and responses to the message
with the school and the young people involved.

Find below a LINK to the latest LEAF PROJECT Newsletter – May 2021

Left click / Tap the Link to open OR Right Click to SAVE AS.

This is a PDF document

CLICK HERE for Leaf project Newsletter May 2021

Dear Friend(s),

Br. Ben Cusack CFC has been named as Cork Person of the Month for February 2021. See attached link.

Br. Ben has made an extraordinary contribution to educational leadership, youth mentoring and formation in Cork, for four decades.

He was Principal of Sullivan’s Quay C.B.S. for many years. In 1981, he founded the Edmund Rice Youth Club, which celebrates forty years this year and is still going strong. He is deeply involved in the educational and sporting life of the city. He volunteers support to Coláiste Eamann Rís Deerpark, Greenmount N.S. and St. Joseph’s N.S., Mardyke.

THE L.E.A.F. PROJECT was very happy to nominate Ben to the Cork Person of the Year Awards Committee. That nomination was accepted and today news has been released to local media that Ben is Cork Person of the Month for February! A great achievement for a Waterford man!

A very modest person, Ben attributes the success of all his endeavours to the team of generous volunteers and support people he has gathered around him.

Since the Christian Brothers community house in Fairhill closed, Ben has stayed with the Presentation Brothers Community, Mardyke House, forging another link between our two Congregations. Comhghairdeas Ben!

We congratulate Ben, and the community of people associated with the Youth Club on this honour. We wish him happiness and health as he continues his great work.

With kind regards,

Martin.

(If you wish to email good wishes to Br. Ben, we will pass on any messages received).

CLICK LINK – Cork Person of the Month for February named – EVENING ECHO

1. Come Back to Mass – Special Invitation to Young People!

The pandemic is challenging all of us to reflect on what is really important in life. Why not use Ash Wednesday to invite children, grandchildren and friends, to consider tuning in to Sunday Mass Online? Mass is now live streamed from so many Churches. If you wish to give your loved ones a really good experience of the Mass, one excellent option is the Mass put together by the team at Redemptorist Publications UK and celebrated by Fr. Denis McBride. The music, prayers, readings, filming – everything is beautifully done and the homilies from Fr. Denis are always so special. The Sunday Mass is available online from noon on Saturday and you ‘attend’ the Mass at a time of your own choosing. Join a global community in prayer every week during Lent. Spread the invitation!

See link below for sample:

Sunday Mass Online with Redemptorist Publications (Fr. Denis Mc Bride).

If you email marketing@rpbooks.co.uk , they will send you a weekly email with the Mass, on request.

2. Little Way Sunday School – For Parents of Primary School Children

‘Little Way Sunday School’ is an eight minute video clip for young children based around the Sunday Mass readings. It is compiled by Treise Lenihan, her husband Joseph and a team of family and friends based in Raphoe Diocese, Co. Donegal, Ireland (Treise used to work in youth ministry with the Presentation Brothers). The ‘Sunday School’ is very creatively done and will be of interest to parents of young children, grandparents and primary school teachers. A great way to nurture the faith of young children. Have a look at the link below and spread the word!

Little Way Sunday School

3. A Lenten Retreat Online from the Jesuits in Britain

I sent you information on this already, so this is just a gentle reminder! See two links below:

The first link allows you to sign up for a daily email reflection during Lent. At its simplest level, this could be your daily ‘time out’ – taking a few minutes in your busy life to read and reflect on this material.

The second link contains further helps and resources for those who wish to go more deeply into the Retreat.

https://jesuit.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=5055c71e9666566ae02088a4a&id=c56bc87314

https://www.onlineprayer.net/?mc_cid=584c4d114c&mc_eid=a77e5bed3a

4. Getting Ashes in Cork!

This year, instead of people having blessed Ashes placed on their foreheads by a priest on Ash Wednesday (Feb 17th), the Diocese of Cork and Ross is organising for special envelopes to be printed and distributed to the parishes.

Before Ash Wednesday these will have Ashes placed into them (safely) in parishes and they will be blessed in the Churches on the morning of Ash Wednesday by the priests at Mass – behind closed doors.

They will then be available in the Churches during the day so that people who can stop by for a prayer can also take one of the envelopes of Ashes and take them home to their own household and to another house where they may be part of a care bubble.

Guidance has been given to parishes to ensure compliance with public health and restrictions.

Spread the ashes!

A Final Word…

This Lent, please spread the above ideas among your family, friends, your parish and your school communities. Invite and encourage people to get involved – to place faith, family and friends at the centre of our lives. Let’s pray and let’s continue to reach out to those in need and to look after one another, especially during this time of pandemic.

You can witness to the Lord’s love and care right where you are. This is what Pope Francis calls being “missionary disciples”.

Ash Wednesday is a call to a new beginning! Take a leap of faith!

Stay safe, stay well and stay generous!

Martin

For details click / tap the image below for larger version: