Photo was taken last night in Col√°iste Choilm, Ballincollig, Co.Cork (Irl)

In every school across the country and indeed across the world, these few weeks before Christmas are hectic and busy but all in a lovely way! Carol services and Christmas shows are in full swing. In Col√°iste Choilm the musical Miss Saigon based on events in Vietnam, came to a conclusion last night. In our photo today Chloe NiChonchuir sings in full voice during one of the many moving moments in the musical last night.

Thought on Friday – December – 07/12/2012

‘God does not ask you to be a monk or a hermit. You must be silent in the way God asks you to be silent.’ ~Vincent Pallotti

Sometimes the thought of complete silence, quietness and time on our own seems very appealing. The life of a hermit in the rush before Christmas might seem attractive but the reality is that few of us would last even a day! We have grown so accustomed to noise in our daily lives that silence is something that’s difficult for most. Yet silence is a precious gift that needs to be experienced little and often. A common link in all of the great spiritual writers is to find that space in our lives which we can claim as our own. Advent is all about trying to find such a space and when we find it, even if it’s only for a few moments, we can be sure that we are indeed very close to God.