Photo was taken at Glendalough, Co.Wicklow, (Irl)

To coincide with mid term break I am taking a few days off. So the website will run from the archive until Sunday and return as normal on Monday. Many thanks Fr. James

Anyone who has visited Glendalough will know the spirtual presence that permeates this sacred place. In our photo today darkness is quickly descending into the Glendalough valley. As it does so the skyline above provides a mirror reflection of beautiful colour onto the water below. No wonder St.Kevin made this place his home for many years.

Thought on Wednesday – April – 23/02/2022

‘The most basic of all human needs is the need to understand and be understood. The best way to understand people is to listen to them.’ ~Ralf Nichols

We might think that we’re good at listening but we usually talk far more than we realise. There’s a story told about a wise old owl who sat on an oak tree. The more it saw, the less it spoke and the less it spoke, the more it heard. Many people today speak of isolation and alienation. There are many reasons but one is that we are not listening enough to those who are special and important to us.

In our Gospels we see how Jesus talked, healed, laughed, loved, challenged, forgave, renewed and most importantly he listened. He allowed each person to share their story. His listening was open, non judgmental and inclusive. Like the owl we need to speak less and to listen more. It is the greatest gift we can give ourselves and to others.