Photo was taken near Tramore, Co.Waterford (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

A stream gently cascades over some rocks on its way out to sea near Tramore. Such spots are always an oasis, they are lovely to sit next to, relax and unwind.

Thought on Thursday – April – 24/02/2022

‘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.