Evelyne Franc DC

To mark the re-election of Sr Evelyne Franc to the office of Superioress General of the Daughters of Charity, we publish here her Intervention during the 14th session of the Synod of Bishops in Rome, October 14, 2008.

1. The Word of God at the heart of our lives (Instrumentum laboris no. 24, 38, 52)

The Word wakes us every morning and follows us throughout the day, in the liturgy of Hours, the Eucharist, the times of prayer and the service.

by Pat Collins CM

This is an excerpt from Reducing stress and finding peace (Veritas 2002)

Jesus believed that God's providence embraces evil and transforms it, much as the oyster transforms the irritating presence of grit within itself, into a beautiful pearl. No matter what weaknesses people have, what mistakes they make, or what sins they commit, they are integrated into God's plan and embraced by Divine providence.

by Eugene Curran CM

Eugene Curran CM reviews Doubt, a movie directed by John Patrick Shanley from his stage play of the same title.

‘View without prejudice’; it’s not something that you can do easily with this film.

Although it is set in 1964 in the Bronx, New York, it is a film that is so pertinent to today and to today’s Church and one of its most public crises that you cannot remain distant from its subject matter.

by Richard McCullen CM

Addressed to the Daughters of Charity, this exploration of the theme of the blood of Christ was written by Richard McCullen CM, Superior General from 1980 to 1992, in 1988. From Deep Down Things: Selected writings by Richard McCullen CM (New York, 1995).

When passing down the rue de Sevres some mornings ago, I noticed a large van with the words DON DU SANG written on it. There was a notice inviting people to come inside and to donate some of their blood. We have become quite familiar with the practice of being a blood donor from time to time.

by President Mary McAleese 

Remarks on the occasion of the St. Francis Hospice annual Dr. Mary Redmond Foundation Day lecture on Thursday, 12th February 2009.

Tá an-áthas orm bheith anseo libh inniu agus muid ag céiliúradh an ócáid mhór seo. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a chur in iúl daoibh as an gcuireadh agus as fáilte a bhí caoin, cneasta agus croíúil.

My thanks to Ethel McKenna for her kind invitation and to each of you for your warm welcome. I am delighted to have been asked to give the 6th Annual Dr. Mary Redmond Foundation Day Lecture.

by Mary Purcell

Adapted from The Story of the Vincentians (1973)

All Hallows, in Drumcondra, Dublin, is one of Ireland’s first missionary seminaries. It was founded in 1842, through the vision and determination of Fr. John Hand. Its first graduates ministered to the emigrants who left Ireland during the Potato Famine of 1845-47. Since that time, All Hallows has sent more than 4000 ordained priests to South America, South Africa, India, Canada, Australia, the West Indies, New Zealand, the United States, England, Scotland and Wales. In 1892 it was put under the direction of the Vincentians.

by Cassandra Jardine

Mairead Burke a young volunteer with the Daughters of Charity in Ukraine came home to spend Christmas with her family but in the New Year returned to Ukraine to continue her work with homeless children. Here, journalist Cassandra Jardine tells us a little bit about life in Kharkiv and how thousands of street children rely on help to survive.

by Henry Van Dyke (1899)

You know the story of the Three Wise Men of the East, and how they travelled from far away to offer their gifts at the manger-cradle in Bethlehem. But have you ever heard the story of the Other Wise Man, who also saw the star in its rising, and set out to follow it, yet did not arrive with his brethren in the presence of the young child Jesus?