Overall people felt that this was like a new beginning for our life together after Covid. The balance of spiritual input in the morning and activities which allowed us to connect with each other and nature in the afternoons was appreciated. The atmosphere was very much that of a family and many people remarked on this and how welcome they felt. The time was short but every moment counted.
Highlights included:
a visit to the Trappist monastery at Mount Melleray. There, we had lunch and joined the Monks for their afternoon prayer in the chapel. The Abbot spoke to us afterwards, for a short while, about life of prayer in the Monastery;- a hill-walk to view the Cross erected on a hill in the Holy Year of 1950;
- a very insightful talk from Bishop Brendan Leahy on ‘Connecting with God in our busy lives’;
- presentations on the social outreach of members of the movement in Belfast and Dublin and other initiatives of supporting refugees in Ireland and a project relating to Africa.
- Saturday evening entertainm
ent with a number of dances, recitations and songs, rounded off by Factor One whose beautiful songs called to mind the enthusiasm of getting to know and starting to live the Ideal. - deep sharing on personal prayer life from a number of people which really helped to conclude the days together on the theme of ‘prayer and interior life’.
Some impressions give a flavour of the Gathering:
‘I had the most beautiful half day in Dungarvan on Saturday. It was lovely to be in the company of so many Focolare friends and to listen to Bishop Brendan talk about prayer and praying. Lovely to meet Carmel from Galway in person – familiar from Zoom meetings. Lovely to meet up again with Kathleen from Waterford and to listen to the accounts of various Focolare people of how they try to make the world a better place for others.’
‘thes
e are the sort of spaces we need—to be nourished spiritually and then physically it’s a real connection…’
‘I loved the balance of the input which was open to all and had the soul of the Focolare and the life lived. The outings were a great start and enabled everyone to take part. The breadth of activities was good. I felt a deep sense of family and a desire to share this gift with many others.’
