‘I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples’. (John 1

‘Anyone who drinks the water that I shall give will never be thirsty’ (John 2: 7) Water is essential in both our everyday lives and our spiritual life. Without water there would be no life. Water represents wisdom, peace, purity and the interconnectedness of all living things. We all experience the joy and refreshment of water: drinking, cooking, washing cleaning, showering, gardening. Stop and think of the beauty that water reveals to us in ocean, river, lake, waterfall.. I

Very soon all eyes will be on the FIFA World Cup. It is not surprising that Pope Leo’s prayer intention for the month of June is: ‘To pray for the values of sport, that all sport may promote peace, fraternity and communion ' In a world where the physical and the spiritual often seem at odds, sport reminds us of the natural unity of body, mind and spirit. When done with this in mind, sports offer a great opportunity to experience God’s presence and grow in virtue. In Corinthi

The death of Nicolas Barré is closely associated with the feast of Pentecost which we have just celebrated. A few days before his death, he was asked if he’d be still there with the community for Pentecost and receive the Holy Spirit. ‘I do not think so, he said’ but ‘I will go to meet Him’ (Account of his death TM 9) He went on to say: ‘the Institute is a little cell in the church. I shall tell the Holy Spirit that He must always be its source of life and to be at its head

Dear Sisters and members of our Nicolas Barré Family, I am with you wherever you may be in the world. When I think of you and the people who are part of your lives, my heart is filled with joy and expands to embrace our entire worldwide family. I am filled with hope for the dynamism that the legacy of the 2025 General Chapter is inspiring throughout the Institute. Now, as the Solemnity of Pentecost draws near like a breath of fresh air, our hearts turn with confidence to the

Devotion to Mary is at the heart of many people and especially during the month of May. In parts of the world you see May altars, May processions are held, saying the Rosary is intensified, visiting Marian shrines. All of this shows how Mary is esteemed and is an important part of daily life. Although Mary’s path was unknown, she surrendered and trusted God when the angel Gabriel appeared to her, by her reply: ‘I’m the Lord’s servant, may your word to me be fulfilled’ (Luke 1

Breathe deeply - pause and center yourself often Let go of anger - holding grudges steals your peace Simplify your life - less clutter, less stress. Spend time in nature - calm your mind with fresh air and greenery Protect your energy - avoid toxic people and environments Practice gratitude - focus on what's good, no what's missing Live in the present - stop worrying about the past or future Forgive yourself and others - freedom comes with gorgiveness Speak kindly - your woor

‘ Risen one, send me forth as a disciple of your unwavering love, a messenger of your unlimited joy. Resurrected One, may I become ever more convinced that your presence lives on, and on and on …’ Joyce Rupp ‘In the world in which we live, marked by war, violence and the erosion of so many certainities and assurances, where it seems that everything is crumbling, Easter powerfully proclaims that it is precisely within these situations of ‘apparent death’ that we can hope:

Holy Week is the most sacred week of the Christian calendar, commerating the final days of Jesus’ ministry, His crucifixion and resurrection . The week begins with Palm Sunday, 29th March, marking Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and concludes with Easter Sunday , celebrating His resurrection. During the week, special days are highlighted. Holy Thursday , the day Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with his apostles, and which we continue to celebrate to this day in the Euc

When catechumens are preparing to be baptised at Easter, three great Gospel stories from John’s Gospel are offered for their meditation and self examination. Through these “scrutinies” the catechumens are encouraged to search their hearts, to purify their motivation and pray for enlightenment. The first is the story of the transformative encounter of the Samaritan Woman with Jesus at Jacob's Well. Reading this story in Lent invites us to remember the wonderful gift of

As we are halfway on our Lenten journey, it is a good time to take a pause and see where we're at.Transformation happens slowly, through daily faithfulness. Each day is a new beginning, a new opportunity... May we listen more attentively to God's voice, seek forgiveness with humble hearts, and open our hands in generosity to those in need. May the words of this March Reflection touch our daily lives.

Here are some reflections on the presence of God from Fr. Barré: On awakening, turn your thoughts to God. Be thankful for the grace of a new day. Every hour of each day recall the presence of God. Never omit the practice of the presence of God, God beholding us and we beholding God. Wonder at the sight of God reaching down to you as though you were God’s one and only. By immersing everything in Him, we will come to see only Him in all things and all things in Him.

It is time once again to make the desert journey and renew our way of life. It is a sacred invitation to conversion of heart, a time of prayer, fasting, sharing. Pope Leo writes: ‘The Lenten journey is a welcome opportunity to heed the voice of the Lord and renew our commitment to following Christ, accompanying him on the road to Jerusalem, where the mystery of his passion, death and resurrection will be fulfilled’ . Lent is about making room for God in our lives. Through pra

The theme for this year’s World Day of the Sick is The compassion of the Samaritan: loving and bearing another's pain Pope Leo is inviting us to reflect on the Parable of the Good Samaritan , a story that is always relevant and challenging. To put Jesus to the test, a teacher of the law asked, ‘ who is my neighbour ’? Jesus replied to him with this story: “ A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They st

Prayer of Thanksgiving for the World Day of Consecrated Life (2 nd February) God of all goodness,we give you thanks for the gift of consecrated lifein the heart of your Church and in the life of the world. We praise you for women and menwho, called by your Spirit,have dedicated their lives wholly to youthrough vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.Through their faithfulness,they reflect the light of Christand bear witness to your enduring love. We thank you for their gene