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

On the 6th January 2026, Pope Leo closed the Holy Door in Rome, ending the Jubilee Year of Hope. It also symbolises a closure to the chapter of Pope Francis’ papacy. Pope Leo was elected in May 2025 and his first concern as Pope was to complete some things begun by Pope Francis or pre-arranged on his diary. Now Pope Leo begins to promote his own vision of the life and mission of the Church. He often quotes Popes Francis and Benedict, expressing his desire for continuity, wh

Amid ongoing threats to peace worldwide, Christians are invited to pray for peace during the week of Prayer for Christian Unity: 18 th – 25 th January The theme for this year: 'There is one body and one spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling’ Ephesians 4:4 Throughout Scripture, God’s call to unity resonates from the earliest times, starting with the Old Testament, Abram’s plea to Lot highlights the desire for peace and harmony among

The Mystery of Christ surpasses all human understanding. Still, year by year and day by day, we are invited to contemplate the life and teaching of Jesus. We have just spent the weeks of Advent and Christmas pondering the unfathomable mystery of the Son of God becoming a human being. Now we begin a New Year with new hope. There is a striking sentence in ‘ Gaudium et Spes’ /'Joy and Hope’: " Jesus reveals humanity to itself”.(2:22). We believe that by His Incarnation, Jesus re

Vatican II invited us all to “return to our sources”. Pope Leo is now inviting us Catholics and all Christians to return to the foundations of our common faith in his Apostolic Letter : " In the Unity of Faith ”. This is to commemorate the 1700th anniversary of the first ever Ecumenical Council held in Nicaea in 325AD. That era was as politically troubled as our own and within the Church, too, there were serious disputes and divisions. Arius, a Catholic priest, preached that