Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newsman:
I only realised lately that Margaret Aylward (1810-1889) was a contemporary of John Henry Newman (1801-1890), now beatified. I wonder if Margaret and John ever met. After all, he worked in Dublin where he had been invited to become the first rector of the Catholic University of Ireland in 1851.

The group of US Associates of the Holy Faith has come and gone, delighted with their opportunities to ‘walk in the footsteps of Margaret Aylward’ and later, to visit some of the beauty spots of Ireland. They have already declared that they “would like to come back!” 

The group of pilgrims, composed of Sisters, Associates and friends,  who walked El Camino declared it had been a life-giving experience. Already they have set their sights on the Holy Land and will welcome any of you, Holy Faith Prayer Associates, who care to join them in a pilgrimage next summer. They will “venture” again, in faith, taking the risks involved.

Antonine has left again for the Southern Sudan to complete a different task this time. I hope we’ll have full details next letter. Please pray for her and for our new Regional Leader, Sr. Rosaleen Cunniffe and her team of Srs. Patricia Lahiff, Eileen Houlahan and Enda Mullen. Let us pray for each other and rejoice in the Faith we share. And may the God of all life and love bless you and all who are part of your life!

 You may remember that the city of Christchurch in New Zealand was hit by a severe 7.6 earthquake recently. Our two sisters there are safe but they sent me pictures of several churches and schools that have been so badly hit that they have to be demolished. Both the Anglican and Catholic cathedrals in the city centre are severely damaged too.

The same two sisters had just returned from a fortnight evangelising on the Chatham Islands, 500 miles due east of Christchurch.. The people there only see a priest four times a year and then only for four weeks.  They have no Eucharistic Minister so are without Holy Communion for long spells at a time.

You can imagine how much they loved having our Deirdre Nelson and Cora Grennan to give them Communion and to set up groups for Lectio Divina using books supplied by the Sisters' home parish, Our Lady of Fatima.

 Let each of us do what we can for the Kingdom of God. And may the God of all life and love bless you and all who are part of your life!

LEAD, Kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom, lead Thou me on!
The night is dark, and I am far from home - lead Thou me on!
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene -  one step enough for me.

I was not ever thus, nor pray'd that Thou shouldst lead me on.
I loved to choose and see my path; but now lead Thou me on!
I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears,
Pride ruled my will; remember not past years.

So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on,
O'er moon and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till the night is gone;
And with the morn those angel faces smile
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile.

May He support us all the day long,

till the shades lengthen

and the evening comes,

and the busy world is hushed,

and the fever of life is over,

and our work is done.

Then, in His mercy,

may He give us a safe lodging and a holy rest

and peace at last.