A hand of friendship
Posted: Sat, 8 Aug 2020 08:06
Fr Gerry O'Shaughnessy SDB's reflection for the 19th Sunday of the year.
(Image: ΙΣΧΣΝΙΚΑ-888, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons)
Today our Gospel takes us onto Lake Galilee; a huge expanse of water that was a source of both a thriving fishing industry and a trading highway. I think it is very interesting that Jesus choose the busy port town of Capernaum as... Read More »
Looking back at 40 years of Salesian youth summer camps
Posted: Fri, 7 Aug 2020 10:11
With Salesian summer projects and camps cancelled due to COVID-19, Sue McDonald, GBR Youth Ministry Animator, realised this is the first time she has not had a 'Salesian summer' for the last 40 years! Sue looks back fondly at the variety of summer camps run by Salesians that she has been part of, as a participant and as a volunteer or leader, over four decades, and shares her hopes for a new way to... Read More »
Sunday reflection: 'Give them food yourselves!'
Posted: Sat, 1 Aug 2020 08:00
A reflection on the Gospel for 18th Sunday of the year, by Fr Gerry O'Shaughnessy SDB. 'They fed 5000 men, not counting the women and children'. (Image: Bernadette Lopez via Qumran2.net)
The miracle of feeding in Matthew recalls the compassion of Jesus: he had originally planned to take a break with his disciples but the crowd found him. He reaches out to help them because they were lost and needed... Read More »
Provincial celebrates 25 years of priesthood
Posted: Thu, 23 Jul 2020 19:53
Ad multos annos to our Provincial, Fr Gerry Briody SDB, who celebrated 25 years of priestly ordination this week.
Fr Gerry celebrated the Wednesday evening jubilee Mass, wearing a vestment which was as an ordination gift from his father, specially made for him by the convent in Bothwell, and the chalice he used at Mass was presented by his family. Many members of his family, from Scotland and the North... Read More »
Former Savio Salesian Assistant Head to be ordained Deacon
Posted: Thu, 23 Jul 2020 11:26
Michael Bennett, author of our 'Catholic teacher' series of articles, will be ordained Deacon on Sunday 26 July, at the Salesian parish of St James' Bootle, Liverpool.
Mike was for many years Head of RE and Associate Assistant Headteacher at Savio Salesian College, Bootle, and is now Deputy Head of School at De La Salle, Croxteth, near Liverpool.
In more 'normal' times, the Salesian Family would be packing... Read More »
Kintsugi: Teachers as Broken Healers
Posted: Thu, 23 Jul 2020 09:10
Kintsugi is a Japanese art form in which breaks and repairs are treated as part of the object's history. Broken ceramics are carefully mended by artisans with a lacquer resin mixed with powdered gold, silver or platinum. The repairs are visible — yet somehow beautiful. Kintsugi means "golden joinery".
Kintsugi is a way of seeing, that is only possible through the eye of contemplation. To contemplate... Read More »
Finding our treasure
Posted: Wed, 22 Jul 2020 11:54
Fr Gerry O'Shaughnessy SDB reflects on the Gospel for the 17th Sunday of the year - the pearl of great price. Photo by Eye for Ebony on Unsplash
Well you'll be glad to know that this week Jesus is still reflecting on the 'field'-the field that is the church made up of a variety of good and bad; the church that is inclusive, the church that does not judge: rather, a church that offers peace and reconciliation... Read More »
Building a stronger, deeper school community after COVID-19
Posted: Tue, 21 Jul 2020 08:47
As school staff continue over summer with preparations for the return in September, Fr David O'Malley, our Salesian Schools Network Coordinator, has produced a video offering a Salesian approach to helping staff and students adapt to the new situation, and cope with the challenging experiences school communities have been through.
His 7-course menu advises schools to start with fun, build gratitude,... Read More »
The end of an extraordinary school year
Posted: Thu, 16 Jul 2020 15:40
This week marks the end of a very unusual academic year, and Salesian schools have created their final online assemblies and videos, capturing recent events, celebrating the spirit of Don Bosco in the lives of students and staff, and looking forward to the school community reuniting in September.
Salesian School Chertsey ended the year in an upbeat fashion, with glimpses of achievements over this very... Read More »
The Mystical Heart of Education
Posted: Thu, 16 Jul 2020 14:44
Hands up who knows what the word 'education' means? I often start in-service training with this question. Quite often a room full of teachers will have no idea of the etymological meaning of the word—why would they? I didn't until I was told. Yet each one has the concept in their head, heart and soul. They have, in my humble opinion, a mystical knowledge of the meaning of education. By mystical... Read More »