400 Years of Good Deeds
What a fantastic conference this was, in the unique setting of St. Mary of the Angels Church in Church Street, Dublin. It was as well that the church was used as in excess of 250 people attended by our reckoning.
Each of the speakers gave an excellent and interesting talk, and the large audience certainly appreciated each one.
400 Years of Capuchin Franciscan Service in Ireland
Friar Nugent and the Franciscans - a not so friendly rivalry
The history of the Capuchins in Ireland is a fascinating one - not just because of their involvement in the revolutionary period of the early 20th century.
This is an order that practices what it preaches - charity - and has stayed true to its founding .intent of always being of and among the people.
We were delighted to see such a great display of Joe Connell's "Rebels' Priests" in our Kilmainham Tales series on sale, and that the audience was buying it so enthusiastically!
Another great publication on sale was the reprint of the Capuchin Annual of 1966 with its fantastic articles on the Easter Rising for only €10, with half the money going to the Capuchins' Breakfasts charity - such a deserving cause.
We took the opportunity to re-visit the poster exhibition in the Sacred Heart hall adjoining the church, where copious amounts of light refreshments were served throughout the day. The exhibition was officially opened last December by Fr. Sean Donohoe OFM Cap. Vicar General (Fr. Adrian Curran OFM Cap., the Provincial Minister, being out of the country).
Having visited it, we can recommend this exhibition unreservedly. The Capuchins played a vital part in the Easter Rising and War of Independence (see Joe Connell's book "Rebels' Priests" for further details) and continue today to do their Christian duty with their day centre without which many of our more vulnerable citizens would surely have died. The Capuchin archives are a treasure trove of information and are freely accessible to all.
