This past weekend, each member of Teach Bhríde had the opportunity to speak at one weekend Mass to thank the members of Clonard Parish. Fr. Denis and the parish members blessed us and sent us forth as we near the end of our service year. I thought I’d share with you what we shared with them!
“As you all know, the House of Brigid, or Teach Bhríde, is a lay intentional community dedicated to ministry within the Irish Catholic Church. Our ministry is mostly in music and catechesis, or teaching about faith, in the parish and diocesan levels. We come to Ireland for one or two volunteer service years, having graduated from university in various programs. Right now, Clonard is the only parish that hosts the program. Nick, Emily, Nicole, and I are part of the fourth year of the Teach Bhríde community in Clonard. We are coming to the end of our service year in a couple weeks, and we wanted to take this opportunity to thank you, the members of Clonard parish.
Thank you for your wonderful hospitality. We could not hope to be more welcomed in a place so far from our homes! Thank you for introducing yourselves, making sure we were settling in, inviting us to your home for a meal, offering us a lift when it was raining, and comforting us when we were grieving. Thank you for welcoming our families and visitors as your own. If we weren’t able to reciprocate while we were here, you have certainly shown us a lot of kindness to pay forward as we leave Clonard. You have taught us well how to give.
Thank you for teaching us the art of stopping by for a cup of tea and a chat. Whether it’s the usual gathering after 10:00am daily Mass or another time of day, we have loved getting to know you and spending time with you.
Thank you for supporting us in our ministry, whether it was something simple like telling us you liked a program we were involved with, or something a little more demanding like jumping in to help with a new program. Thank you for making big ideas like the Passion Play or the You Shall Be My Witnesses Confirmation program happen. Thank you for your continued support of other ministries like the school Class Masses and choirs.The opportunity to work in parish ministry has helped us to grow in faith and experience, and we hope it has done the same for those of you who have been involved.
Thank you for praying and singing with us. Whether it’s at a weekend Mass, singing hymns at the 10:00am Daily Mass, or an impromptu sing-song at someone’s house, singing with you certainly lifts our spirits. We owe a special thanks to the members of the Vigil Choir and the new Youth Choir who sing at the 6:00pm Saturday Mass, the members and leaders of the Family Liturgy Group at the 10:00am Sunday Mass, and the members of the Folk Group who sing at the 11:30am Sunday Mass. They have led the song of the church faithfully week in and week out, and we are blessed to join their numbers. We also owe special thanks to the Parish Team and parish staff for all their direct support and care for us as a community.
We are blessed to have spent a year or two in your company. May God bless and keep you all.”
