Howth Cliff Walk, Dublin
Hello, all!
Happy Easter from all of us at Teach Bhríde Dublin and the Notre Dame-Newman Centre!
We’ve had a busy time since you last heard from us, from our St. Patrick’s Day liturgy and celebrations to Lenten Taizé services and Holy Week preparations. Holy Week is an intense time for us church musicians, but it is also a wonderful opportunity for prayer through song. This year, the Easter Vigil stood out in particular for me. The movement from the church courtyard and sharing light from the Paschal candle and transition from darkness into light during Mass in the church is a striking symbol of Christ’s Passion and resurrection bringing us from the overwhelming darkness of sin to hope and life.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The progression from Lent to Easter is one of my favorite times of year. Lent is a peculiar season of seemingly contradictory ideas- repentance and self-denial combined with joyful contemplation and gratitude. Accepting God’s call to reorient our lives around Christ requires perseverance and an honest assessment of our faults and weakness. While it may be uncomfortable, it offers us an opportunity to bring about an ongoing conversion of heart in ourselves.
Fortunately, I have a fresh perspective as I move out of Lent and into the Easter Octave. I am grateful for my Lenten disciplines of reading the Catechism and scripture and working to increase my sense of gratitude for my numerous blessings. In particular, I wanted to increase my appreciation for my support system of friends and loved ones back home. Praying for them and actively practicing gratitude also increased my appreciation for the people I live and work with in Ireland.
I reflected on the value and significance of community-the ones we build for ourselves, the ones we are members of by default, and the ones we are offered. I am thankful for my experiences this Lent and the fact that God brought me closer to Him by showing me His love in the people He surrounds me with.
I wish you a very blessed Easter!
Caitlin
Easter Sunday at Newman University Church
