This past week, we finished up the Christmas season and are now celebrating Ordinary time. The change of seasons, especially in the new year, also brings anticipation for what’s next. Our community is busy preparing for our next celebrations like the Couples’ Mass, St. Brigid’s Day, and the return of Taize and other parish events. I want to take this time to reflect on the Christmas season and my goals for the new year.
For all of us, this has been our first Christmas away from home. We made the most of our busy Christmas Eve and Day by sharing a few meals and exchanging gifts. Sharing meals has been one of my favorite parts of building a community here in Dublin. I come from a family that always ate dinner together, and I always cherished meeting my friends in the dining hall while in college. Our community dinners are usually formatted such that one person cooks the entire meal, but for Christmas we all chipped in by each making a part of the meal. We have really pushed ourselves to learn to cook new meals and be aware of others preferences for food. These experiences are teaching us independence, compassion, and resilience. We are learning how to care for each other.
One of the most peaceful moments of Christmas day was at the house after we had eaten breakfast and opened gifts. We were sitting in the living room watching “White Christmas”, and the sun had just started to go down and we all just sat silently watching. I felt so peaceful at this moment that I almost forgot I wasn’t home. The ability to find moments like this in discomfort or newness did not come easy. This was the outcome of bonding and working as a community to push ourselves to become comfortable. These small moments where we are able to recognize the growth we’ve had are a gift. I truly think the first part of our time here has mainly consisted of trying to get comfortable in Dublin. I can tell there is comfort in our house because we refer to it as “home”, and when we’ve gone on trips, we’ve talked about missing Ireland. We truly have settled, but the New Year brings new challenges and more growth.
In the New Year, I am trying to challenge myself to do more than “get comfortable” here. I would like to start diving deeper into completing the goals I set for myself at the beginning of the program. I hope I am not getting ahead of myself, as most of us do with resolutions, because I can already feel the anticipation for what is next. I want to use the rest of my time in Ireland for formation. I don’t expect to come to any big revelations, but this is the right time for me to practice mindfulness, gratitude, and being present. It is a gift to be able to reflect on these practices. When we are present and aware of all the short moments of peace and small victories, we can be reminded that God is giving us those moments.
“O present moment, you belong to me, whole and entire. I desire to use you as best as I can. And although I am weak and small, you grant me the grace of your omnipotence.” – St. Maria Faustina Kowalska
This quote by St. Maria Faustina Kowalska reminds me that my time in HOB is a gift. It’s a gift to be in a beautiful country, to be challenged, to make friends, to learn new things, and to have peace. In the new year, I will challenge myself to be more aware and to use the gifted moment I have to learn more about others, myself, and my relationship with God. Cherish the present and not worry about what is to come.
