23rd Feb 2012

7.30 p.m. – 8.30 p.m.

in the Monastery Church

All Welcome

In preparation for the Eucharist Congress as the Congress Bell arrives in the parish.

The Eucharistic Congress Bell pilgrimage is an invitation to faith, prayer, to reconciliation and to preparation for the 50th International Eucharistic Congress which will take place in Dublin from 10-17 June 2012.

What is Taize?

Taize is an ecumenical monastery community in France that was founded in the 1940′s during WWII as a place for worship, prayer and community for all Christian denominations and as a place of refuge for Jews during the Nazi regime. The community strives for communion among all Christian denominations, reconciliation of all Christians, and of all of humanity. People of all languages and denominations made pilgrimages to Taize for prayer retreats.

The Music

The goal of Taize music is directed toward prayer. The music of Taize grew out of a need to provide meaningful and prayerful music accessible to all visitors of the monastery. Repetitive songs and the use of different languages and simple elements of real musical quality combine to promote the inner unity of the person and genuine prayerful expression. The repetitive structures of short musical phrases with singable melodic units make Taize musically accessible to all people, while the use of different languages, particularly Latin, makes the language neutral for all involved.

The Silence

Taize services usually include a long period of silence (around ten minutes). The words of Brother Roger of Taize sum up the importance of silence in prayer, “Although God never stops trying to communicate with us, God never wants to impose anything. Often, God’s voice is heard in a whisper, in a breath of silence. Remaining in silence in God’s presence, open to the Holy Spirit, is already prayer… If, with a childlike trust we let Christ pray silently within us, then one day we shall discover that the depths of our being are inhabited by a Holy Presence.”

20th – 22th April 2012

This is an opportunity for single women who are interested in finding out more about the Carmelite monastic life to join the community in prayer, liturgy, and work for the weekend.  Participants will experience the rhythm of the monastic day, focused on seeking God in worship, prayer, work, silence, and community life.  There will be some input from the sisters on aspects of our life and spirituality, there will also be an opportunity to speak privately to a sister.

If you would like to know more about our way of life, please feel free to contact us. We are always happy to hear from you and we hope that you will feel free to take things at your own pace, and never feel under any obligation or pressure.

contact@carmelitemonasterydelgany.ie

NB: For more information about the Carmelites,

visit our website at www.carmelitemonasterydelgany.ie.

WHO IS IT FOR?

• This might be for you:
  if you feel attracted to monastic life and wonder whether it might be for you;
  if you have sometimes thought that God might be calling you to religious life, but have hesitated to take the first step;
  if you are searching for that extra “something” in life, but are not sure what it is;
  if your heart urges you to learn more about this radical way of gospel living;
  or if you would like the support of a small group as you enquire about monastic vocation

• It is not for you if:
  you simply want a weekend of quiet and prayer – for this, you will be welcome to our retreat -house at some other time;
  you want to research monastic life from an academic or historical point of view;
  you intend to write a newspaper article or other media feature about the experience.

Preference will be given to women in the 22-45 age range.

DATE AND TIME:  The monastic experience weekend runs from the afternoon on Friday. Participants will be expected to arrive at 3.00pm. on Friday.  This will probably mean taking some time off work that day.  Departures on Sunday afternoon after lunch.

If you are interested in the weekend but these dates do not suit, please contact us and mention this.  We will keep you informed of future weekends, or you may be able to come and stay in our retreat centre at some other time.

APPLYING:  To be considered for the monastic experience weekend, please fill in the application form and return it by by

post to: The Prioress, Carmelite Monastery, Delgany, Co Wicklow

or by e-mail to contact@carmelitemonasterydelgany.ie

APPLICATION FORM

1). Name:

2). Address:

3). Phone no: e-mail address:

4). Age:

5). Occupation:

6). Are you a practicing Catholic?

7). Have you ever visited this Monastery before? or any other monasteries?

Signed…………………………………………………

Prioress,by post to:  Prioress, Carmelite Monastery, Delgany, Co Wicklow.

or by e-mail to contact@carmelitemonasterydelgany.ie

Next icon course will take place in the St. Therese Room

on 20th February 2012 for 5 days

Tutor: Mihai Cucu

Cost of course: €340 includes all materials

To book please email mihaicucu78@gmail.com

or  phone: 0868041815

For more information on how icons are written read Sheila’s story below

Sr. Gwen graduates from Miltown Institute

   Lily (Sr. Gwen’s mother) celebrating her 90th birthday

The Calendar is available in the church.

“Icon” is another word for image. Images are transmitted at various levels – visual as in pictures/paintings, figures as in statues and people, voice, communications/responses. An icon course is an experience on several levels, the art form, the inner journey within oneself, with others, with the group, and the prayer / spiritual journey with the one being represented in the icon. The course tutor facilitates an experience at different levels – not as a counsellor or guru or spiritual guide but simply being the person they are. Indeed each person on the course facilitates these journeys by being the person they are.
An icon course with Mihai is loaded not with words but the inner journey gleaned by his example as a person working with individuals of varying personalities. His skill as an artist/iconographer is enhanced by his personal maturity and acceptance of people where they are at and his patient encouragement in assisting each person on the course to complete a beautiful icon that will enrich their lives / prayer and openness to the spiritual.
The course in Delgany was further enriched with the presence of some of the Carmelite Community of Sisters partaking on the course. Their quiet fidelity and witness to the importance of prayer intervals added significantly together with their humorous chat and beautiful iconography. We were warmly welcomed and given attentive hospitality by the Carmelite Community who facilitated the course in St Therese’s room.
For those who wished there was the opportunity to attend daily Mass in the Carmelite Church and we benefited from the prayers of the Carmelite Community and the local Delgany community who were most welcoming and affirmative and joined us for the ceremony of Blessing of the (completed) Icons at the end of the course.
My experience of the icon course held in Delgany with Mihai Cucu as tutor was an altogether positive experience, an opportunity I would gladly repeat.