The retreat stemmed from a conversation from our own Mercy Circle about sharing experiences of the Divine with young people today and by offering an invitation and providing a space and an opportunity for them not only to share with each other, but also for us to learn from these young people what our true calling and passions are ‘amidst all this tripping about’ in our lives today.

To provide a context and framework for a retreat was essential – where time would be given to solitude, stillness, prayer and reflection, a time for God, a time to slow down and stop, and a time to talk and share.

This was envisaged to be carried out in three ways of ‘connecting’ with ourselves and keeping company with God, through;

• Connecting with our own inner lives, journey and ‘calling’.
• Connecting with the Cosmos as stewards of Creation that is that is around us.
• Connecting with figures of the past (Catherine McAuley and Nano Nagle) and how they may inspire or impact us going forward together in the future.

Cosmic Walk

With Ballygriffin as our place of retreat, conversations and reflections to share the stories of Catherine and Nano, our plan seemed to unfold organically.  The Cosmic Walk and surroundings supported our hoped-for space and reflection time.

Forming the space to begin in Ballygriffin
Young people journeyed from Kilkenny, Killarney, Mitchelstown and Mallow to be a part of the day. A great welcome and some warm-up exercises and ice-breakers allowed us to come together and get to know one another in a fun and creative way, through prayer and song. A circle dance slowed us down to a place of reflection. We began to build a space of trust, and powerful sharing ensued around our ‘True Colours’, with the use of symbols in masked Butterflies to express our inner selves and times of transformation.

Masked Butterflies

Stewardship of Creation
After a small break with great conversation and sharing, Michelle led us all in a guided meditation and then walking mindfully ‘paying attention’ to our surroundings.

We spent some time in prayer and journaling after this to become more aware of ‘slowing down’, ‘noticing the details in nature around us’, and ‘taking time for gratitude’, all themes of this session.

The focus was on our role as stewards and expressing our gratitude and doing our part to nurture and protect all that the Creator God has entrusted to our care.

 It was a very reflective and quiet space where we all focused on the different elements of Creation.  The rain at the time added to the experience and didn’t dampen the immense feelings, thoughts and images evoked for all in being stewards of Creation.

An Introduction into the persons and works of Catherine McAuley and of Nano Nagle
Sr. Anne Maria spoke on the life of Catherine McAuley, and Mercy as her whole way of being and action. She described Mercy as being at the heart of our relationship with God and with others through compassion and care for all others. Everyone there was enamoured by Catherine’s story and some described her life’s work as ‘courageous’, ‘brave’ and ‘inspiring’.

Catherine’s writings and quotes provided a quiet time of reflection and thought-provoking insight and challenge for everyone gathered.

Sr. Eileen Nash PBVM did a guided visit of the heritage centre of Nano Nagle in Ballygriffin through the medium of art and artefact, which left the young people with a list of questions and wanting more, with one young person saying ‘I noted her name and dates in order to research on the internet later and to learn more about her work when she returned to France’.

The Final Preparation and Reflection
We gathered at the end of the day of connecting with our inner selves, with each other, with the cosmos and with the stories and experiences of the figures of Catherine McAuley and Nano Nagle. We all took some time to get into our minds, hearts, bodies and souls in song and thanksgiving and to focus on what actually counts in our lives.  We shared what the day meant for us all in the hope of bringing the learning and experience back into our everyday lives, creating that awareness and time and space for reflection.

Anne Maria O’Carroll rsm
Michelle Cooke and Niamh Mulligan
Southern Province

Quotations from Retreatants:

I want to learn more about Catherine and Nano as I find their work inspiring.

Educational, spiritual and relaxing – a wonderful new experience, a chance to meet new people and learn.

The space was great to relax and to be able to be myself. Fun, Peaceful, Insightful. A day of Joy, connection and slowing down.

Broadened my knowledge of Religion and made me discover new things about myself that I never knew.

Thank you so much for giving us the information on two women of history who inspire us to be stronger young women going forward.

Even in our different vocations (student, sister, friend, mother) We can come together to learn and grow in unity to be true to ourselves, find strength to shine our unique light.