This week I had the distinct pleasure and difficulty of returning to Notre Dame to interview applicants for Teach Bhríde 10, next year’s House of Brigid communities. Sr. Mary, Fr. Denis, Fr. Bill, Sara, and I spent the last three days speaking with so many wonderful young men and women about how God was calling them to serve in Ireland for the next year. While I had been relatively content with my work through Teach Bhríde, this week gave me the much-needed time to reflect on what Ben, Caitlin, and I have been up to for the last six months.
Mary greeted me with clear skies after six months away.
After three days of explaining just exactly what it is we do in Dublin to prospective community members, it finally drove the point home about the Mission of Teach Bhríde. I was reminded of my time spent perfecting my “elevator pitch” for my thesis research last year—the more I spoke about it, the more I had the ability to grapple with my own experiences and hone in on the overarching themes. In just the same way, I was able to take a step back from my everyday work and truly think about the work of Teach Bhríde Dublin up to this point. It was a necessary and welcome realization.
Spending time to take a step back and reflect is an invaluable practice for any aspect of life, particularly ministry. It is often difficult to see in the day to day the effects your actions have. When you ask yourself to stop and think—really think—about what you have done, it can be astounding to see what you have accomplished. And boy was I astounded.
This year Teach Bhríde Dublin started from scratch. We moved from Harold’s Cross Parish to Newman University Church and the Notre Dame-Newman Centre for Faith and Reason. We work in a parish that is still building its community. We started a weekly Taizé service that began with eight regular attendees and now boasts twenty regular attendees. Because of our Taizé service, we were invited to a primary school to teach students about Taizé as a form of prayer. We planned a successful dedicatory opening week for the Notre Dame-Newman Centre. And along the way we’ve formed countless relationships with many incredible people. We’re doing good work. Sometimes it’s difficult to see when we’re stuck in the middle of it all.
A picture Michele took of our Taizé Cross before our weekly service.
Sitting on the other side of the interview table this year threw me for a loop at first. I kept thinking back to my interview last year, recalling my apprehension, my timid hope. I could see myself in each of the applicants as we interviewed them. Listening to my co-interviewers reminded me of all the reasons I applied for Teach Bhríde. My spirits were revived in a way I never anticipated needed. It was like the renewal of God’s Grace each time I partake in the Eucharist; I was given a gift of hope and gratefulness. I’m returning to Dublin with a new sense of peace with my mission and with the shared mission of Teach Bhríde.
