One of the most frequent questions I get asked as a member of the House of Brigid is “What do you do?” In conversations with family, friends, and local Irish residents and parishioners, our work as House of Brigid fellows always seems to need a bit of context. “Why are you working for a Church?”, “Are you studying?”, “Do you have family here?”, “Are you becoming a nun?”– the curiosity can be plentiful.

My usual response is “No, I’m not studying”, “No, I don’t have family here”, or “No, I’m not becoming a nun”, and a brief explanation of our tasks and duties follows. But in reflecting on the conversations I’ve had and the connections I’ve made over the last six months, I’ve realized that why we come to Ireland as young adults has less to do with why we are here and what we are doing, but who we are serving. Whether through engaging in conversation over tea & biscuits, singing and playing music in choirs, organizing events and socials, or teaching in local schools, we are here to love and serve others just as Christ did. As House of Brigid fellows, we not only volunteer our time and energy to the Church and It’s people, but our gifts, laughter, experiences, and joy in order to make God’s love and presence known. We are immersed into parish life and intentional community, growing together as coworkers, housemates, and stewards of Christ’s mission.

It is with great pleasure that I introduce the fellows of Teach Bhríde XIV! May our lives, talents, and stories continue to emit Christ’s love and mission for the world.

St. Brigid, pray for us!

In Christ,

Sammie

Teach Bhríde Dublin

Sammie Van Norstrand – House Director

Sammie is thrilled to return to Ireland for a second year with the House of Brigid as House Director for the Dublin community. She graduated in May 2021 from the University of Portland in Portland, Oregon with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and a minor in Theater. Born and raised in Littleton, Colorado, Sammie is the eldest of three and has held deep passions for music, faith, and adventure in her life from a young age. After studying abroad in Salzburg, Austria in 2019, her desire to travel and explore the world grew fonder, eventually leading her to Ireland. Dublin has quickly become one of Sammie’s favorite cities in Europe, and when she’s not bopping to and from Newman University Church, you can find her playing guitar, wandering the city, or lost in a good book. Sammie is looking forward to another year of personal and communal reflection, formation, and engagement with the House of Brigid in Dublin!

Lizo McMahon

Lizo will be graduating from Marquette University in May 2022 with a BS in Biomedical Sciences and Theology. As someone who has spent the majority of her college years preparing to become a doctor, she is excited to dedicate time to her faith and serving the Newman University Church. Her family hails from Eagan, Minnesota. While she will miss the snowy winters, she is thrilled to further explore her Irish heritage in Dublin. Living in the big city is something Lizo is used to after living in Milwaukee, WI for college. She says that the best part about living in an urban area is that you can pick a different coffee shop to go to each week! You can find Lizo playing piano, building her own furniture, doing puzzles, or playing board games when she has free time. She can’t wait to teach her housemates how to play Settlers of Catan.

Teach Bhríde Wexford

Emily Tigges – House Director

Emily is overjoyed to be serving with Teach Bhríde for a second year as the Wexford House Director! She is looking forward to more adventures and evangelization while her role model and older sister, Elizabeth, is starting her third year as a FOCUS missionary. Emily has continued her musical passion in Ireland by playing flute, piano, and singing, and she hopes to brush up on her ukulele skills soon. In the last few weeks, Emily has also found new passions for drawing and cooking. Emily is originally from Dubuque, Iowa, which is an hour and a half south of the little town of Wexford, Iowa. Emily then moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where she graduated from University of St. Thomas in 2021. With her music education degree, Emily wants to be a middle school music teacher someday—hopefully at the same school that her younger sister, Rebecca, becomes a counselor for.

Rebecca Haines

Becca hails from Midland, Michigan and will graduate from the University of Michigan in May 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and German.  Having played piano and viola from a young age, her love for music has long been a part of her life, and she’s overjoyed to have found a way to integrate this passion with her faith while in college.  At her student parish, she’s been involved in various ministries including music, catechism, and liturgy, and currently enjoys leading a new praise and worship service.  On campus, she also works as an assistant researcher in a developmental biology lab and as a student tutor.  Outside of school, Becca likes to go hiking, spend time outdoors, attend classical music concerts, play card and board games, and have meaningful conversations with others.  She looks forward to continuing deepening her faith with the House of Brigid community next year, and is excited to encounter God in new ways while in Ireland!

Katherine Relick

Katherine will graduate from the University of Notre Dame in May 2022, where she studied Anthropology, Global Affairs, and International Development Studies on the pre-health track. She is from Atlanta, Georgia, but her family has resided in Nashville, Tennessee the last few years. While at Notre Dame, she was able to delve into the intersection of her faith, passions, and services through the McNeill Fellowship and other impactful programs at the Center for Social Concerns. She is looking forward to further exploring and strengthening these connections while serving the Clonard Parish in Wexford. Outside of school, she loves to hike, read, play games, watch Gilmore Girls, and learn more about others’ stories and passions. She is thrilled to get involved in the Clonard Parish, while learning more about Irish culture, music, and the Catholic Church.