Feast of Saint Clare of Assisi - 11th August

A Joyful Feast Day with our Poor Clare Sisters in Drumshanbo. This afternoon, Brothers Godfrey Pereira and Sean Kelly from Knock Capuchin Friary had the great privilege of concelebrating Mass with Archbishop Francis Duffy for the Poor Clare sisters in Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim, to celebrate the Feast of Saint Clare of Assisi. It was a beautiful and grace-filled celebration in the sisters' chapel, marked by the simplicity, joy, and deep prayerfulness that is so characteristic of Clare herself. As Capuchin Franciscans, we have a great and enduring affinity with our Poor Clare sisters. Our Franciscan family is bound together by that special, holy friendship that existed between St. Francis and St. Clare - two souls who together chose to give up all ties to worldly goods and distractions to adopt a life of radical simplicity, poverty, and the joy of the Gospel. To celebrate Clare's feast day with her daughters is always a homecoming for us. In his homily, Archbishop Francis gave heartfelt thanks to all the Poor Clares for their contemplative life of prayerful service to the people of Leitrim and beyond. He spoke so beautifully of their Chapel of Adoration, describing it as an oasis of peace and a powerhouse of prayer. How true those words are. In a world that is often noisy and restless, the hidden, faithful prayer of the Poor Clares sustains us all. Their lives, given entirely to God, are a quiet but powerful witness to what truly matters. We give thanks to God for the Poor Clare community in Drumshanbo, for their warm welcome today, and for their continued fidelity to the charism of St. Clare. Let us continue to pray for them and to support them in their vital ministry of prayer. St. Clare of Assisi, pray for us. St. Francis of Assisi, pray for us.