Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the visit of the Dalai Lama
This month we celebrate the 10th anniversary of when His Holiness, the Dalai Lama visited Kildare Town. The Dalai Lama was welcomed with music and song by pupils from local schools in the Kildare area. He was then presented with the Brigid Flame by Srs. Mary Minehan and Phil O’Shea, Solas Bhride Community, in recognition of his work for peace and his life long commitment to non-violence. St Brigid’s Cathedral and Church He then made his way to St. Brigid’s Cathedral through a guard of honour comprising Kildare children waving white flags, with the strains of the uilleann pipes (played live by Liam O Flynn) in the air. After experiencing the beauty of St. Brigid’s Cathedral and spending some time in meditation with local religious leaders, he then travelled to St. Brigid’s Church where he addressed those assembled on the theme of Compassion. Some seven hundred people were in St. Brigid’s Church to hear this historic address. An excerpt from the Dalai Lama’s address ‘Now today, it is quite clear, that all major religious traditions, in spite of different philosophy, different ways of approach they all carry the same message, a message of love, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance and also self-discipline and practice of contentment and simplicity. So, all religious traditions have ultimately the same practice. These different religious traditions really provide inner peace, particularly when the individual experiences difficulties. Faith provides hope and purpose’. The Dalai Lama’s spiritual visit to Kildare Town was organised by Solas and Children in Crossfire, Afri and Spunout. The Organisations wanted to give as many as possible, the opportunity to see and hear His Holiness the Dalai Lama and also wished the Dalai Lama to experience some of Ireland’s spiritual and cultural heritage during his brief visit. This month we remember the anniversary of his visit with fond memories and a sense of gratitude.
Virtual Forum for: Commission for the Status of Women 2021
The 65th Session of the Commission of the Status of Women is currently in progress virtually in the United Nations. Rita Minehan csb and a member of the Solas Bhride Team, made a brief presentation on her work with APT /AMRI (Act to Prevent Human Trafficking) at the NGO CSW 65 Forum. This year’s priority theme is “Women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.” The NGO CSW Forum runs parallels to the official session taking place at the UN Headquarters.
Spring Equinox
We invite you to join with Solas Bhride in an online celebration of the Spring Equinox on Saturday, March 20th at 7.00pm. At the time of Equinox we are reminded that everything is held in balance. In the northern hemisphere Spring Equinox marks that time of the year when the Earth is standing in balance. The Spring Equinox falls in the middle of the Christian season of Lent, a season that calls us to hold in balance the growth and the pain, the light and the darkness. You can book your place here
Reflection on Féile Bríde
Virtual Féile Bríde We were delighted that so many of you could join us on our first virtual Féile Bríde, our annual celebration of St Brigid, her legacy and her relevance in our world today. We welcomed people from around the world who united with us on an inner pilgrim journey, celebrating Brigid and the coming of Spring, a time of hope, opportunity and new life. St Brigid’s Pilgrimage Our St Brigid’s eve pilgrimage followed the route of the previous 28 years as we were guided in travelling with the Light from Solas Bhride to St Brigid’s Garden Well where we were led in reflection and prayer, in stillness and in light. La Féile Bhríde is a wonderful celebration every year in Solas Bhride when many of our friends from the surrounding community, and from all parts of the globe join us in making the traditional St Brigid’s Cross. So instead this year Mary led the Nation on TV demonstrating how to make the cross, and Rita gave a message of hope to all from Solas Bhride in this challenging year. Virtual Lecture Brenda and Margaret, members of Cairde Bhride, reminded us through their virtual lecture of the Traditions and Customs associated with St Brigid. St Brigid’s relevance in todays world was explored by Rita in her webinar. Phil and Geraldine kindled a renewed sense of light and hope in all of us in their two evenings of mediation. Other Programme Events We were delighted to work in collaboration with Afri, Kildare Town Library, Into Kildare, Kildare Heritage Centre and our local Councillors who through their events made our week long celebration of St. Brigid very special indeed. The week ended on a high note with a beautiful virtual concert featuring Kildare artists. Weekly Meditation We invite you to join us in our weekly meditations commencing on Thursday February 18th as we prepare and look forward to our celebration of Easter. For further details check our website or log in to our Facebook page. We look forward to seeing you then.
Looking back at 2020 Solas Bhride
As we come to the end of one year and start planning for a new one, it is time to reflect on what the last 12 months has been like for Solas Bhríde. Féile Bríde Brigid: Flame of Justice and Peace was the overarching theme of the 28th Annual Feile Bride in Solas Bhride and Kildare town. As always, we started with quiet reflection, song and prayer at St. Brigid’s well on the eve. We welcomed friends and strangers from near and far on St. Brigid’s day. It was wonderful to see so many wanting to weave a St. Brigid’s cross and even more wonderful to witness the delight on their faces as they left showcasing their self-crafted cross. We had a week-long programme of creative events which included a workshop on the traditions and customs associated with St. Brigid, a harp recital which treated all to a taste of Ireland’s unique harping heritage, a Celtic lecture titled “This Sacred Universe”. Other events included eucharist at St. Brigid’s well, sacred dance, workshop on ecology, floral art demonstration, meditation, a conversation about St. Brigid in Europe and a celebration of local poets, musicians, and writers at Kildare Town library. The Feile culminated with a magical concert featuring Steve Cooney and Cormac Breatnach followed by the Afri Justice and Peace Conference which had as its theme ‘Rekindling; Revitalizing; Rewilding; Restoring’ – a wonderful, informative and challenging day on the need to care for Planet Earth, our common home. Seeds of various kinds are sown at this Conference each year and shoots of new life spring up in unexpected ways and places in the aftermath of each Feile Bride. Hermitage Stays Our Hermitage bookings were up on the previous year with a variety of guests from Ireland and abroad coming to avail of some quiet time for reflection, rest, silence or prayer. We welcomed writers, poets, religious and people who just wanted some time away from a busy world. Our three hermitages were booked out in July when we re-opened and bookings for August were very good. However, as Kildare went back into lockdown in August this resulted in cancellations. Meeting Spaces We also rent meeting rooms to groups looking for a place to hold meetings and events. We welcomed a few groups in the caring profession who were conducting staff training sessions in early Spring. Plan and Prepare When March arrived, the world changed and it resulted in us having to close the centre until the beginning of July. This meant cancellations of pilgrimages, events, workshops and confirmation retreats. However, we used this time to plan and prepare. We developed a comprehensive Covid 19 Policy for Solas Bhride and have received the Failte Ireland Covid 19 Safety Charter. We reviewed the past five years and proceeded to develop a strategic plan for the next three years. Members of Cairde Bhride and other volunteers formed three teams to assist with the development of programmes and events, to develop a communications and social media strategy and to provide hospitality at Solas Bhride. With their invaluable assistance we look to the future with positivity and a renewed sense of enthusiasm. Launch of Meditative Walk This year we developed the Meditative Walk around the grounds of Solas Bhride. On this walk you can take time to walk mindfully, pause at each of the significant points along the way, take time to walk the Labyrinth, reflect at the willow bower, enjoy the scents of the herb garden or rest in the Brigid Room within which sits the Brigid Flame, beacon of hope, justice and peace. Meditation and Heritage Online When you could not physically come to us, we used the power of social media to be with you. We posted reflections, thoughts and comments on our Facebook page. We marked Heritage week by posting a video with a member of Cairde Bhride speaking on the customs and traditions associated with the weaving of a St. Brigid’s cross. We carried on the tradition of celebrating the seasons by creating a video for the Autumn Equinox while at Samhain we shared three short reflections on Facebook. We finish the year with a further 4 reflections for the season of Advent shared on the Solas Bhride Facebook page. 2020 for us was a year of learning to adapt to a new reality. We look ahead to a new year filled with the possibility of bringing new ideas on how we operate and the services we have to offer as we go forward.
Planning for the 29th Féile Bríde
Innovation for 29th Féile Bríde As we start to plan our 29th Féile Bríde we are aware of the challenge that Covid19 brings us for our annual event. While there may be restrictions, we are also hopeful of an opportunity to reach out online to more people than ever. As always, we want to welcome all to know and be inspired by St Brigid whose legacy is ever more relevant for our world today. Féile Bríde Online Event This year most of our events will take place online and will be widely accessible. We are still in the planning phase but hope to bring a rich experience to you all using the technology at our disposal. Thus, allowing you to immerse yourself in the experience of Féile Bríde from your own home, in Ireland or indeed anywhere around the world. Our program will include reflection, meditation and rituals from St. Brigid’s Well. Our schedule of events is starting to take shape and we hope to include lectures on the customs and traditions of Brigid, cross weaving, ecology matters, Celtic lecture. The Afri conference will move to a zoom event with a list of quality speakers. The complete programme will be finalised in early January and we will share the news on our website and on Facebook. We will be inviting you to book for the events of your choice and hope to welcome as many participants as possible this year. Events at the Centre If circumstances allow, small groups may be invited to Solas Bhríde to participate in some events e.g. weaving of St Brigid’s crosses. These events will be advertised separately closer to the time. We hope that Féile Bríde will continue to bring meaning and peace to all who join us. Perhaps it will even light a fire in you for social and ecological justice, as together we can help to build a better world. For further updates, please follow us on Facebook. For information on all events contact Solas Bríde Centre, Tully Road, Kildare town, info@solasBríde.ie or ph 045522890 or www.solasBríde.ie
