'True renewal begins in heart to heart with God'

Fr Bernardino Maria, Franciscan Friar of the Renewal, says it is an “extra blessing” when he has the opportunity to leave his base in Limerick and give a ministry in a different parish.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner in the grounds of St Michael’s Church, Castletown Finea, on Sunday, at the end of a weekend of prayer and renewal, Fr Bernardino said he had enjoyed the few days and explained how he came to be present to lead the mission.

He lives in Moyross, Limerick, one of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, and he was invited to Castletown Finea. “We’re known by our parish missions and our way of evangelization, and our work with the poor,” he said, “and a major part of our ministry is dealing with young people in Moyross, so this is an extra blessing when I get a chance to leave Moyross and come to give a mission.

“This was a mini-mission– normally we do from Monday to Thursday. The theme of this mission was renewal, beginning with ourselves, and renewal of the church, because the church building itself needed repair, and with the gracious help of the parishioners and the funding raised, they were able to make it look beautiful again.

“So, it set the tone for the mission, because as a building needs to be renewed, so do we.

“We need to be renewed, because a church is beautiful, but without Jesus in it, it’s an empty shell of a building. So the fact that Jesus is in there, makes it a home. And parishioners, that when they come to their parish, they need to feel at home.

“That happens over time and renewal, and starting with ourselves and being humble before God – grateful. The word that came to me for the mission was that we need to concentrate more our energies and prayers on being grateful rather than complaining, because when it comes to the Catholic Church, we hear a lot of complaining, but not enough of being grateful.

“Jesus himself has set us free, and we need to be grateful for what he has given us. And we need to lift up our parish priests and all the parishioners in prayer, and give thanks to God for what he’s doing in us, in the community, in the parish, and our families.”

Fr Bernardino concluded his remarks to the Examiner by pointing out that The feast day of the archangels, St Michael, St Gabriel, and St Raphael, is September 29 (yesterday, Monday), “so this parish being named after St Michael, the timing of the mission was important because it was in honour of St Michael, as part of the renewal in this parish, through his intercession”.

Liam Gaffney, brother of Fr Phil Gaffney, Adm, Mullingar Parish, who is from the parish and was present during the mission, is a member of the committee who organised the work on St Michael’s Church.

He told the Examiner that the idea to get a committee together was a response to the poor condition of the church and it needed refurbishment, which began with a job on the roof, carried out by local contractor Andrew Fagan.

The leaky roof had allowed water in, and a year after it was replaced, to allow time for the walls to dry out, plastering was also done by Andrew, and painting by Ollie Gilsenan, and the floor (also by Andrew).

Liam expressed gratitude to the contractors, the many locals who contributed to the project, Hartens, who donated stone and sand for the new grotto, and Plunketts, who donated concrete, his fellow committee members, Sr Mary Cox “for all her good work”, Fr Bernardino “for a lovely mission, and everyone greatly appreciated what was a special weekend”.

Sr Mary Cox said there is a backdrop story to the building of the grotto in honour of St Michael the Archangel. “In November 2024, my car caught fire, and with me in it! Surrounding this ordeal were signs of God’s protection and providence, such as an ex-fire officer arriving on the scene just as it was happening, and so I wanted to give thanks to God for His merciful protection.

“The thought of building a shrine in honour of St Michael came to mind, and when a marble statue of St Michael was offered to us, we knew that was the right thing to do. Then an idea to hold an event to dedicate the grotto was suggested and thus grew the Prayer and Renewal Retreat Weekend.

“The marble statue was commissioned (ie not yet sculpted) – we thought it would be ready for the retreat weekend but seven months later it had not arrived in time. Thankfully we had a substitute statue. Although I was a little nervous about the statue not arriving, I realise that the weekend was not so much about the statue or the grotto, but more about the coming together of a church community to give thanks to God through prayer and worship; and of love of neighbour in the building of the grotto, and in the preparation and participation of the retreat weekend.

“There were many highlights throughout the weekend, such as seeing Fr Bernardino and Anne Nagle leading a group of children in prayer, and the feedback has been encouraging. People’s hearts were truly touched during the weekend, which is a beautiful thing.

“What touched me most was entering this usually quiet church on the Saturday of the retreat during Eucharistic adoration, which was taking place for several hours throughout the afternoon, and seeing a number of people just quietly sitting in God’s presence.

“I think this is where the real and true renewal begins, in a heart to heart with God. May it continue.”