The OLA Blog
Stories, reflections, and updates from our mission and community life. Here we share reflections, insights and experiences, believing that the simple act of sharing can inspire, connect, and open hearts.
Between the Palms and the Cross
By midweek, the pace of Holy Week begins to shift. The jubilant echoes of Palm Sunday are still faintly present, but the shadows grow longer. We move from celebration into confrontation—facing not only the betrayal and sorrow that the Gospel narratives present,...
Prayer Intentions for April: Compassionate Presence in the World
During this month of April, we pray for the grace to embody a presence that heals, restores, and sustains. In a world that too often rushes past suffering, may we cultivate an attentiveness that lingers, a presence that does not turn away. Compassion is not abstract;...
A Time to Remember, Give Thanks, and Look Forward
As we move gently but intentionally towards the official launch of our Jubilee 150, we prepare to mark three deeply significant milestones in the shared history of the OLA and SMA: 200 years since the birth of Fr. Augustine Planque, founder of the Sisters of Our Lady...
Answering Pope Francis’ Urgent Appeal for Peace
Pope Francis has once again raised his voice against the machinery of war, urging global leaders to commit to disarmament in his recent letter to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. His message is unambiguous: the accumulation of arms cannot bring peace,...
Journeying Together in Hope
As the world wrestles with uncertainty, division, and suffering, the call to hope can feel distant, perhaps even unrealistic. Yet, in his message for Lent 2025, Pope Francis invites us to embrace precisely this challenge: to “journey together in hope.” Hope, he...
RIP Sr Clare Fitzgerald OLA
On Monday 17th February 2025, OLA Sisters, relatives and friends, gathered in Ardfoyle Chapel to thank God, pray with and to bid farewell to Sr. Clare Fitzgerald a remarkable woman who lived a joyful, vibrant and fruitful Missionary life. The chief celebrant was Fr....
The Vatican’s Stance on AI: Understanding Antiqua et Nova
At the end of January, the Vatican released an important note, Antiqua et Nova, addressing the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and human intelligence. At a time when AI is rapidly shaping society, this document explores the ethical, philosophical,...
Human Trafficking: A Modern Reality and the Call to Act on St Bakhita’s Day
On 8 February, St Bakhita’s Day offers us a solemn opportunity to reflect and act on the global crisis of human trafficking. The day honours St Josephine Bakhita, a Sudanese woman who was trafficked as a child, endured years of exploitation, and later found freedom in...
Living Consecrated Life Today
As we approach our 150th Jubilee year, we find ourselves reflecting on the meaning of consecrated life in today’s world—looking back with gratitude, looking forward with hope, and standing firmly in the present. Consecrated life is neither a solitary pursuit nor...
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