As we prepare to take a Summer break from Lectio Divina and look back over the past twelve months, it is encouraging to see the growth of the Lectio Centre and the establishment of new communities and outreach activities. The original Core Team has been replaced by the Lectio Management Board and a new Constitution has been drawn up and approved by the St Catherine’s Dominican Community. All policies relating to the safe and efficient functioning of the Lectio Centre are now in place.
Mission Statement:
Experiencing together the Word of God alive and active today.
Lectio (Divina) Management Board:
Director: Fr Joseph Ralph OP
Chairperson: Anne Smyth
Vice Chairperson: Kate Byrne
Secretary: Joan Byrne
Treasurer: Seamus O’Hanlon
Members: John Farrell, Ann Rocks & Sr Zita Daly
Prior of Dominican Community.
Bursar of Dominican Community
The Board meets bi-monthly.
The Health and Safety, Child Protection, Data Protection and Fire Safety Policies and Procedures are now in place and all Volunteers have been trained.
Details of Policies are available on the Lectio WEB Site:
lectio.newrydominican.com
Lectio Office:
This is running very efficiently thanks to Joan Byrne and a team of volunteers.
It opens from 10.00am-5.00pm Monday – Saturday
There are a wide range of Mass Cards available, also Dominican Periodicals and Magazines, and gift items promoting the word of God in the scriptures.
Visitors are assured of a warm welcome whenever they call.
Library:
A nourishing selection of spiritual, theological and biblical books are available for borrowing, as well as CDs and Periodicals. In addition there is a Reference section.
Book Group
Organised by Joan Byrne. It meets throughout the year on
Tuesday at 11.30am. All are welcome.
Resource/ Support Sessions for Guides
Before each new series of Lectio Community gatherings Guides are invited to come together to prepare and support each other in best practice so as to make the Lectio table of the word appetizing, accessible and enriching for all.
Historical Situation of Passages.
Significant work is now being done in the preparation for each session, grounding the text in its biblical, cultural and historical context and preparing Guidelines to help make the journey to life experience today.
Outreach Team:
In response to a growing demands there has been a need to expand our Outreach Team. Fifteen volunteers gathered for formation sessions on four consecutive Thursdays:
19 April – 10 May Formation will be ongoing.
Lectio on the Road:
Advent: Fr Joseph & Kate Byrne visited St Mary’s High School , Upper Chapel Street, Newry to introduce Lection Divina to some members of Staff.
Arising out this Fr Joseph and Kate returned in Lent to introduce Lectio Divina to a group of 6th Form Students.
Thursday 14 June: Fr Joseph, Kate Byrne & Anne Smyth introduced Lectio to R.E Teachers from the Dromore Diocese, in Dromantine.
Tuesday 19 June: Fr Joseph, Kate Byrne & Ann Smyth travelled to St John the Baptist College Portadown where a meeting of Secondary School R.E Teachers , from Armagh Diocese was being held. On both occasions there was a positive response from teachers in terms of seeing in Lectio a way to deepen their own spiritual journeys, and exploring possibilities of how to pass this on to their students.
Priory Institute Dublin:
Under the direction of Fr Brendan Clifford and Fr Joseph the Priory Institute has offered a module on Lectio Divina as part of their Masters in Biblical Studies course . Seven of the thirteen students enrolled are taking this module.
Lectio Communities:
There are now eleven established Communities in the Lectio Centre itself. The Communities meet for twenty weeks a year spread over the seasons of Advent, Lent, Pentecost & Michaelmas.
There were two introductory sessions for newcomers offered during each series, on Wednesday 11.30am and Thursday 8.15pm. The interest among Newcomers is very encouraging and many have joined established communities or formed new ones.
Annual Retreat:
Date: 1 July 2018
Time: 2.00-5.00pm
This will be conducted by Fr Brendan Clifford OP
Master General:
Fr Bruno Cadore, Master General of the Dominican Order visited the Community at St Catherine’s Priory on March 24th 2018.
In the afternoon he visited the Lectio Centre. He was very enthusiastic and encouraging in his comments about our work serving the word of God.
Fund Raising:
There are two Annual Fund Raising Events to help support the Lectio Centre –
Sponsored Walk (September) and Christmas Bazaar.
In addition to these the sale of St Bridget’s Crosses, St Patrick Day Badges & Shamrock also contribute and we are very grateful to all who help make these events successful.
We extend our gratitude and thanks to all involved.
Sunday Guidelines:
The following members have been responsible for writing the Guidelines for the Sunday Gospels as found in the Dominican Weekly Bulletin.
Week 1: Siobhan McCaffery & Ann Rocks
Week 2: Kate Byrne, Sister Roisin & Sister Zita
Week 3: Joan Byrne & Rosaleen Pearce
Week 4: Anne Smyth, Pat Crawley & Mary Bell
Week 5: Fr Joseph Ralph
Websites:
newrydominican.com
lectio.newrydominican.c
They are easy to access and navigate.
Lectio Website is a very valuable source of information as well as providing Weekly Gospel, Historical Situation & Guidelines.