by Gerard Bennett | Jun 14, 2026 | Headline, History
In 1896, the resurgence of Irish Franciscan life and activity began in Friary of Multyfarnham. On Saturday December 11 of that year, a group of friars from St. Isidore’s College in Rome arrived at the Friary. They were specially delegated to the task of...
by Gerard Bennett | May 21, 2026 | Headline, Reflections from Fr Kieran
Reflecting on the imagery used to express the event of the Ascension of Our Lord in the readings for that feast day Mass, I was struck by the strange clash of metaphors found in those sacred texts. On one hand, we are told that Jesus is returning to the Father to sit...
by Gerard Bennett | Mar 17, 2026 | Headline, Reflections from Fr Kieran
Traditionally the season of Lent has been associated with the practice of sacrifice, understood as “giving up” or surrendering something for the sake of something better. For example, fasting from some food or drink and using the money saved to help someone who is in...
by Gerard Bennett | Jan 17, 2026 | Headline, Reflections from Fr Kieran
At the beginning of this new year, the friary was invited to celebrate Mass for those watching daily Mass on the RTÉ News Channel. The following is the homily I preached based on the readings from I John 4:11-18 and Mark 6: 45-52. (See Readings after the Epiphany /...
by Gerard Bennett | Dec 24, 2025 | History
On a bleak winter Saturday in December 1896, two sidecars wound their way toward the quiet village of Multyfarnham. Within them sat a small band of Franciscan friars, carrying little more than their personal belongings and an unshakeable sense of purpose. They had...
