Castletown provides a reminder of God’s Holy Presence
All space is sacred when we remember we are in God’s Holy presence, always. From time to time though it is helpful to have a gentle reminder of God’s Holy presence similar to the student ringing the little bell every half hour in the Lasallian classroom. A gentle reminder does not always have to be a spoken word, very often it presents itself as a place, a gesture or a visual reminder.
Our young people who come to Castletown on retreat comment on the quietness, the stillness and the peace they feel in the place. They ask questions on its history and that of the Brothers. They engage with the artwork and enquire about its symbolism and meaning and so we can converse with them and draw them into reflection on their own lives. The Batiks in the Lounge and Conference Room, the hand-woven Mandala in the hall and of course the exquisite Italian mosaic in the Chapel are all sources of interest for the young people but their origin or raison d’étre (bar the mosaic) are unknown to the present Retreat Team.
What is known to us and held sacred, is a space at the end of the corridor near the entrance to The Chapel of the Divine Child. The space is home to a statue of ‘Our lady, Mary’ gifted to the Centre by Br Jarlaith, a reminder of St De La Salle’s and the Brothers’ devotion to Our Lady. The image behind the statue is of a waterfall, on the human level reminding us of the continuous flow and changing nature of life and on the Faith level reminding us of God’s outpouring of never-ending love.
In the space also is a picture depicting the public ministry of Jesus, the Last Supper central to it. On closer inspection it reveals itself as a jig-saw put together by Br Ciaran. The symbolism of the jig-saw reminds us of our own connection to Jesus and our place at the table. Also reminding us of our piece, place and connection in the Lasallian Ministry. There are stones placed at the base of the statue to form a pseudo grotto, these stones have been repurposed over time but have always been central to a corner of sanctuary or ‘a gentle reminder’ in the Centre. The stones were collected and brought to the Centre by the first Lay Director in Castletown, Derek, during his first year in Castletown, over 20 years ago. Stones are thought to hold memory, these stones hold the memory of ‘the hearts that were touched’.
This space imbues the kindness of giving, the patience of putting things together to belong and last, the strong foundations of faith and the courage to follow the will of God, in service to others, the Lasallian story. It is in this space that we hope to develop with the young people a ‘Prayer Perch’ (Sensory Sacred Space), where they can sit and remember God’s Holy Presence and discern how best they can answer God’s call. This is hoped will evolve to become part of our ‘Leavening Project’- Watch this Space.
Marie, Castletown Retreat Team
