Archbishop Joseph Tobin dropped in for supper to the nuns having earlier in the day ordained Derek Ryan as a Redemptorist Priest at St Joseph’s Monastery in Dundalk. The Archbishop was joined by Fr Michael Kelleher, C.Ss.R., Provincial of the Irish Redemptorists and Fr Stan Mellett, C.Ss.R.  Sr Gabrielle presented a Christmas candle handmade by the Redemptoristine nuns to Archbishop Joe, Fr Michael and Fr Stan.

The final lecture on Canon law for 2011 brought the Contemplatives and Apostolic Sisters out in droves! The event hosted by Sr Gabrielle and the community is always a great event in the Monastery.  Sr Elizabeth Cotter, IBVM, Canon Lawyer will continue in 2012 to communicate her knowledge of Canon Law to the sisters.

The Sisters at the Monastery of St Alphonsus were busy writing icons and here are some of the Icons.  St. John Neumann, Bishop of Philadelphia; St. Alphonsus, Founder of the Redemptorists, Venerable Maria Celeste Crostarosa, Founder of the Redemptoristines, St.Gerard Majella, is the patron of expectant mothers. He was born at Muro, Italy, in 1726 and joined the  Redemptorists at the age of 23, becoming a professed lay brother in 1752. St. Clement, Redemptorist preacher and reformer. He was born on December 26,1751, at Taswitz, Moravia, the ninth child of a butcher and his wife and was baptized John. His family name was originally Dvorak, but was changed to the German Hofbauer. He was apprenticed as a baker in his youth.