Brother Barry in front of the Ark of the Covenant Statue, Győr, Hungary

The statue is one of the most beautiful Baroque monuments in Győr. Above the Ark of the Covenant, which symbolizes the Old Testament, is a lamb sitting on a seven-sealed book, representing Jesus, the author of the New Testament. According to the official story, a soldier suspected of bigamy and using pseudonyms fled to a Jesuit monastery in 1729, where he was surrounded by soldiers. The monks tried to bring the fugitive to safety in the Bishop's Castle to end the blockade. However, the soldier, dressed as an altar boy, was recognised by his companions in the Corpus Christi procession and the armed soldiers disrupted the procession. During the scuffle, the priest's ostensory fell out of his hand and broke. The monument was erected in 1731 by King Charles III to atone for the damage done to the Eucharist.

 

Saint Alexius, patron saint of pilgrims, our heavenly intercessor,

Please hear my prayer as I turn to you at the beginning of the new week. Guide us on our journey and guide our steps in the days ahead. Please give us the strength and courage to relate responsibly and lovingly to all those we meet. Help us to be guided by love and truth in all our decisions and actions. Teach us how to find peace in everyday challenges and how to understand each other's needs. Please bless those with whom we work and live, and help us all to grow in our faith and love. Please guide us by your example and light our way so that each day may be a pilgrimage towards happiness and hope. Bless this new week to be full of opportunities, discoveries and blessings.

Amen.

Visit to the Holy Spirit Church in Győr with Brother Barry - 2024 July

On May 25, 1985 (before the fall of communism), thanks to the voluntary work of hundreds of people, the construction of the church dedicated to the Holy Spirit began in the new part of Győr. The church was consecrated on 6 June 1987 with the personal blessing of Pope John Paul II, together with the Apor Vilmos (Hungarian martyr bishop, beatified, archpastor of the diocese of Győr) Catholic School Centre and the St. Anna's Elderly Home in Győrújbarát. 

A selection of pictures taken here.

 

Saint Alexius, man of God and Saint Catherine of Alexandria, icon.

Pictures from the past

Between 13 and 18 February 2013, three members of the Irish Alexian community, Brother Dermot O'Leary, Brother Dominic Walsh and Brother Luke Polding, visited the Alexian community in Hungary.

 

 

The Brothers on the Chapter Hill, with the Cathedral of Győr in the background,
founded in the 11th century, where the famous Irish Weeping Madonna is kept

 

 

 

 The Brothers in front of the current building of the 400-year-old
Győr Theological College and Seminary, located on the Chapter Hill

Statue of St Alexius, Clermont-Ferrand City Hospital, France.

Rosie guards the lunch in the making:)

Saint Alexius, man of God and service, we turn to you in humility and faith to pray for our Alexian Brothers all over the world. We ask your blessing to accompany them as they faithfully serve their mission to help those in need, continuing in this sacred task for 800 years. Help them always to follow your example, keeping in their hearts the flame of charity and love for the elderly, the poor and the suffering. Fill them with courage and perseverance, so that they may not be discouraged, but may ceaselessly seek out those who need your support and hope. Please watch over them and give them wisdom so that all their decisions may be made in a spirit of love and service. Strengthen them in faith so that they may experience your presence in their daily lives. Amen.

Photo: the original of a work depicting an episode in the life of Saint Alexius decorates the Saint Elizabeth Elderly Home of the Alexian Mission in Hungary.

Meester van Alkmaar - Death of St. Alexius, 16th century, Philadelphia, America.

In the foreground, the Roman Emperors Arcadius and Honorius and Pope St. Innocentius I. examine a manuscript on the life of St. Alexius found in the hands of the deceased saint (centre left).

An indispensable part of the Irish breakfast is porridge, without it you can't start the day here, just like your morning coffee. It's made in a slow cooker with water and takes about an hour to cook, and is eaten with milk, honey, cereals or fruits.

Saint Alexius, codex illustration, The British Library.

Brother Barry in front of the Jedlik fountain in downtown Győr, Hungary

The fountain in the centre of Győr was completed in 2011, with the central soda siphon made by Győr glass artist László Hefter. The soda bottle-shaped sculpture was erected in honour of the Benedictine Ányos Jedlik, a former teacher, monk and inventor at the Benedictine secondary school in Győr. Jedlik is credited with the patent for the industrial production of soda water.

Statue of Saint Alexius, Saint-Crépin, France.

On August 21, 1879, in the small village of Knock in Northern Ireland, an apparition occurred when the Blessed Virgin Mary, Jesus as Lamb of God, St. Joseph, St. John the Evangelist and angels appeared at the village church. In the more than 100 years since then, Knock has become the most visited pilgrimage site in Europe, along with Fatima and Lourdes, with one and a half million pilgrims visiting every year.

More about the apparition in Knock: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knock_Shrine
A livestream of the Masses is also available at: https://www.knockshrine.ie/watch-live/

The painting of the apparition of Knock is located
in the Knock Parish Church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist

Brother Barry in front of the statue of Blessed Vilmos Apor. On Good Friday 1945, he sacrificed his life for his faithful while defending the women hidden in the cellar of the episcopal palace against violent Soviet soldiers: the bullets penetrated his body forming the shape of a cross.

His spirituality is well reflected in his notes taken during a retreat in 1914: "I think that the last beatitude is meant for the apostles, pastors of souls: Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake. This is what makes a priest happy: self-sacrifice, the sacrifice of one's life and martyrdom."

Saint Alexius, patron saint of the homeless, pilgrims and the Alexian Brothers, we turn to you for your intercession during the new week ahead. Guide us on our journey, so that our every step may strengthen our faith and commitment, and that we may love and support one another, following your example. May we discover goodness and beauty in the daily life of the week, and consciously seek truth and love in all we do. Help us to face challenges with courage and perseverance, and to always remember your teachings. Please bless our community, family, friends and all those we meet. Fill our hearts with peace and joy, that every moment of this new week may be a blessing to us. Please be with us in our daily lives and guide us in the way of the Lord. Amen.

Saint Alexius, Man of God, Russian icon, 2021.

Brother Barry with a huge cabbage from the garden next to the Irish Alexian monastery.

Keyring with depictions of St Alexius and the Madonna of St Alexius.

Visit to Bakonybél, Hungary - St Maurice Monastery (July 2024)

The last time we had the pleasure to visit Bakonybél was probably in 2016 and the area has changed a lot since then. The monastic community founded by St Stephen has been active in Bakonybél since 1018. The monastery complex (church, visitor centre, guest house, herb garden) has been renovated in recent years, with new exhibition spaces and the results of excavations completed last year. The visitor centre also sells local products, including lavender. We have selected some of the images taken during our visit with Brother Barry.

Almighty God, we thank You for this weekend, which we have received as a gift from You. Please bless this time with peace, joy and harmony. Strengthen in us a sense of love and empathy, so that we may spend this short time with our loved ones in a loving and mutually supportive way, and find peace and replenishment for our bodies and souls. May the blessings of the weekend help us to start the new week refreshed and recharged. Thank you for all your good deeds and your presence in our lives. Amen.

Medieval codex decoration with scenes from the life of St Alexius.

Sightseeing with Brother Barry (2024.07)

A fantastic view of Győr from the tower of the Bishop's Castle. In the centre is the Győr Cathedral, founded in the 11th century, where the image of the Irish Weeping Madonna is kept.

Saint Alexius,

In your humble and devoted life, you exemplified the spirit of service and compassion. We turn to you today with a heartfelt prayer for vocations to the Alexian Brothers. Inspire and guide those who seek to follow in your footsteps, dedicating their lives to serving the sick, the marginalized, and those in need.

May your intercession ignite a passion in the hearts of young men, urging them to embrace a life of community, prayer, and charitable work. Help them to recognize their calling and to be open to the transformative journey that awaits them as they join the Alexian Brothers.

Grant them the courage to respond generously to this call, and may they find joy and purpose in their commitment to live out the values of faith, hope, and love. Lord, bless our communities with an abundance of vocations, and may we all strive to live lives of service and compassion, just as you did.

Through your intercession, may we build a world where the love of Christ shines brightly through our actions. Amen.

 

Brother Larry of the American, Brother Dermot of the Irish and Brother Leo of the Hungarian Alexian community in front of the bronze statue of Pope John Paul II, inaugurated in 2015 in front of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Győr, Hungary. (2024.09.18.)

The jewel of the Knock Basilica, the mosaic depicting the miraculous apparition of 21 August 1879 is the work of Irish and Italian artists and consists of one and a half million pieces.

 

Ready to go - Brother Sean, is a regular visitor to the local St. John's Welcome Centre in Knock, where he himself serves the needy who visit.

 

 

Death of Saint Alexius, winged altar from the church of Saint Catherine in Lübeck, Germany, 1515. The part depicting the death of the saint is shown in the lower left corner of the altar.

Brother Barry in front of Saint Ladislaus' (1077 – 1095) herm, which is the most valuable piece of medieval Hungarian metalsmithing and an important symbol of nationhood. The herm contains a piece of King László's skull, is kept in Győr Cathedral, Hungary.

Pictures from the Knock shrine at dawn.

The shrines official website: https://www.knockshrine.ie/

Statue of St Kevin in the rising sun, Knock, Ireland

The statue illustrates the most famous miracle in the life of the Irish saint. As the hermit Kevin meditated in contemplation, he held his palms upturned so still that a blackbird flew down and nested in them. The saint then decided to remain still as a tree until the chicks had safely hatched and left the nest.

Brother Barry in front of the current building of the 400-year-old Győr Theological College and Seminary in Hungary.

The Irish Alexian Brothers are primarily involved in hospitality. The village of Knock, with a population of just under 1,000, became a national shrine in Ireland after the apparition of Our Lady in 1879 and one of the most visited spiritual sites in the world, welcoming over one and a half million visitors a year. The brothers welcome individual visitors and groups of guests every day of the year in a guest house (Madonna House) and also in the monastery, where each room bears the names of (Irish) saints e.g. Kevin, Brigid etc.. Visitors can participate in the brothers' prayers, adoration, spiritual talks and meals with the brothers. 

For more information click here.

Sheila, Rosie and Brother Dermot

Evening prayer to St Alexius

Dear Saint Alexius, in the silence of the evening I turn to you, please hear my prayer. Give me the courage and strength to leave the toils of the day quietly behind me. Stand by me in the dark hours and guide me on the path of righteousness. Bless my heart and soul, that I may find inner peace and tranquility. Thank you for always watching over me and guiding me with your blessings and the example of your life. Please help me to serve others in love and to bring the love of Christ to others by following your example. Bless those who need help and give them hope and strength in the darkness. St. Alexius, intercede for us with the Father, and please grant that I may always feel your presence as I lay my head down to sleep and meet tomorrow's new challenges. Amen.

Memories from the past - A trip to the Aran Islands - 2023 September

This is a group of three islands off the west coast of Ireland. Brother Barry and Brother Alexius, a member of the Alexian Mission in Hungary, travelled to the largest island, Inishmore, across the Atlantic Ocean. The beautiful, sombre landscape is breathtaking, with castle and church ruins and a colony of seals. Inishmore has a population of only 900, yet it has two primary schools and a secondary school. The driver who led the tour talked a lot about life here, and it makes this little village seem like one big family. Everybody knows everybody and this isolation from the outside world, despite the many tourists, gives the people here a calm, peaceful and happy life. Everyone makes a living from tourism, there are plenty of cyclists, horse rides, scuba diving and the hand-knitted, thick sweaters they sell to visitors are beautiful.

The beautiful natural setting is also popular with film-makers, including the charming adventure movie The Princess Bride (1987), scenes from Harry Potter films and one of the best movie of 2022 the brilliant 9 Oscar nominated irish film, The Banshees of Inisherin was shot here too.

A selection of images taken during the trip.

Saint Alexius, etching after a painting by Charles Le Brun, second half of the 17th century.

Brother Barry in front of the Irish Weeping Madonna in the Győr Cathedral, Hungary.

Death of St Alexius, 1515, Turin, Italy.

Happy birthday to two members of the Irish Alexian community, Brother Sean and Brother Luke, who celebrate this special day one day apart this weekend.