Brother Barry and a member of the Hungarian Alexian community, Brother Leo, in front of the Regal Princess in Cobh Harbour. The Regal Princess is a Royal-class cruise ship, that can accommodate 3,560 passengers and 1,346 crew members.

Saint Alexius, coloured engraving, Wellcome Collection, London

St Alexius, in a roundel, holds a pilgrim's staff and raises a lily towards the Virgin and Child. In the background, right, he kneels before a benefactor.

Prayer for vocations from the American Alexian Prayer Book

The Alexian Brothers in America celebrated the 159th anniversary of the founding of the American Mission on June 12. The 19th century was a time of great migrations, with many leaving their homeland for the "New World", the land of opportunity, America. At the beginning of 1866, Brother Bonaventure Thelen, in Aachen, Germany from Aachen arrived in New York. According to European practice, the brothers went out to the houses, ministering to their patients in their own homes, cared for the peoples in their own homes. It is likely that at that time, in Europe, people did not put much trust in the predecessors of our hospitals, the isopotyls. But in America the practice was different, and Brother Thelen soon saw the advantages of this and on 12 June he founded the first Alexandrian hospital in Chicago, in a small wooden house with 12 beds. He himself carried his first patient, in his arms, into the hospital in his arms. 

Kitchen accessories decorated with the coat of arms of the Alexian Brothers.

Saint Alexius, coloured engraving, Albertina Museum, Austria.

Lord,

As we begin this new month, July, we thank you for the warmth of summer, for the longer days, and for the beauty that surrounds us. We are grateful for the blessings of the past month and look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead. We pray for your guidance and wisdom as we navigate the days ahead. Help us to make choices that honor you and reflect your love. Grant us strength to overcome challenges and the courage to embrace new experiences. Bless our families, friends, and communities. May we be a source of kindness, compassion, and support to one another. We pray for the well-being of our world, for peace, justice, and healing. May we be stewards of your creation, protecting the environment and caring for all your children. We offer this prayer in your name, 

Amen.

 The statue of St Kevin by the Knock Basilica in the morning sunrise