On May 2nd, Mr Collins and a group of Transition Year students travelled to Mount Melleray to attended the Mount Melleray Youth Day which was hosted by Most Rev. Frank Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport, Connecticut. The day began with a visit to the chapel where the monks pray. This chapel is not usually opened to the public so it was a privilege to see the beautiful interior. Once everyone had arrived, Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan, Roman Catholic Bishop of Waterford and Lismore welcomed everyone and talked about what the day ahead would be like.
After a short break, Bishop Caggiano began talking to us about his childhood and his life in Brooklyn, New York. He told us many stories about his time in the seminary and what made him realise he wanted to become a priest. We were all moved by his stories. One that inspired me was when he explained to us that after training to become a priest he realised that he did not want to be one and on the day of his graduation he told the Lord that he did not want this life but wanted a life that involved money, a nice car and a big house. He set out to achieve these things and he did, but he realised that he felt empty. That this was not the life he thought he wanted after all. And so he did what his heart wanted and that was to serve the church.
At the end of the day we had a mass which was said by the monks who live in Mount Melleray. The day was very enjoyable and humbling and it is safe to say that we all had a lovely experience.
Written by Laura Condon, TYB