Posts by Karen Kent

Messenger of Peace and Founder of the Goodall Institute

An excerpt from her final message to the world (to be read after her death on October 1^st, 2025)

“In the place where I am now, I look back over my life in the world, the place I left behind.

What message do I want to leave behind? I want you all to understand that each and every one of you has a role to play.  You may not know it, you may not find it. But your life matters and you are here for a reason and I hope that reason will become apparent as you live through your life. Whether you find it or not, I want you to know that your life matters.

I want you to understand that we are part of the natural world and even today when the planet is dark, there is still hope. Don’t lose hope – if you do, you become apathetic and do nothing.  

If you understand and if you want to save what is still beautiful in this world and if you want to save the planet for future generations, then think about the actions you take every day because multiplied a million billion times, even small actions will make a great change.

I want you to understand that this life on planet earth is not the end. I believe and now I know that there is life beyond death – that consciousness survives – I cannot tell you how from where I am – secrets are not mine to share……. I cannot tell you what you will find when you leave Planet Earth, but I want you to know that your life on Planet Earth will make all the difference to the kind of life you will find when you die.

Above all, I want you to know that we are part of Mother Nature while we are on earth. We depend on Mother Nature for clean air, for water, for food, for clothing – for everything. And as we destroy one eco-system after another, as we create worse climate change, worse loss of diversity, we have to do everything in our power to make the world a better place for the children alive today and for those who will follow.

You have it in your power to make a difference. This is your future. Don’t give up.  Do your best while you are on this beautiful Planet Earth that I look down upon from where I am now.  God bless you all.”   

B. O’S

A smile works wonders!  In St. Mark’s Gospel (chapter 10:7), Jesus asks us to pass on the abundance we have received; this is what He says: “You receive without charge, give without charge”. Every day, we have lots of opportunities to do this:

Probably the simplest way to do so is just to smile at someone and be friendly and gracious. A smile works wonders.   In a simple smile, we can share the abundance that we have received. Not only does a smile bring joy, but it can also change our own attitudes. If we feel stressed or annoyed, smiling at someone can break this state of negativity. A smile is a simple thing, but we often forget how powerful it is. A smile is simply an expression of the joy within us bubbling to the surface.

A mixed-media painting by the Dutch photographer Max Van Der Oetelaarhad had a profound effect on me. It’s a photo of a happy, joyful, smiling woman; she is surrounded by a burst of magnificent splashes of colour. The truth is that smiling does not cost us anything – it is something we can easily and gladly give without charge.

Let us avail of the many opportunities to smile that come our way.

                                                                                                                            B. O’ S.

Let us turn our hearts to the West

From there the thunders bring us cleansing rain

Creator God, heal us and our relatives.

Let us turn our hearts to the North

Winter comes to us from there and calls us to rest.

Creator God, restore our strength.

Let us turn our hearts to the East.

The morning sun begins each day there.

Creator God, awaken us and help us to walk with a renewed life.

Let us turn our hearts to the South

Where the warm winds come from to give us comfort and joy.

Let us turn our hearts to the Sky

From there our Creator sees all around us.

Creator God, help us to trust you to lead us.

Let us turn our hearts to the Earth

From there quiet wisdom comes to teach us.

Creator God, hear us as we pray.

Adapted from Diocese of Western North Carolina – Anglican indigenous ministries                                                                            

B. O’ S

According to the dictionary the word “companion” has its origins in the Latin word “companio” which if literally translated means “bread-fellow”.  It is derived from two words “com” meaning “with” and “panis” meaning “bread”, which we can translate as “sharing bread with”.   Breaking bread and sharing food was a way of life for Jesus, many times in the Gospels we see him sit down with people from all groups of his society – the Pharisees, the poor, his friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus, the large crowds who came to hear him, and his disciples at the Last Supper when bread and wine became Eucharist.   Indeed, after his resurrection it was in moments of blessing, breaking and sharing bread that his disciples recognised him and were able to say “He is risen” – recall the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, the apostles at the lake shore bringing in their catch of fish.  So being a companion has its roots in the Gospel tradition – it is no wonder then that when Angela sought to name her new group who would commit their lives to God and to the Gospel that she called it a “Company” (The Company of Saint Ursula) – the first members would find companionship with one another – in prayer, in their meetings, at Eucharist and though Angela does not tell us this – perhaps in sharing food together. In her writings Angela names herself as companion to each of us who have chosen to follow her inspiration when she says: “I will be in your midst lending aid to your prayers” what more could we want from a companion in our lives than who is with us, praying for and with us always.

Today while our life has somewhat changed over the centuries and many daughters of Angela live in community we know each other as “companions” sharing our life together in prayer, at meals, at Eucharist and in supporting and encouraging each other in our daily living of the Christian life as Ursulines.  We seek to be companions to one other and to all whom we encounter bringing alive the Gospel message to bring the Risen Jesus to all our daily encounters.

Karen OSU

On a recent drive in Co. Waterford, a friend and I decided to take the scenic route home? We stopped at a little village near Kilmeaden – home to Knockaderry reservoir, which supplies water to the city. The surrounding area is a paradise for fisher enthusiasts, bird watchers and lovers of wild exotic flowers.

You will be surprised to hear that I was completely captivated by the reservoir!

What is a reservoir? Well, it stores water in order to make it available when it is needed; it makes provision for outflow and inflow.

It is not a swamp, because a swamp has an inlet but no outlet. As a result, many things in a swamp die. And a swamp can emit an unpleasant odour. Yes, there is life in a swamp, but it lacks energy and zest for life.

A reservoir isn’t a canal either! A canal enables a network of communication and provides links between people, needs and movements. It is adept at reaching out in times of crisis.

In my reflections, a few questions surfaced:

Am I a reservoir, a swamp or a canal?

• Reservoir: am I there for people in their hour of need? Do I keep my inlet and outlet clear so that I’m never empty?
• Do I share the gifts that God has given me?
• Swamp: do I hoard whatever comes my way as my own?
• If so, do I wonder why I have so few friends?
• Canal: am I a channel through which kindness and friendship flow?
• Do I relate needs to sources of help?

Each of us can take on the characteristics of reservoir, swamp or canal.

RESERVOIR, SWAMP, CANAL WHICH AM I?

                  B. O ‘S