Finding Faith 2022 Day Six
Saturday 21 May
For VOX magazine’s 10th annual Finding Faith Tour editor Ruth Garvey-Williams travels across Ireland hunting down stories of faith, life and reality. You can follow the journey each day here on the blog and through our social media pages with stories, videos and photos.
It was an early start from Bunratty as I head south to Adare in time for a 9am meeting. With clear roads, the drive was pleasant and as I wound through the Limerick countryside I’m struck by clumps of cow parsley lining the route, as if the road is wearing a lace collar!
Prayer Journey
I am meeting Stephen Cardy at his home. Stephen heads up Family.ie, a charity providing support to families across Ireland through radio programmes and podcasts. Before we stop in his office (where the radio recording equipment is in evidence), Stephen invites me to take a walk around his garden so he can show me something that has enriched his own faith in recent years. With an underlying health condition, Stephen and his wife Margaret had to be extremely isolated during much of the pandemic, but morning prayer walks helped to sustain him.
Every morning, Stephen leaves the house at around 6.45am (come rain or shine) and he usually spends an hour in prayer. As we walk slowly around the garden, Stephen shows me different trees and shrubs, which each represent a different prayer focus. Walking and praying helps him to avoid distractions and ensure that his mind does not wander.
There are individual trees for each of his children (all now adults) and for his wife, but also particular trees and shrubs representing his neighbourhood - he prays daily for 60 households in his immediate area along with friends and churches and church leaders from across Limerick and further afield. About halfway through this walk, Stephen lingers at three tall trees at the front of his property, which for him represent the Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). Here he finds comfort and strength in God’s presence, sometimes even kneeling down or resting himself against the tree trunks.
His prayer journey continues to encompass each of the 32 counties of Ireland as well as extended family and many others. “I was conscious I was starting to get frustrated and I didn’t want to end up as a grumpy old man,” Stephen shares. “The person who steps back into the house after that hour each morning, is not the same as the person who steps out.”
I feel honoured by this insight into Stephen’s prayer life, shared so simply as something that has helped him. After the walk, Stephen asks to interview me for one of his radio programmes and he records us talking about mental health and suicide prevention (something close to my heart as many of you know).
Back on the road again, I head south to Newcastle West, where I am to meet Jino and Princy. Originally from India, this couple arrived in Ireland shortly before the 2020 lockdown.
Miracle Child
I’m greeted warmly and as Princy heads to the kitchen to prepare some refreshments their 7-year-old son Abhishek asks whether he can play something for me on the piano. My jaw drops, as this small child demonstrates the flair of a concert pianist with a classical piece by Scarlatti that is on the current Grade 8 curriculum. Abhishek has his own YouTube channel since winning some major piano competitions, his father Jino shares. Here’s one of his competition pieces.
Princy returns with a generous selection of mango, apple and banana fritters along with a delicious refreshing home-made milkshake and the couple share their story. I spend two hours with this wonderful family (they also have a second son who is a toddler) so for this blog, I will just give you a taste! While Princy was pregnant with Abhishek, one of her scans revealed that he had a serious condition and they said he might also be born with Down Syndrome. At the time Princy told the doctors, “Every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord and He knows what is best for me.”
Born by C-section Abhishek spent 45 days in ICU and had major surgery as a baby. At one point his oxygen saturation dropped to dangerous levels, Jino called friends from the church and asked them all to pray.
“I was the only one who was allowed to see him,” Princy shared. “I could only touch his little feet. It was a really hard time. While he was undergoing surgery, I was upstairs and my friends were there to console me but I was consoling them. The only thing I could say is that I had peace that surpasses all understanding. My heart was filled with joy and peace. I knew that God is in control.”
“When I look back to those moments I think, ’How did I face all those things?’ It is all because of God’s faithfulness.”
Abhishek not only survived but he continued to develop normally. His parents soon found that he had a love for music. And two years ago, during lockdown, Jino introduced his five year old son to the piano. It was soon evident that he was gifted beyond his years, and last year they enrolled him in Limerick School of Music. He has already won national and international competitions and played recently in Newcastle West at a concert to raise funds for Ukrainian refugees.
I’m running late and after reluctantly tearing myself away from this beautiful family, I need to call ahead to warn Bill Lane that I will be late! It is a tough drive from Limerick to Ballincollig on the outskirts of Cork city and when I arrive at the Carraig Centre, Bill’s wife Janet, immediately brings me some water. We sit for a few minutes to allow me to catch my breath.
Building Hope Together
Part of the Carrigrohane Union of Parishes for the Church of Ireland, I visited the Carraig Centre virtually last year but when Bill heard I was doing the Finding Faith Tour in person, he invited me to come and visit. It is amazing to see how this former barracks has been converted into a thriving community space and a modern church sanctuary.
As we tour the building we look in on a Lego club taking place in one of the rooms and the art teacher is packing up after an art class. More and more community groups are making use of the space (there is a big shortage of community facilities in Ballincollig) and the church congregation is growing.
Janet shows me a recent project the church took on to support Ukrainian refugees arriving in the area. Parishioners, members of the local community and the Mothers’ Union donated 90 welcome bags (most of which were in hand made cloth bags) for the Red Cross to give to Ukrainian children when they arrive. The bags contained a cuddly toy, colouring book and pencils and some bubbles. Another 60 bags of toiletries and essentials were prepared and given to a local Polish organisation supporting the refugees.
Over a cup of tea, Bill and Janet share their own faith journeys with me… but that is a story for another time! I climb (rather stiffly) behind the wheel again for another long drive. This evening I’m staying in Clonmel in Co. Tipperary. With no other appointments, I’m soon working away at today’s blog with a sense of awe at the privilege it is to listen to people’s stories and to share them with you. I hope it is as encouraging for you as it is for me!