 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
Testimonies and Results:
Kevin’s new Quality of LifeFor a long time before I joined the community I had a lack of enthusiasm and hope for life, I ended up giving up my job and had even given up wanting to put in an effort to live life. The reason for this was because I perceived things to be true in relation to dealing with people that were not true and nothing I had tried prior to then to end this suffering had worked. The main problems were what I thought people were saying about me, how was I coming across to people and a self-consciousness that resulted in me withdrawing from interacting with people. After going through this for a long time I ended up having a carefree attitude by not caring about myself or anyone else and feeling depression, anxiety and despair.
Then one day when I was in Medjugorje I was introduced by a lady to Muintir Mhuire.
I met and talked with the spiritual director and a member of the community. I felt what they had to say was very encouraging, hopeful and that the issues I was dealing with would be healed with enough time and prayer. I brought home and read some of the literature and gave it some thought for a while because joining the community meant leaving home and moving to Cork. Then eventually I decided I would give it a try and join up for six months or more. Since then I can say in all honesty that many parts of my life have been greatly improved. Not only do I not suffer anymore from all the problems which I mentioned above, other aspects of my life, which I never intended or even considered needed improving have been greatly developed. Abilities such as managerial and leadership skills, problem solving, being available for people when they need to talk, giving encouragement and being able to identify and help others who have similar difficulties that I had. These are abilities I didn’t know I had. Some of the most valuable things I’ve learned about Christian Community Living is that being preoccupied with the needs of others; I take the emphasis off myself, I stop focusing on what I can’t do or don’t have and start appreciating and being grateful for all I can do and the gifts God has given me.
I would like to finish by saying that I am confident that I would not be where I am now without all the prayer, support and friendship that I experienced while being a member of Muintir Mhuire. I will always be grateful to all who were involved in the community while I was a member and I strongly believe that it is making a very valuable contribution to the lives of other people and the life of the Church in Ireland and hopefully in time, many other places as well.”
“..other aspects of my life, which I never intended or even considered needed improving have been greatly developed.”
Alison’s Progress.
I grew up in a large family and I was privileged to have very good parents. However I also experienced depression, anxiety and sleep difficulties all through my life. The only way I knew how to deal with these issues was through work. No matter how much I achieved I still felt empty within. I was also religious, but this did not relieve me of my depression, anxiety and sleep difficulties. I was also not aware that my relationships with people were not great. All this led to burn-out and finally breakdown.
During my breakdown I went to various healing retreats, these helped me a little. However it wasn't until I joined Muintir Mhuire that I began to make any real progress. For me among the key ingredients were: -Fr Donal's spiritual direction and wise counsel, prayer, new friends, who are striving to centre their lives on Christ. The physical work (renovating the old farmhouse and yard), for me this was a labour of love and brought meaningful work into my life once again. I had worked with a large organisation and I had lost myself in the politics and work, which for me had become meaningless. I have now moved on from Muintir Mhuire. I feel happy and secure in myself. I lead a more balanced lifestyle based on:
● A healthy spiritual life.
● Time for my friends, recreation and myself, -meaningful work which is practical, stimulating and also allows me to be close to nature.
“. A labour of love brought meaningful work into my life once again.” These are Alison’s words where real progress from depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties and poor relationships have been transformed. She is now happy and secure in herself and this has happened through Muintir Mhuire.
Bill’s Story.
"By the effect, and having a long history of being bullied, precarious living, peer pressure and never having a strong sense of willpower, it left me with very little confidence and no feeling of self worth. Before joining Muintir Mhuire I was despairing. I was very withdrawn, problems communicating, no trust in people, having no confidence, not being able to do the things I'd like to do and had difficulties coping with jobs. I discovered Muintir Mhuire on receiving their leaflet given to me by a friend. It stated it was a retreat of strong Christian values suited to people struggling with their usual routine or environment and interested in developing their spirituality. Although I wouldn't have considered myself a strong Catholic, I was willing enough to get into contact with them. They asked me to stay for 6 months with the option to extend my time. With this community, I picked up a lot and really developed in myself, I was scheduled into many new things, many everyday duties of the house, praying every day, prayer meetings, taking responsibilities for myself and others, working on their new site and contributing my knowledge and skills for their work. I learnt the great value of trust, friendships, value of prayer, working as a team and gained confidence and self-esteem in doing things and tackling situations that before would have been virtually impossible for me. Also through the other members, I learnt that I wasn't the only one, that there are many people with many difficulties out there. But I think that many just keep trying to cope with those things, when they could be far happier. Maybe it's because they haven't hit on this place".
Taking a leap in trust and faith Bill committed himself to the community for six months. Two years later and a complete changed person he claims the reason why many people are trying to cope with difficulties when they could be far happier is:
“ maybe they haven’t hit on this place”.
Jason’s says, “ Muintir Mhuire has saved my Life……”
“ For three days I drove around stopping in different locations, the local river, the sea, different car parks wherever there was no people or that I couldn’t be seen. What would it be like when I was gone, would I feel free, would the pain and torment go, would the misery, the black darkness and constant hatred and disappointment finally be relieved? I look out the window and across my mind flash pictures of faces, people that I knew before, one in particular, and I ask, is it now easier for him.
I haven’t been home or slept for three days, I haven’t washed or eaten. I have tried everything humanly possible to make myself feel better. I have made a lot of wrong choices in my life craving for love, for acceptance and for some peace. I now know this is the end, I cannot live anymore. I sit in the car looking at the water with a dry throat, a sick feeling in my stomach and tears running down my face, my mind races and I picture myself submerged under water, grasping trying to open the car doors still sinking and sinking.
My stomach explodes and I break down, I cry like a baby that has lost his mother, my heart thugs as I grasp for breath, what about my mother, my brothers, my sisters and my family, I cannot do this, I cannot put them through more pain, I feel I cant cope anymore, what will I do, please…, please God I beg, help me”.
This was one attempted suicide attempted by Jason, Jason sought help from Muintir Mhuire as a last option in 2004 although Jason wanted to live he felt there was no way out and just wanted to find a little peace in his life. His attitude at the time was that he just wanted to be happy. Jason grew up in a normal family with a good mother and father, a nice home, educated, family holidays, and was provided for in every way that one could ask for. There was no extreme difficulty or hardship experienced. Jason described the source of his difficulties as a void, or a feeling of a hole deep within his stomach, a searching for something more, something that would make him feel complete.
Since February 2007 we had to vacate our community house in Co. Cork and it has recently been sold. At present we need our new purpose built accommodation at Ballybutler, Ladysbridge, Co. Cork to continue helping our youth, those like Kevin, Alison, Bill and Jason.
Community Members Success Rate:
Over 90% success rate with over 46 residential members benefiting to date.
65% have returned to successful employment.
15% have returned to education.
15% are still involved in community.
Where Community members are from:
Total number of community members to date:
Full time members ranging in age from 21 to 43 the total number is 46 people .
34 Irish, from twelve counties as follows :
12 Cork, Dublin, Waterford, Tipperary, Galway, Wexford, Clare, Laois, Donegal, Derry, Down and Fermannagh.
England, Scotland, Poland, Germany and Croatia.
Amount of Time spent in community in months
208 Community member months in Monacraigh Cottage,
60 Community member months in Medjugorje,
12 1 week Community Experience groups ,
4 Visitors and Guests using House
284 total months Devide by 56 momths = 5 People ave.
Community Members background:
50% have Third level Education,
20% are from Social and Educational disadvantaged areas.
50% were in receipt of Disability Allowance.
Muintir Mhuire, Muintir Mhuire, | Phone numbers: Mobiles: 086 257 1445, 087 7777970, 086 8247300 |