WEXFORD PARISH'S 'TENT OF MEETING' AT THE FLEADH CHEOIL

By Sean O'Leary

As many of us gathered for Fleadh 2025, we were invited to encounter one another in a spirit of hospitality in a very special way in the Wexford Parish Tent of Meeting. This sacred space, filled with culture and shared joy, became a place where our faith came alive in community. In this tent, we welcomed strangers as friends, shared stories of our journeys and celebrated the gift of faith that unites us. In the laughter of children, the melodies of traditional songs, and the generosity of shared food, we saw the face of Christ, who calls us to love one another as He loves us.

This spirit of hospitality reflects the heart of our faith, a faith that opens our hearts to others, inviting them into the love of God’s family. In the Tent of Meeting at Fleadh 2025, we were reminded that faith is not a solitary journey but a shared pilgrimage. As we listened to one another’s stories, offered kind words, or extended a hand of friendship, we embodied the Gospel call to “love your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12:31). These moments of encounter are sacred, for they allow us to see God’s presence in each other, strengthening our faith and renewing our commitment to walk together.

As we walk together through the joys and trials of life, we find that faith is the very heartbeat of our journey with God and each other. From these experiences and God’s open invitation to each one of us, we come to see faith as the light that guides us, the strength that lifts us and the love that draws us ever closer to our Heavenly Father. As the Letter to the Hebrews so beautifully reminds us, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Let us pause and reflect on why faith is truly the heart of our journey. A gift from God’s loving hand, faith is a precious gift, a gentle invitation from God to know Him, to love Him, and to trust in His endless mercy. It’s not something we create on our own - it’s a grace that God plants in our hearts, beginning with the waters of Baptism. Like a seed, this gift grows through prayer, the sacraments, and a life rooted in love.

Faith is the heart of our journey because it connects us to God in every moment. Whether we’re basking in life’s blessings or navigating its challenges, faith reminds us that we are held in God’s loving hands. It’s the quiet whisper that says, “You are not alone—I am with you always.”

Our path teaches us that faith is not about ignoring life’s difficulties or pretending all is well. Rather, it’s a deep trust in God’s goodness, even when the path feels uncertain. Think of St. Teresa of Calcutta, who poured out her life for the poorest of the poor, even when she felt God’s presence was far from her. Her faith was a choice to trust, a decision to hold fast to God’s love. Or consider St. John of the Cross, who found God’s light in the darkness of his “dark night of the soul.” Their stories show us that faith is a steady anchor, keeping us grounded in God’s care.

In our own lives, when we face worries about the future, struggles in our families, or moments of doubt, faith invites us to rest in God’s providence. Jesus assures us, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself” (Matthew 6:34). With faith, we can let go of our fears and place our trust in the One who holds all things together, as St. Paul promises (Romans 8:28).

Faith is an act of surrender, a moment of saying, “Lord, I place my journey in Your hands.” And so, faith is not meant to be kept hidden in our hearts, it’s meant to shine forth in love and service. As St. James reminds us, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26). Our faith calls us to reach out with compassion, to feed the hungry, comfort the grieving and walk with those who feel forgotten. These acts of love are the heartbeat of our faith, bringing Christ’s light to the world.

The sacraments, especially the Eucharist, are the lifeblood of our faith. In the Mass, we encounter Jesus Himself, who strengthens us and fills us with His grace. The Eucharist is the heart of our journey, where we are renewed to go out and share God’s love with others. And in our families, parishes and communities, we live this faith together, as one family in Christ, encouraging and uplifting one another along the way.

In a world that sometimes ignores, doubts or ridicules the place of faith, it can feel challenging to hold fast to what we believe. Yet, as Christians, we know that faith and reason are not opponents, they are gifts that work hand in hand. As St. John Paul II so beautifully said, they are “two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.” 

Faith invites us to bring our questions to God, trusting that He holds the answers to life’s deepest mysteries. Our religious tradition, from St. Augustine to St. Edith Stein, shows us that faith opens our hearts to the beauty and purpose of life. It reminds us that we are created for love, made to share in God’s eternal joy. In a world that can feel uncertain, faith offers a vision of hope, a steady compass for our journey.

Above all, faith is the heart of our journey because it leads us to our true home with God. It’s the bridge that connects us to the eternal love for which we were made. Through faith, we share in God’s life now, with the promise of one day seeing Him face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12). This hope transforms every step of our journey, our joys become glimpses of heaven, and our sufferings become offerings joined to Christ’s cross.

The Resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith. Because He lives, we know our faith is not in vain. Christ is risen, and this truth fills our hearts with hope, guiding us toward eternal life.

So let us cherish the gift of faith, for it is truly the heart of our journey. It is the light that guides us, the love that sustains us, and the hope that leads us to God. In every moment, faith invites us to say “yes” to God’s love, to trust in His plan, and to walk as His disciples. As Jesus promises, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them” (John 7:38).

May we open our hearts to this living water, letting faith be the heartbeat of our journey, now and forever. Amen.