Three workshops facilitated by Fr Jim Cogley
As we have just celebrated Easter week, a wonderful opportunity for people of Kilkenny and further afield is about to take place in Callan in County Kilkenny. Fr Jim Cogley will host a wonderful three day course on ‘healing and hope’ at the Edmund Rice centre in Callan in the month of May.
Those attending will discuss being able to find healing and hope from personal and ancestral issues. There will also be a chance to delve into the areas of loss, trauma and victimhood.
Fr Jim’s wood turnings and carvings are used to great effect as symbols to explore core human issues. This week The Kilkenny Observer met with Fr Cogley and got an insight into his life…
Surrender
“I grew up as an only child on a farm in Cleariestown and went to secondary school at CBS Wexford. My father died when I was eleven and the expectation was that I would follow in his footsteps and continue the family line of which I was the last survivor. I seemed to understand from a young age the importance of surrender and that only in God’s will would I find my true life. So, at sixteen, I gave my life to Christ as an open cheque. Later, feeling a surprise call to Priesthood.”
Fr Jim trained in Maynooth and took degrees in English, Philosophy and Theology. He told The Observer that a big influence on his training was Charismatic Renewal, and it was a blessing to be one of the early leaders. In 1980 Jim was ordained in Rosslare Harbour and spent his first year in Cushinstown. Later he was based in Kilmore Quay as curate and ‘part-time’ fisherman for 28 years. During that time Fr Jim says he was privileged to be at the heart of so many developments there, from the Stella Maris Centre, to the Memorial Trail and Garden. “I also taught for twelve years in Bridgetown BVC as well as being a part time chaplain on cruise ships,” said Fr Cogley.
A lot of training followed, including work in Jungian Psychotherapy and Advanced Supervision. Jim takes up the story. “ It was around the year 2000 that I first began making wood symbols for use in seminars and teaching. These quickly took on a life of their own, and spawned over a dozen books in the ‘wood you believe series’. Over the years I have been privileged to conduct retreats and seminars throughout Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales.”
In 2009 he was appointed to Oylegate/Glenbrien as Parish Priest. Some projects that greatly enthused him during that time was the creation of ‘Raphael’s healing garden’ and the Remembrance and Narrow Gate gardens in the Church Grounds. It was also during that time he managed to write three more books as well as recovering from a serious time of burnout. There followed a move to Our Lady’s Island/Tacumshin in August 2016. According to Jim, this was a dream appointment, and he cherished his role as Director of Pilgrimage. The entire focus of Lady’s Island is on mission rather than maintenance and this perfectly suited his lifestyle. “I have loved overseeing the refurbishment of both churches and particularly the complete upgrading of the Community Centre and catering facilities. We now have state of the art visitor facilities with first class views,” explained Fr Cogley.
Continuing, Fr Jim said “Our pilgrimage each year slowly moves away from being a religious event to spiritual experience that meets the deeper needs of the thousands who come here. Our outdoor Stations of the Cross provide a mini-retreat that is accessible all year round, with the script available in booklet form.”
Close to Lady’s Island is the Pier of Carnagh where the first Christians landed in Ireland around 300AD. It is a place rich in fascinating history and for those who would like to learn more the little book, History & Folklore provides a lot of information.
Finishing our conversation, Fr Cogley said that his life-long belief is that God neither wants our ability or our inability, but our availability. “In over forty years as a priest I have found this to be entirely true,” concluded Fr Jim.
If you have not yet experienced his unique workshops you are strongly advised not to miss this opportunity.
Dates: Thursdays May 1st, 8th and 15th
Venue: Edmund Rice Centre, Westcourt, Callan R95 RX83
Times:7pm – 9.30pm
Cost: €20 per night. €50 for all 3
Bookings to Jim Maher 086 127 6649
