ANDREW D. MAYES
ANDREW D. MAYES
sources of inspiration and energy
These things stimulate, challenge and hearten me:
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the gospel of Jesus Christ: perplexing at times, ever fresh in its stimulus
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the Franciscan tradition: St Francis was a poet and radical, a prophet and songster, a clown and a troubladour. As a member of the Third Order of the Society of St Francis, I am ever discovering his relevance and challenge
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the Orthodox churches: I have studied the Orthodox tradition of spirituality in Jerusalem, Russia, Armenia, Syria, Ethiopia, Egypt, Romania, and am a regular visitor to Mount Athos, Greece
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pilgrimage: spiritual journeys hearten and unsettle me: they open me to fresh springs of spirituality
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classic spiritual writers: I take much inspiration from the treasury of Christian spirituality which has built up through 20 centuries
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interfaith encounters: I enjoy engaging with other traditions, and have met regularly with Jewish and Muslim folk in Jerusalem, and also with Buddhists in Sri Lanka
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fellow pilgrims: I love to meet pilgrims on the road, reading widely, and try to rule nothing out as I progress on the spiritual journey
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the practice of ministry: serving as a priest for 40 years in diverse settings, enjoying the daily sharing of life with a community
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my family: last but definitely not least, my wife and four grown up children are a source of boundless inspiration and challenge!