Brother Barry Larkin, O.H

Our founder, Saint John of God (1495 - 1550), was a man who had really experienced life. In his time he had been a shepherd, a soldier, a labourer and a bookseller. In 1539, John became ill and was admitted to the Royal Hospital in Granada, the Spanish city where he settled in his 40s. He had what we might call today a “breakdown”.

During his illness, John prayed to God, asking that if he were released from the hospital, he would open one that offered respect and dignity to people. John managed to fulfil his dream and all of these centuries later his dream continues.

Today, the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God works in fifty countries throughout the world in the areas of general medicine, psychiatry, intellectual disability and care of the elderly to name a few! Our Brothers and Co-Workers strive to maintain John’s vision of offering care, compassion, dignity and respect to people in need.

Like John, every person is offered a particular Vocation in life. That vocation can be, for example, to the married or single way of life, as carer, religious, teacher or nurse. How we as individuals respond to the particular vocation we are offered is always a very personal journey. My own journey was rather like a game of snakes and ladders!

Br Barry’s story

Br Barry with new friends in Malawi

Like St. John of God, I was a late starter. Having finished school in 1981, I began studying for the priesthood but left after three years. I had a number of jobs that ranged from working in a shop to driving a delivery van. After some years I began working with people who had disabilities. I loved this work and spent the following nine years in this area, but the pull toward religious life came back again.

I resisted with all my strength but eventually I knew that I would have to make some response to this call. In the early 1980's I had worked as a volunteer with the Brothers of Saint John of God at Saint Raphael's in Celbridge, Co. Kildare. I could see at first hand the work that these men were involved in. It was similar to the work that I was now already doing, but without the vows.

I made contact with the Vocations Director and, with his assistance, spent the next year seriously thinking about this vocation. I was happy to enter the Order in 1993 at the age of 30.

Whatever your story, if becoming a Brother of St. John of God interests you, please get in touch. You can write, phone or e-mail. God Bless.

Contacts

Ireland Brother Barry Larkin, O.H Director of Vocations (Ireland) St. Mary’s Drumcar Dunleer Co. Louth Tel: 00 353 41 686 2615 Fax: 00 353 41 685 1529 e-mail: vocations@sjog.ie