Faber Companions and Community
The Faber Community, founded by Jesuit Father Myles O’Reilly in 2018, is a group of young adult Christians who believe that Christ’s love is setting the world alight and that they are called to make His presence felt and message known to the people of their own generation.
The group organise many ‘Christ-centred’ projects, some of which include Christian retreats, eco -conscious walks and hiking, a monthly Mass, weekly Christian meditative prayer sessions, and a soup run for the homeless.
Some members of the Faber Community actually live together, and they are known as the Faber Companions. They share daily prayer and a weekly dinner where they get to share about different aspects of their week and plan for future Community events. They also receive individual spiritual direction.
In the article below, compiled by Maria, a member of the Faber Community, she and other members share what it is like to be part of the Faber Community, the work they do, and their hopes for the future.
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Faber Companions and Community
The Faber community is a group of young people who seek to find God in all things and accompany one another in discernment. Being part of this community has changed my life. After secondary school, I felt suddenly there was great freedom to choose what followed next, but it also felt quite overwhelming. In the Faber Community I feel deeply held by God and by friends as we pray for one another and our next choices. Walking this path of discernment together has given me such peace.
Community is a constant process of finding the presence of the divine in one another, of being found in the presence of others, and of being held by them. Sharing the great gift of life together is an act of courage that helps us to articulate our deepest desires, ask questions and share the learning that emerges from difficult situations. Miraculously, as we share, we become witnesses of each others’ stories, woven delicately by the same ‘Loving Hand’ that brings us together.
The Faber Community actively seeks to live this shared life, seeking to find God in one another and in the daily moments of our lives be that studying, working, in sport teams, in our friendships, or in our hobbies.
Some members of the Faber community, known as the Faber Companions, live in the same house and share daily prayer and a weekly dinner where they get to share about different moments of their week and plan for events. They also receive individual spiritual direction. Fr. Myles O’Reilly SJ had the vision for this community which was he established back in 2018. Today, he continues to accompany the Companions in their discernment journey, and provides them with formation on Ignatian tools for discernment, reflection and meditation.
“Living in this community has been such a blessing. I can’t imagine my life without it because of the impact it has had and is continuing to have,” explains Alan, one of the Faber Companions. He adds: “The community is so supportive, and we all share the responsibility for various tasks. Each week a different Companion leads the daily community prayer and cooks the community meal on a Wednesday. Through doing this I have become more confident in leading by faith and appreciative when others lead. This is something I would otherwise would have taken for granted. If I was to sum it all up, living in this community has been about experiencing and responding to love, the love which is God, who has given Himself to so that we can share in him, through him and with him. It’s like getting a taste of heaven on earth, supporting each other on our pilgrimage. It reminds me of the quote from St. Catherine of Siena – ‘The way to heaven is heaven’”.
This year the Faber Community has organised different events such as Dúlra ( a walk in nature where the community engages in personal reflection and people are brought together to share the fruits of prayer in small groups), as well as a book club, which also started last semester. We are currently reading Mere Christianity by C.S Lewis. Members get to read the book and discuss it with others in the context of their own faith.
Faber Companion Cathal comments: “The year has been amazing. We kicked off with a beautiful time of adoration and song and it really set the tone for the year. Personally going through C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity with a group and being able to share about the themes and ideas he brings up, including the the good parts and the tough parts of being a Christian, has been a highlight. I’m also really looking forward to our pilgrimage to Rome during the Jubilee Year, and with the ‘All Things New’ retreat, the year is flying by and the excitement hasn’t diminished so far.”
This New Year is indeed off to a strong start. The Community have started to host a movie forum every second Friday. In January, Jesuit theologian Gerry O’Hanlon SJ gave a presentation to us on the Synod and synodality. In February we marked the Jubilee Year with an evening of prayer, testimonies and music on the theme of ‘hope’, the theme chosen by Pope Francis for this Jubilee Year. And on 8 March, the Faber community will host an event on the role of women in the church to celebrate International Women’s day.
Also this year, an artistic group called Cruthú has been formed within the Community, seeking to find God in art and sharing the creative process with other community members, so as to become channels and instruments of God’s love through creativity. “Cruthú is a safe place where people can discover themselves more deeply, connecting to divinity through art.” says Alexandra, adding, “It’s where lasting friendships are made.”
Last Christmas, the community also organised a soup run for the homeless. The Faber Community is also involved with St Francis Xavier church in Gardiner street, Dublin, and its members are active in organising the youth mass, which takes place every first, second and third Sunday of each month at 7.30pm.
“The key word for me is ‘community’,” says Ciarán, one of the Faber Companions. “As soon as I came to Gardiner Street and to Faber, I felt so welcomed. It’s easier to feel that Jesus loves you when you see how his disciples treat you with love and friendship.”
Maria Salto Galdón
Faber Community
March 2025
