Inspirational people live among the ordinary

We have a habit in life of looking up to celebrities like David Beckham or Angelina Jolie as our inspirational figures but not so good at spotting the people we meet in everyday. 

Today we all met a truly inspirational person who is a Redemptorist priest in Fortaleza in Brazil. Fr Martin Murray accompanied us around the local communities within his parish and we saw the community centres and community activists within his parish, all inspired to make a difference in their communities because of Padre Martin.

Martin is 84 and has just had a hip operation yet he still was able to walk us round the community. When he is in top form he travels around on his motorbike!! A quiet and unassuming man, Martin has been able to involve and encourage members in the local community to give their time to the people in need in their community. 

We saw a small room with two tables where they feed 200 children every day, a community centre offering computer and other classes to local people to help employment opportunities, the humble church where all feel welcome to worship. There is a spiritual side to the communities through worship and prayer and prayer groups. And equally there is a social side where they fight for the rights of communities to have their houses, services and healthcare. Padre Martin lives in a humble house among the people and locals welcome him with a warm smile. Because of his relationships we felt secure and protected but at the same time he and the locals were mindful that we don't stay long as it is not safe.

Projects like these exist at home as well. Churches in Ireland and Great Britain have food banks, education programmes, lobby on key issues. For those of you who can't have the chance like us to be inspired by the people who make a difference here in Brazil, have a look around your local community where you will surely find people who have a heart to make a difference in our communities. When I go to see their work I leave feeling like the world is a better place because of them. Yet for them it is just what they do.

I give thanks to God for people like Padre Martin and for all those working in local communities in the hope that we all will have the same opportunities in life one day.