ELBASON, CELEBRATION AND SHQIP

10 DECEMBER 2009 ELBASON, CELEBRATION AND SHQIP
On Tuesday we decided to journey to Elbason, our nearest option for Our Lady's feast. We enjoyed a beautiful two-hour mountainy drive, with spectacular scenery. Then we attended an afternoon Mass in the Church of the Italian Divine Providence priests. After the Mass we met members of four congregations of Sisters working in the city, including Mother Teresa's Sisters who moved from here almost ten years ago. That was when the last priest to serve here left Korce. As always, English is their first language so I spoke easily with the Slovakian and Kenyan Sisters. The other groups included Dominicans who have schools nearby, Italian Sisters who run Nursing Homes in the area and also a German group.

On our journey it emerged that Tuesday was the anniversary of Mirjam's entry and beginning of Novitate twenty years ago. This was a very good reason for us to stop in Pogradec on our return to celebrate with the local, almost unique fish KORAN. We were on the shores of the 'Lake of Light' which is one its two habitats worldwide!

I start my Shqip later today at Kennedy. So far all is well thank God. I expect the study through English will be easier and I am impatient to gain even limited skill for ministry. The textbook recommended was given to me by one of the Maltese catechists a few weeks ago so I welcome some guidance in its use.

Snow has covered the nearby hills lightly overnight. It is really picturesque - the white Cross on top of the nearest one has almost disappeared as the sky is grey and the mountains are hidden by the clouds.
Au revoir - or I can now say -'MIRUPAFSHIM' - as a beginning!