KORCE NEW YEAR AND CARDINAL DALY RIP

5 JANUARY 2010 KORCE NEW YEAR AND CARDINAL DALY RIP
Our New Year's Eve gathering place was the nearby Greek Cathedral. We joined the crowd, met some young friends and watched a most lavish and amazing firework display. At 12.00 the Cathedral Bells rang out for about 10 minutes, signal for all to exchange -"GEZUAR VITIN E RI". We returned home to surprise callers - two friends, Maltese catechists and Caroline, sister of one, who was visiting from Malta. We were delighted to celebrate with chat and refreshments.

On New Year's Day our invited guest, Nicky, an English lay missionary who lives alone in a Muslim village, joined us for dinner after Mass. We enjoyed a Christmas meal that was fully traditional! All relaxed and even shared a few thoughts from the Irish "Get up and Go" Diary sent with other gifts from Kilmacud! This was surely a good beginning to 2010.

As 2009 was in its final hours, a telephone call from Sister Anne, Belfast, brought the news that our neighbour and friend Cardinal Daly had just died. Surely a moment to celebrate and share on his wonderful life that left us rich memories. For me, probably because I had just heard of the burning of his former Cathedral, St. Mel's, I recalled a memory too, even if not the year! In my Diocesan role, I had arranged a series of Day Retreats for Sisters. Less than 24 hours before one of these retreats, I got a phone call to say our famous speaker, Jean Vanier, was unable was unable to complete his journey, due to suffering a bout of malaria in Paris! The day could not be cancelled. I telephoned Bishop Daly way down in the Midlands, and he immediately agreed to substitute. He arrived at Belfast Good Shepherd en route to his home after 9.30p.m. to plan the next days programme!! My abiding memory is of standing at the retreat centre gate early on the following morning, to explain the change of speaker to the occupants of each car. Not a word of disappointment but delight at the thought of meeting and hearing "their" Bishop -the eighty Sisters that attended were quite happy. I gave Bishop Daly a book of Jean Vanier's for his travels and contribution to 'saving' the day! Years later he confided that he had not HEARD of Jean Vanier when I gave him the book. He thanked me for introducing him to Jean's wonderful work for mentally-physically challenged persons when I gifted him with it. May his precious soul rest in peace!

An early morning email has given me the link for Armagh. I hope to join the funeral service there for a time via the BBC. Maybe, I'll even catch up with the contribution of "The Priests" who are scheduled to sing at the finish. A very special 'Merci', Glen!

May 2010 be a good year for each one of us!