28TH. NOVEMBER 2010 'LIFE IS BEST EXPLAINED BY STORIES'.
Saturday evening, the 20th., was special. We were eight nationalities to which we added a further element with our Renewal of Vows in French. Afterwards, we shared an informal meal to celebrate!
When returning from the city centre on Sunday afternoon, Kliti, our architect, said we were very near the former Catholic Church. So, of course, I requested to see it!
A retired actress, who has been awarded Actor Emeritius, told us its history. When put out of use, it was converted into four apartments and these are still in use. With the arrival of democracy, the City Council offered the site of our present church at the edge of the city, by way of compensation.
Today and tomorrow are two holidays. Both commemorate the gaining of freedom from other countries, one on the 29th. November 1944. This accounts for my hearing the same song many times on Friday, as I returned in the furgon from Tirana. The song -'Let us live free'. The person beside me said its the most meaningful anthem for his peers - all in their 30's. It was composed just as another freedom, that followed the problems of 1997, arrived!
Another crumb of history! On Wednesday next, the Official Process for the canonization of a Bishop and 37 clerics, including one Orthodox, will be formally closed and the Process will move to Rome and continue. They were all martyred. One lived in Maliq, about 20kms. from here and there were local witnesses available to the Process team. Hopefully, we will hear about this darker side of our story in due course.
In the meantime, happy Advent! Gezuar!
Sunday, 28 November 2010
Friday, 19 November 2010
URAT AND PLANNING MEETINGS, RENEWAL
19TH. NOVEMBER 2010 URAT AND PLANNING MEETINGS, RENEWAL.
Mirjam and I travelled by 'furgon' minibus to Tirana on Monday. We attended the URAT meeting on Tuesday where I did the CEDAW Powerpoint. We also had a German Sister who works with Solwodi in Germany.This is a group begun by a Sister for victims of trafficking and domestic violence.
On Wednesday we had a regional Planning Meeting with a priest from Elbason. We met with the Franciscan Sisters and our Maltese friends. We got December arrangements completed with ease, making the most of the limited human resources available!
Today, I met with a lady of Greek origin. Marietta has been invited to Paris on holiday and needs ease in speaking English. Husband of her French hostess is English and Marietta had difficulty speaking when this couple visited her here. So, we used the computer and spoke on current affairs. The hour and a half sped by! We plan to meet once or twice a week for the present.
We will have a quiet day tomorrow. Our friends will join us here in the evening for Mass and our Renewal of Vows.
Enjoy the 21st. and have a good weekend!
Mirjam and I travelled by 'furgon' minibus to Tirana on Monday. We attended the URAT meeting on Tuesday where I did the CEDAW Powerpoint. We also had a German Sister who works with Solwodi in Germany.This is a group begun by a Sister for victims of trafficking and domestic violence.
On Wednesday we had a regional Planning Meeting with a priest from Elbason. We met with the Franciscan Sisters and our Maltese friends. We got December arrangements completed with ease, making the most of the limited human resources available!
Today, I met with a lady of Greek origin. Marietta has been invited to Paris on holiday and needs ease in speaking English. Husband of her French hostess is English and Marietta had difficulty speaking when this couple visited her here. So, we used the computer and spoke on current affairs. The hour and a half sped by! We plan to meet once or twice a week for the present.
We will have a quiet day tomorrow. Our friends will join us here in the evening for Mass and our Renewal of Vows.
Enjoy the 21st. and have a good weekend!
Sunday, 14 November 2010
BOLIVIAN FRIEND ENJOYS "SACRED SPACE"
14TH.NOVEMBER 2010 BOLIVIAN FRIEND ENJOYS "SACRED SPACE"
I want to share the opening sentence and closing point from a blog follower's email received from Bolivia this morning. "Thank you so much for sharing the Sacred Space page with me, I have been using it and find it exceptionally helpful."
At the very end of the mail - "Anyway, I had been reading.......until you sent me the info. on the Sacred Space web page. It has been a God sent, truly, a bit less demanding and in many ways more reassuring, kind of like praying the rosary, kind of like feeling at home."
So, I am happy to pass on this word of appreciation of Sacred Space. No doubt, many of its 20 million users, in the 22 languages, enjoy the site. Maybe this word will tempt a few other blog followers to Google in the words Sacred Space and see what happens for them!
Thank you, my friend, in faraway Bolivia. May Sacred Space continue to be a blessing for you and each member of your family.
I want to share the opening sentence and closing point from a blog follower's email received from Bolivia this morning. "Thank you so much for sharing the Sacred Space page with me, I have been using it and find it exceptionally helpful."
At the very end of the mail - "Anyway, I had been reading.......until you sent me the info. on the Sacred Space web page. It has been a God sent, truly, a bit less demanding and in many ways more reassuring, kind of like praying the rosary, kind of like feeling at home."
So, I am happy to pass on this word of appreciation of Sacred Space. No doubt, many of its 20 million users, in the 22 languages, enjoy the site. Maybe this word will tempt a few other blog followers to Google in the words Sacred Space and see what happens for them!
Thank you, my friend, in faraway Bolivia. May Sacred Space continue to be a blessing for you and each member of your family.
Wednesday, 10 November 2010
TURAN, JOURNEY OF ENRICHMENT, MASS
10TH NOVEMBER 2010 TURAN, JOURNEY OF ENRICHMENT, MASS.
On Saturday we accepted an invitation to Turan, a Bektashi Muslim village, very near Korce. It is the home of an English catechist, Nicky, who is a friend of ours. We arrived in time for her catechism class. Twelve children attended and their enthusiasm and confidence in answering were admirable. The visit would have been worthwhile just to see the Red Sea Story dramatized with great effect! We then visited a Muslim family that had already come here. In fact,they helped in sorting out problems we had when arranging for internet. We really enjoyed the visit.
On Sunday evening, we began "Our Journey of Enrichment". The Powerpoint was clear and informative. It was a great learning curve about the Our Lady of Charity life and our shared history. We continued the theme for our Hour of Prayer.
A telephone call from Bilisht late on Sunday evening invited us to Mass. Mirjam and I were able to juggle our commitments and the two of us set off on Monday morning. Bilisht is just half an hour away, with an excellent road. We were glad to make the journey as we had not had Mass on Sunday. The Italian priest travelled more than three hours each way.
Today it is time for a special prayer as four family members are en route to Singapore. They will join those who went at the weekend. Six more travel this evening. That will be quite a Cork contingent for the rest of the week!
There are Remembrance Day events on here - so in the spirit of the day I say - Au revoir!
On Saturday we accepted an invitation to Turan, a Bektashi Muslim village, very near Korce. It is the home of an English catechist, Nicky, who is a friend of ours. We arrived in time for her catechism class. Twelve children attended and their enthusiasm and confidence in answering were admirable. The visit would have been worthwhile just to see the Red Sea Story dramatized with great effect! We then visited a Muslim family that had already come here. In fact,they helped in sorting out problems we had when arranging for internet. We really enjoyed the visit.
On Sunday evening, we began "Our Journey of Enrichment". The Powerpoint was clear and informative. It was a great learning curve about the Our Lady of Charity life and our shared history. We continued the theme for our Hour of Prayer.
A telephone call from Bilisht late on Sunday evening invited us to Mass. Mirjam and I were able to juggle our commitments and the two of us set off on Monday morning. Bilisht is just half an hour away, with an excellent road. We were glad to make the journey as we had not had Mass on Sunday. The Italian priest travelled more than three hours each way.
Today it is time for a special prayer as four family members are en route to Singapore. They will join those who went at the weekend. Six more travel this evening. That will be quite a Cork contingent for the rest of the week!
There are Remembrance Day events on here - so in the spirit of the day I say - Au revoir!
Wednesday, 3 November 2010
CONCERT, SISTERS VISIT, SURPRISE, TODAY !
3RD. NOVEMBER 2010 CONCERT,SISTERS VISIT, SURPRISE, TODAY!
On Sunday I went along to a very enjoyable early evening concert. It would have been even more enjoyable if I had gone a little earlier, as concerts here tend to get crowded. The programme was of high standard, with classical instrumentalists and excellent singers. I was glad it finished at 7.45p.m. as we had planned to have the 'Journey of Enrichment' Powerpoint at 8.00p.m. However, the 'beamer' and PP did not meet, so we await another evening!
Two Little Company of Mary Sisters are visiting for 10 days. They were based here and return each year as they carry financial responsibility for the Hospice they opened.
We had a lovely surprise on Monday. Maltese Rainer telephoned to say an English priest had arrived. Father came to visit us and then said Mass in the parish church that afternoon. He promised to come to our house early yesterday and so we had a Mass on All Souls Day - a great treat for us.
Today is the first anniversary of our arrival in Korce! We see it as a moment to celebrate, as we move into another year. Alleluia!
On Sunday I went along to a very enjoyable early evening concert. It would have been even more enjoyable if I had gone a little earlier, as concerts here tend to get crowded. The programme was of high standard, with classical instrumentalists and excellent singers. I was glad it finished at 7.45p.m. as we had planned to have the 'Journey of Enrichment' Powerpoint at 8.00p.m. However, the 'beamer' and PP did not meet, so we await another evening!
Two Little Company of Mary Sisters are visiting for 10 days. They were based here and return each year as they carry financial responsibility for the Hospice they opened.
We had a lovely surprise on Monday. Maltese Rainer telephoned to say an English priest had arrived. Father came to visit us and then said Mass in the parish church that afternoon. He promised to come to our house early yesterday and so we had a Mass on All Souls Day - a great treat for us.
Today is the first anniversary of our arrival in Korce! We see it as a moment to celebrate, as we move into another year. Alleluia!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)